Department of Transport Metropolitan Road Freight Hierarchy on the State

Metropolitan Road Freight Hierarchy on the State Road Network Practice Note Contents Foreword 4 1. Introduction 6 2. The objectives of a freight hierarchy 8 3. Definitions 10 4. Criteria 12 5. Use of the hierarchy 14 Appendix A Current heavy vehicle traffic volumes Map for Sydney 17 Appendix B Sydney Map highlighting industry clusters 17 Appendix C Greater Metropolitan Area Road Freight Hierarchy Map 19 Appendix D Sydney Roads Freight Hierarchy Map 21 Appendix E Illawarra Region Road Freight Hierarchy Map 22 Appendix F Hunter Region Road Freight Hierarchy Map 23 Foreword This Practice Note is the result An initiative was immediately of an initiative suggested by the commenced to define an urban Road Freight Advisory Council road freight hierarchy for the (RFAC). State Road network in Newcastle- Sydney-Wollongong. RFAC is an expert stakeholder group, convened and chaired by The metropolitan road freight the Chief Executive of the Roads hierarchy described in this and Traffic Authority (RTA). It is Practice Note is the output of made up of representatives of that work. It has been developed industry, unions and peak road by staff within the Department transport advocacy groups, who of Transport and the RTA. It advise the RTA on the needs will assist in giving appropriate of the road freight industry, the weight to the needs of freight in needs of road freight vehicles and Newcastle-Sydney-Wollongong, desirable directions in road policy and in prioritising works and and infrastructure to support policies. This will ensure that the economic growth in NSW. economic benefits accruing from improved freight efficiency will RFAC suggested that a consultant be captured for the benefit of all be engaged to conduct interviews people in NSW. with a wide range of people within the freight industry to identify I commend the use of this priority needs. Practice Note for use in transport planning for the major freight Arising out of that report in mid routes in Sydney’s Greater 2009, the need was identified to Metropolitan Area. define a road freight hierarchy for the State Road network in NSW. This would assist in the identification and prioritisation of initiatives to support road freight. Les Wielinga A draft rural road freight hierarchy Director General had already been developed as Department of Transport input to the RTA’s Strategy for Major Heavy Vehicle Rest Areas on Key Rural Freight Routes in NSW, however little work had been done on a metropolitan road freight hierarchy for Newcastle-Sydney-Wollongong. 4 Metropolitan Road Freight Hierarchy on the State Road Network Practice Note Metropolitan Road Freight Hierarchy on the State Road Network Practice Note 5 1. Introduction The State Road system in NSW is being subjected to ever increasing demands as our population and economy grow. In most parts of the urban area of Newcastle- Sydney-Wollongong, the dense patterns of homes and other buildings together with environmental constraints lead to the result that there is little opportunity to provide significant new infrastructure. Where traffic volumes are large and it is not feasible to provide additional infrastructure, road managers need to balance demands for road space to obtain optimal overall community results. The vision of the NSW Across the metropolitan region, This Practice Note sets Department of Transport a mix of private vehicles, out the RTA’s defined road (DoT) is ‘a transport system business vehicles, freight vehicles freight hierarchy on the State that maximises benefits for the and bus public transport uses Road network in the Greater community and economy’. the road system. On each Metropolitan Area (GMA). It To achieve this, there is a need link in the road system, the focuses on the needs of freight. to recognise the competing balance between the needs It will help to understand and needs for road space, and of these different road users respond to the needs of freight deliver a balanced response. varies. In some places, the in Sydney’s GMA. This will assist needs of buses are crucial, practitioners to identify where Roads have a variety of roles and some priority for buses the needs of freight vehicles and functions and have a wide may be considered. In other are strongest, and will assist in range of users. Often, conflicts places, it is the needs of freight giving appropriate weight to arise when trying to ensure that are dominant, and special freight initiatives. that the needs of all road users consideration is required to are met. Road hierarchies can The freight road hierarchy ensure that our economy assist in defining the function provides a structured definition remains efficient. In many places, of the road and in balancing of functionality on the State Road the needs are more general and the needs of various road system. It will be used to assist the traffic stream may be left users and allocating priorities. DoT and RTA planners, policy to find its own balance. Bicycles advisers and program managers and pedestrians also need to to manage, plan and prioritise be considered. appropriate activities on the State Road network in order to more effectively achieve the RTA’s community results as set out in the RTA Corporate Plan. 6 Metropolitan Road Freight Hierarchy on the State Road Network Practice Note Background Our standard of living is reliant on the efficient and effective movement of goods and services. With a current population of approximately 5.3 million, the GMA represents around 25% of Australia’s population. The freight industry ensures that food, clothing, fuel and other products are delivered locally. Approximately half of all road freight and three quarters of all interstate road freight in Australia moves through NSW for at least part of its journey, reflecting the significance of NSW to the Australian economy and the nation’s reliance on NSW roads. Sydney is located at the centre of this freight activity, strategically located between South-East Queensland, Canberra and Melbourne. The total national road freight task in 2030 is expected to be 1.8 times its 2008 level, with the capital city task at 1.7 times (BITRE Report 121). The road freight task is highest in Sydney and Melbourne. Growth is forecast at approximately 2% pa for these cities. All State Roads are available for general access vehicles, however some roads such as motorways are more readily used by freight. Establishing a freight hierarchy on the urban State Road network gives due weight to the importance of freight movement and shows which State Roads are of primary, secondary and tertiary importance. As the road freight industry strives to be more efficient, specialist high performance vehicles are emerging. Some of these may be longer than usual, or higher, or of higher mass. These vehicles have restricted access to the network and are only allowed on specifically designated routes. Those special routes are outside the scope of this document. Metropolitan Road Freight Hierarchy on the State Road Network Practice Note 7 2. The objectives of a freight hierarchy The objectives of a metropolitan road freight hierarchy are: To support the pattern of industrial lands and activities that lead to varying freight flows on the road network by providing suitable 1 road infrastructure. To provide for the specific needs of freight vehicles in operating the road network as a safe, sustainable and efficient road transport 2 system for all road users. To supplement the administrative classification of roads by recognising the varying intensity of freight generating activities and heavy freight 3 vehicle demand on roads within the State Road classification. The context of these objectives provides useful background to assist in their application. 2.1 Incorporating freight needs into land use and community planning Sydney has emerged as produced locally and within development takes place. Australia’s only global city NSW. Consumer goods They define where residential over the last few decades. including household goods, areas, retail centres and The population of Newcastle- food and clothing must all be industrial areas are located, Sydney-Wollongong is now moved to retail centres near and lead to the pattern of more than 5.3 million people, us so that we can carry on transport that emerges as and is forecast to rise to our daily activities. the areas are developed. 6.9 million up to 2036. This Supporting business and In particular, the pattern of represents around one quarter industry, freight vehicles also industrial lands leads to the of Australia’s population. move industrial goods, building freight flows that must be Sydney’s economy is now materials, commercial supplies managed on the transport larger than that of Singapore. and warehousing facilities. system. Some roads emerge The gateways to this global Although householders have as more or less significant city are our ports and the little direct contact with this freight routes. Sometimes international airport. Large component of the freight there are community concerns volumes of goods and people industry, it is crucial in keeping about freight movements move through these gateways businesses going. on roads. While planning daily, and move to and from to balance the desires of regions within and beyond The planning of the future of the general community Sydney. We rely on these Sydney is set out in documents against the economic need facilities to support our exports such as the ‘Metropolitan Plan for the efficient movement and imports. Planning our for Sydney 2036’ produced by of goods, we must land use patterns with freight the Department of Planning recognise that community clearly in mind will lead to and Local Environmental planning based on land greater economic efficiency. Plans produced by Councils. use zoning will of necessity These deal with land use We also expect to have access lead to significant freight decisions which provide the to the many goods that are movements in some locations.

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