The future of Sydney transport
Inner West Council’s Strategic Transport Planner will address the Australian Institute of Urban Studies (NSW) on future transport and technology on Tuesday 28 March.
The address reflects the determination of Council to lead on transport solutions for the inner west – particularly on finding solutions to intractable problems such as Parramatta Road.
The address to AIUS is by Council’s Strategic Transport Planner Ken Welsh, who is also a strategic transport consultant and president of the International Centre for Integrated Urban Planning & Transport (ICIUPT).
Mr Welsh will provide a snapshot of the future direction of transportation, “Particularly how cities might change as everything from autonomous vehicles to pollution-absorbing paint come into use,” he said.
Chairman of AIUS Dr Bob Solomon said Mr Welsh, “Has had 25 years’ experience in strategic land use and transport planning, with a focus on integration, safety and stakeholder engagement.
“Ken has worked widely both in Australia and internationally, with government agencies and with private enterprise,” Dr Solomon said.
In November 2016, Mr Welsh presented a snapshot of future transport technology at the Sustainable Integrated City conference in Daegu, Korea. He was subsequently asked to provide a similar presentation to the Australian Institute of Traffic Planning & Management (AITPM) last February, which led to the latest invitation to address the Australian Institute of Urban Studies.
“I’m asking, ‘How will technology affect the way we live and why we live?’ Mr Welsh said.
“It’s just four generations ago that jet travel was fantasy. Two generations ago mobile phones were science fiction.
“Today, technology is advancing faster than ever. But are we simply talking about a world of self-driving vehicles, or is there more to it?” Mr Welsh said.
Inner West Council will soon release Parramatta Road Public Transport Opportunities Study – Transforming Parramatta Road, by Bodhi Alliance and EDAB Consulting, who were guided by Mr Welsh.
“The study is a response to State Government’s Parramatta Road Urban Transformation Strategy,” said Inner West Council Administrator Richard Pearson.
“Their strategy recommends a Rapid Bus Service along Parramatta Road, which Council does not believe is an appropriate public transport system for ‘transforming’ Parramatta Road.”
The AIUS 2017 City Briefing Series, Once Upon a Time…Tomorrow Became Today - Future Transport & Technology, is at Bartier Perry Lawyers, 77 Castlereagh Street Sydney, Tuesday 28 March, 5pm - 6.15pm, and will be followed by networking drinks.