Mac Park Precinct and Bus Interchange

Reviewed

Project overview

Transport for NSW will continue investigations to help inform the detailed design of the Macquarie Park Precinct and Bus Interchange. These activities may include surveying and potholing the footpath and road at the Herring Road between Waterloo Road and Talavera Road in Macquarie Park.

The Australian and NSW Governments are investing nearly $200 million to improve transport in Macquarie Park and help create a vibrant ‘heart’ for the precinct.

Macquarie Park bus interchange

We’re proposing a precinct and bus interchange upgrade that creates a place for people to enjoy, meet and connect. The proposed project will connect people to Macquarie University, Macquarie Centre, Macquarie Business Park and residential and commercial areas.

The upgrade will improve travel efficiency and connectivity, making it easier for people to move safely into and around Macquarie Park.  

We’re proposing a significant public domain and green space with mature trees, seating, public art and a diverse range of civic spaces. In collaboration with adjacent land owners, It’s around 120% bigger, with an additional 4,000sqm. That’s the size of three Olympic swimming pools.

We have been working closely with City of Ryde Council, Macquarie University and Macquarie Centre to ensure the proposed precinct and bus interchange upgrade benefits the whole community, not just people using public transport.

Want to explore the project?

Visit the Macquarie Park Precinct and Bus Interchange upgrade Virtual Engagement Room.

Macquarie Park Precinct and Bus Interchange upgrade Virtual Engagement Room.

Info session Q & A video replays

We held two online Q & A sessions - Wednesday 24 August and Thursday 1 September. The recordings from the information sessions are in this section.

In these videos our panel answers a lot of questions on the project on traffic, pedestrian safety, design, construction timing and noise, and ongoing community engagement. REF (Review of Environmental Factors) Submissions for the Macquarie Park Precinct and Bus Interchange upgrade closed Thursday September 8.

Information session videos  

Project information

Background

Macquarie Park is one of Sydney’s largest business districts, and a rapidly growing residential and commercial precinct. It needs public spaces and paths for people, and a road network and bus system to support that growth and provide the transport connections that are vital for economic activity and social connection.

The existing bus interchange was built in the 1980s and cannot meet future demand. More than 1440 buses carrying 10,700 passengers currently use the bus interchange on Herring Road each weekday. Bus customers are expected to increase by 288% by 2036, with Metro customers increasing by 187% in the same period.

We are working on a proposal to:

  • Provide a substantial increase in the quality and quantity of public domain in and around the interchange to create spaces for people to meet, connect and rest
  • Maximise new tree planting and the opportunity for green canopy cover to create a vibrant green ‘heart’ for Macquarie Park and reduce the heat island effect
  • Deliver the best balance of customer, community and place outcomes, while responding to surrounding land uses, including the future Macquarie University and Macquarie Centre
  • Increase the capacity of bus stands within the Macquarie Park Precinct and Bus Interchange by providing more bus stops and shelters and dedicated bus lanes
  • Improve pedestrian movements within Macquarie Park Precinct and Bus Interchange with safer, wider and more direct pedestrian crossings, wider footpaths, improved visibility and wayfinding
  • Improve bus efficiency and travel times, by relocating the bus layover and parking to Talavera Road
  • Improve the public transport customer experience and satisfaction by providing larger bus shelters with real-time information, reducing travel time and making public transport in and around the interchange easy, accessible and reliable
  • Maintain or improve the performance of the local road network near Macquarie Park Precinct and Bus Interchange, to ensure buses can travel in and out of the interchange without further congestion delay.

Benefits

We have been working closely with City of Ryde Council, Macquarie University and Macquarie Centre to ensure the proposed precinct and bus interchange upgrade benefits the whole community, not just people using public transport.

With two major developments planned either side of the interchange, for Macquarie Centre and Macquarie University, the proposal will create a vibrant public realm as the civic heart of Macquarie Park.

Macquarie Park is already one of Sydney’s largest business districts. It needs public spaces and paths, a road network and bus system to support that growth.

This proposal creates:

  • public space at the interchange for people to meet, rest, enjoy and connect
  • significant new areas for public domain, green space and vegetation
  • better pedestrian crossings, access and connections
  • footpaths that link places so people can move in and around the area
  • more bus stops and shelters for improved accessibility to public transport
  • dedicated bus lanes to reduce travel times for bus customers
  • improved amenity and bus reliability, by removing the layover and bus parking from Herring to Talavera Road.

proposed upgraded to the bus interchange on Herring Road

You can find more about the proposal and the community benefits in the latest community update (PDF, 1.28Mb).

Next steps

The Macquarie Park Precinct and Bus Interchange Review of Environmental Factors (REF) closed for comment on 8 September. We want to thank those community members who took the time to comment on the REF. This feedback has been read and responded to in the Macquarie Park Precinct and Bus Interchange Submissions Report. You can find this report in the Project Documents list below.

If you are not yet a subscriber and want to receive updates on the Macquarie Park Precinct and Bus Interchange project, email us at Macquarie.Park@transport.nsw.gov.au to subscribe for updates.

Transport for NSW has begun investigation work along Herring Road, Waterloo Road and Talavera Road to help inform the detailed design. These early works include surveying above ground and potholing below ground to identify utilities. Pavement and geotechnical investigation activities along Herring Road will also occur. Details of this work can be found at the Community Updates section below.

Community information

Have your say/Survey

We prepared a Review of Environmental Factors (REF) which examined the potential social and environmental impacts of the proposed precinct, bus interchange and bus layover improvements.

The REF process allows the project team to identify ways in which these potential impacts can be addressed and managed in the community's best interests.

The REF display was an opportunity for the community to review the proposal and the environmental assessments and share their comments and feedback.

The Macquarie Park Precinct and Bus Interchange REF closed on Thursday 8 September. You can read the REF document and the Community Update in the Project Documents list below.

Project documents

Some documents on this page may not comply with accessibility requirements (WCAG).

If you are having trouble accessing information in these documents, please contact us.

 

Project notifications

Reports

REF documents

Contact us

For further information please contact our project team:

Phone: 1800 565 902

Email:Macquarie.Park@transport.nsw.gov.au

Mail: Macquarie Park Precinct, PO Box 973, Parramatta, NSW 2124