For many it is a constant struggle to survive and that battle begins long before they clamber aboard a crowded train.
Firstly, they have to find a car park within walking distance of a station. Then they will most likely stand for an hour and a half as the train rocks and rolls along the 120 year old, archaic route through the Sydney suburbs.
Repeat the whole process in the afternoon and you will soon be suffering from “commuter syndrome”.
I know, because I once commuted to Artarmon for work. I gave up trying to catch the train because I could never get a car park and I ended up driving down every day.
However, there may a light at the end of the tunnel. A NSW Parliamentary inquiry is finally to be held into commuter car parking.
The Inquiry will look at the effectiveness of the current state government policies and programs, the process for selecting the location of commuter car parks, the potential for restricted access or user pays commuter car parks and consideration of alternative modes of first mile/last mile travel, including point to point transport, active transport and on demand buses.
Central Coast Council Group Leader Assets Infrastructure and Business Mike Dowling said Council was already working with Roads and Maritime Service (RMS) and Transport NSW to improve parking in the Gosford CBD and along the rail corridor to Sydney and welcomed the broad scope of the inquiry which would look at more than simply building more car
parks.
“We have already working on a parking strategy as we know it is such a critical issue for not just our commuters but local businesses as well,” Mr. Dowling said.
“We need a comprehensive solution that is not simply about building more car parks and I am pleased to see the scope of the inquiry will also look at public transport connections.
“We are certainly keen to provide our expertise and the work we have already done to the inquiry and will be putting in a submission.
“I would encourage all our commuters to put in a submission as well to help ensure the inquiry comes up with recommendations that will deliver better outcomes for our community.”
Council Administrator Ian Reynolds, said commuting and parking were critical issues on the Coast and it was pleasing to see them getting recognition through this important Parliamentary inquiry.
“With over 40,000 of our workers having to travel outside the Coast it is critical we tackle the issues of parking and local jobs head on,” Mr. Reynolds said.
“If we can come up with a solution that allows our residents to easily access public transport connections to get to the jobs they want, that could be a real game changer for the Central Coast.”
