Review of environmental factors for the New South Wales Transport Access Program

Challenge

The Transport Access Program (TAP) was a program of works established by Transport for NSW (TfNSW) to contribute to the Commonwealth Disability Discrimination Act related targets through Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport compliance upgrades. This includes the provision of access to transport services for all sections of the community including people with a disability, mothers with prams, older persons, children, students and commuters.

Environmental assessments, including Noise and Vibration Impact Assessments and Traffic, Transport and Access Impact Assessments were completed as input into Review of Environmental Factors (REF) for approval of several proposed stational upgrades across NSW. TfNSW also required the environmental assessments of the proposed preliminary designs to identify feasible and reasonable mitigation and management measures to be incorporated in the detailed design and construction planning stage of the project.

Solution

Our team was engaged to undertake the environmental Noise and Vibration Impact Assessments and the Traffic, Transport and Access Impact Assessments for the Review of Environmental Factors for upgrade works to Pymble, St Peters, and Erskineville Stations. The assessments considered the existing environment, along with the proposed construction and operational impacts.

Impact

Our team carried out assessments and were able to determine the impacts and identify mitigation and management measures involving construction activities, users of the transport system, and residents. These assessments supported the design and construction planning stages, along with being able to support the REFs to gain approval to undertake the upgrade works. The upgrades contributed to these station precincts being accessible to those with a disability, limited mobility, as well as assisting parents and carers with prams, and customers with luggage.