METRO//NEWS 24/09/08

 Parramatta's traffic lights go green (RTA) 
A $19 million upgrade to the State’s traffic light network that cut greenhouse gas emissions by more than 10,000 tonnes a year has been completed with the final set of lights being switched over in Parramatta today.


Plea to Rees: save metro project (Sydney Morning Herald) 
Business is urging the NSW Government not to abandon Sydney's North West Metro rail project, after Premier Nathan Rees said he was backing away from it.


Moore returned with 2030 vision (Sydney morning Herald) 
LORD Mayor Clover Moore was triumphant after her re-election last night, promising to implement her 2030 vision for the city.


Better public transport for $6b less (Sydney Morning Herald) 
How can NSW reconcile its wish for better public transport and its perilous balance sheet? Here are three initiatives that could help. First, scrap the North West Metro beyond Epping and replace it with the original plan, the North West Rail Link.


Roozendaal casts doubt over metro (ABC News) 
New South Wales Treasurer Eric Roozendaal has cast doubt over the future of Sydney's North-West Metro rail line.


Rees warned off scrapping North West Metro rail project (Daily Telegraph) 
NATHAN Rees is facing his first real test as NSW Premier with big business urging him not to abandon Sydney's North West Metro rail project after he admitted it could be scrapped.


Rees mulls tax hikes, axing rail project (The Age) 
NSW Premier Nathan Rees has been warned against raising business taxes and ditching a massive rail project as he grapples with a projected $1 billion deficit.


North-West Metro 'still on the table' (ABC News) 
New South Wales Deputy Premier Carmel Tebbutt says public transport remains a top priority, despite speculation the Government may shelve the $12 billion North-West Metro rail plan.


Commuters plead for Nathan Rees to save Metro Link (Daily Telegraph) 
THE long-suffering commuters of Sydney's northwest have an urgent message for Nathan Rees: Don't dump our $12 billion metro rail link.


Why we can't afford the $12b Metro (Sydney Morning Herald) 
THE $12 billion North West Metro should be replaced with an Epping to Rouse Hill extension and train guards removed from weekend and off-peak services in an attempt to patch together the state's finances, a leading transport commentator says.


Rees unveils metro-style bus trial (ABC News) 
There may be a question mark hanging over Sydney's North-West Metro rail line, but a trial of a metro-style bus service for inner city suburbs is about to get underway.


Rees to ask for infrastructure funding (ninemsn.com.au) 
NSW will send Canberra a wish-list of infrastructure projects it hopes will receive commonwealth funding, amid speculation major transport projects are bound for the scrapheap.


North West Metro a waste of time and money (Daily Telegraph) 
The Daily Telegraph can reveal at least 100 people are turning up to work every day on the $12 billion North West Metro rail project, despite the State Government warning it could soon be scrapped.


New business grants to help revitalise Sydney's laneways (hospitalitymagazine.com.au) 
The City of Sydney wants to offer businesses grants of up to $30,000 as part of its plans to bring the city’s central business district laneway and “forgotten spaces” back to life.


More time for luck in a big city (PSnews) 
A proposal to extend the “core time” of cities from 9-to-5 to a 14 hour spread is among the issues to be explored at the 9th World Congress of Metropolis being hosted by the NSW Government in Sydney in October.