2.9 Existing Travel Behaviour and Trends

In 2016, there were approximately 2.04 cars per household on average in Rouse Hill (slightly higher than the average for The Hills Shire, being 2 cars per household). It is estimated that if current car ownership trends within The Hills Shire continue, by 2036, there will be an additional 70,000 vehicles on our roads. If this is the case, the roads and infrastructure will not be able to cope, as they are already nearing capacity in many locations throughout the Rouse Hill Strategic Centre.

This is largely reflective of our unique family dominated demographic and the slow rate of modal shift following the opening of the Metro. Many families will need a car for private use on weekends for travel to sport and other activities that are not easily accessible via the Metro or other forms of public transport.

Whilst car share, increased public transport usage and reduced parking rates may be part of the solution to solving our traffic issues, ultimately many families will continue to require access to a private vehicle and associated parking. Whilst this does not necessarily mean that residents will utilise their vehicles to drive to work (as further explained below), this needs to be thoughtfully considered to ensure that the narrative correctly reflects the transit behaviours of our residents outside of work hours and on weekends and that new residential developments continue to accommodate space for private vehicles and lifestyle choices.This approach focuses on the modal shift for trips to and from the Rouse Hill Strategic Centre during peak periods, not necessarily preventing residents from being able to own a car and store it at their place of residence.

Whilst Rouse Hill has traditionally been a car dependent destination, the arrival of the Sydney Metro Northwest poses an opportunity to re-imagine the travel behaviours of our local residents and workers. It provides a convenient rail connection from The Hills Shire to Chatswood, Macquarie Park and the Sydney CBD. When the project is extended, it will provide a direct connection to the Sydney CBD and through to Bankstown. There are also plans to expand the network to ultimately connect The Hills Shire with the new Western Sydney Airport.

A Parking Analysis undertaken by PeopleTrans in late 2020 revealed that between 2011 and 2016 there was a significant increase in public transport to access the Rouse Hill Strategic Centre (+3.3% to 13.1%) and a subsequent reduction in trips to the Centre via car (-1.8% to 70%). An analysis of demand within more established comparable transit centres across Sydney shows that approximately 37% of workers travel to work by car, indicating potential for even greater mode shift to public transport to occur in The Hills, particularly for trips to and from the inner walkable catchment of Metro Stations. It could be reasonably assumed that this mode shift towards public transportation will continue, especially given the Metro did not open until after the 2016 Census.

Psychological Physical Economic

• ‘Freedom’ of Car Use

• Personal Safety Concerns

• Social Status Linked to Car Ownership

• Life Stage Based Difficulties

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• Reliability of Service

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Metro Station

Metro Line (Above Ground)

Rouse Hill Strategic Centre Bus Route (Current)

Metro Station

Metro Line (Above Ground)

Rouse Hill Strategic Centre

Up to 5 Minute Walk (400m)*

5 to 10 Minute Walk (800m)*

10 to 15 Minute Walk (1200m)*

*Note: Walking catchments based on current connections.

• The arrival of the Sydney Metro Northwest in May 2019 has begun to transform travel behaviour within The Hills Shire, by providing a rapid transit service that stretches from Tallawong Station through to Chatswood Station. The next phase, stretching from Chatswood to Sydenham, is currently under construction and once complete, the indicative travel time from Rouse Hill to Martin Place will be approximately 40-45 minutes. It is set to open in 2024.

• The Strategic Centre is well-serviced by the ‘Hillsbus Network’. This service primarily runs along key roads within the Rouse Hill Strategic Centre including Windsor Road, Commercial Road, White Hart Drive and Caddies Boulevard, providing direct connectivity to other key centres such as Norwest, Castle Hill, Westmead, Parramatta, Macquarie Park, North Sydney and the Sydney CBD. Locally, the Hillsbus Network also connects to other nearby areas that are not serviced by the Sydney Metro Northwest, including Annangrove, Box Hill, North Kellyville, Beaumont Hills, Stanhope Gardens and Parklea.

Walkability across the Strategic Centre varies due to topography, existing lot patterns and physical

• Rouse Hill benefits from a wide range of recreational cycling and pedestrian routes. There are several connections across Caddies Creek into nearby existing residential neighbourhoods.

• Retail areas and residential areas to the south of the Rouse Hill Strategic Centre are relatively walkable, falling within the 15 minute walking catchment from the Metro Station. Residential areas in the north of the Precinct (north of Commercial Road and along Mile End Road) are not as wellconnected to the Station currently, falling outside of the 15 minute walking catchment.

• The western side of the Strategic Centre is bound by Windsor Road, serving as a major impediment to pedestrian walkability and cycling connection from Rouse Hill Metro Station to areas west of the Precinct in the Blacktown Local Government Area.