Safe Accessible Transport program

The Safe Accessible Transport program aims to make public transport safe, inclusive and easy to use for all passengers, especially people with disability, older people, people with prams or luggage and others who may be experiencing mobility problems.

The 2023-2024 NSW Budget allocated a total of $800.7m over four years to implement the new program, which combines the funds of both the existing Transport Access Program (TAP) and Commuter Car Park Program (CCP) and includes an additional $300m commitment.

The program will upgrade stations and wharves to achieve Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport (DSAPT) compliance, improving amenity, access and safety and acknowledging the important role these locations have to the communities they serve.

Location prioritisation

Transport for NSW determines the priority of upgrades using evidence-based criteria, including:

The needs and demographics of passengers who use the location
Whether important services such as hospitals or educational facilities are nearby
Current and future patronage
Cumulative impacts of other construction projects; and
The accessibility of other nearby transport interchanges and facilities.

The list of locations is regularly reviewed so the people of NSW can have confidence that projects are delivered where they are needed most.

Locations

Locations which have been funded for design and investigation work for accessibility upgrades as part of the Safe Accessible Transport program include:

Location	Status
Canberra (operated by TfNSW)	Preliminary investigations
Kempsey	Preliminary investigations
Kendall	Preliminary investigations
Macksville	Preliminary investigations
Nambucca Heads	Preliminary investigations
Sawtell	Preliminary investigations
Urunga	Preliminary investigations
Wingham	Preliminary investigations
Yass	Preliminary investigations

Locations which have been funded for delivery of accessibility upgrades as part of the Safe Accessible Transport program include:

Location	Status
Bardwell Park	Design and planning
Chester Hill	Design and planning
Greenwich Point Wharf	Design and planning
Griffith	Design and planning
Lewisham	Preliminary investigations
Macquarie Fields	Design and planning
Moss Vale	Planning assessment
Queanbeyan	Design and planning
South Mosman Wharf	Design and planning

Planning assessment means planning approval documents are being assessed alongside formal feedback provided by the community and key stakeholders.

Design and planning means through early stakeholder engagement and site investigations, we have developed a concept design, and are now engaging with the community to seek further feedback and planning for delivery of the project.

Preliminary investigations means we are undertaking survey and geotechnical work to understand the site, and will soon be engaging with the community and key stakeholders to seek initial feedback on an indicative design.

Why station accessibility upgrades are needed

Transport is a significant agent of equality and a driver of social and economic activity; accessible transport enables people with disability to participate fully in their community and the economy. A safe, equitable and integrated transport network is important in enabling people across the state to travel safely and confidently to work, appointments, holidays, events, and to visit friends and family.

There are several initiatives underway across the state, focused on ensuring we deliver accessible services to all passengers, regardless of a person’s accessibility needs, socio-economic circumstance, or location.

We are making public transport options safer and more accessible by upgrading stations and wharves, improving the built environment through the installation of more lifts, widening platforms and improving signage and wayfinding. Improving safety particularly for women, girls and gender diverse peoples is also a key aim of the program including improving lighting and active and passive surveillance at transport hubs. The modernisation of the network also helps bring ageing infrastructure in line with legislative requirements, making transport services easier to use for everyone.

Our approach to achieving equal access to our network is underpinned by legislation.

The purpose of the Commonwealth Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (DDA) is to eliminate discrimination against people with a disability in a variety of areas such as employment, services and education. As Transport provides public transport services we are required to upgrade the public transport network to remove discrimination in accessing public transport on the basis of disability. The Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport set out minimum accessibility requirements for public transport providers and ensure that people with disability have equivalent access to public transport services.

The SAT program will contribute towards the NSW Government’s investment in addressing public transport stations, wharves and stops that do not currently meet the requirements of the Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport 2002 (DSAPT).

A copy of the DSAPT can be accessed on the Commonwealth Attorney-General's Departmentwebsite. Further information can also be found on the Australian Human Rights Commissionwebsite.

How are we tracking in NSW?

As of 21 March 2024, 72.6 percent of suburban, intercity, metro and regional stations are now independently accessible.

Transport continues to work towards, and remains committed to, improving accessibility outcomes for our passengers and meeting DSAPT compliance targets. While significant investment and work continues, Transport acknowledges the scheduled 2022 compliance target for infrastructure accessibility is yet to be completed in full. Transport is developing a strategy to manage the completion of DSAPT compliance requirements, which we recognise has been a complex challenge.

Historical station upgrades and commuter car parks

Station accessibility upgrades were historically delivered under the Transport Access Program. There are still some projects being delivered under this program. See the TAP 3 page for more information on upgrades delivered 2019 - 2024. See the Commuter car park program page for more information on car parks delivered under this program.

Other station accessibility upgrades underway

There are a number of station accessibility upgrades being delivered across the rail network under other programs to ensure Transport continues to work towards network wide accessibility. Projects include Mount Colah Station Footbridge Renewal, Tuggerah Station Upgrade, Medlow Bath Upgrade (as part of the Greater Western Highway Upgrade). Sydney Metro have also delivered accessibility upgrades at various City & Southwest locations.

Community and stakeholder engagement

A key focus of the program is improved early and meaningful consultation with key user groups, resulting in better outcomes for our passengers, including people with disability, the elderly, parents and carers with prams, women and children, and the wider community.

In each location, Transport will engage with the following key stakeholder groups as well as the wider community to help plan and design the projects around the communities they serve.

These groups include:

Local people with disability, as well as members and networks of Transport’s Accessible Transport Advisory Committee (ATAC)
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people; and
Women and girls from the local community.