Bourke Street Upgrades

Project Background

Bourke Street, Queens Park is an important road in Waverley. It runs north - south between Birrell Street and Queens Park Road and forms part of one of six priority bike path routes identified in the Waverley Bike Plan 2013. The 356 bus from Eastgardens to Bondi Junction runs through the street as well as a number of school routes.

At present, Bourke Street operates with bicycle lanes situated within the shoulder lanes between parked cars and travel lanes. This arrangement presents safety concerns, particularly for bike users travelling uphill where they are travelling at considerably lower speeds than cars, trucks, and buses. Separation of bike users from the travel lane is preferred under these circumstances. Further to recent bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure upgrades along Birrell Street and Queens Park Road, it is timely to consider upgrades to Bourke Street which forms a connection between these two streets.

The proposed upgrades will improve the safety of pedestrian and cycling facilities in line with Council’s People, Movement and Places Strategy and the Waverley Bike Plan 2013, resulting in an improved experience for pedestrians, bicycle riders, motorists and public transport users along the street. Two options are being considered for the proposed upgrades with improved intersection treatments to promote pedestrian safety incorporated in both designs.

Expected outcomes

• Additional parking spaces
• Safer pedestrian islands and crossings
• Northbound separated bike path (Option 1) or bike lane (Option 2)
• Greater connectivity with existing bike routes
• Relocation of bus stops to facilitate additional parking spaces
• New trees attracting greater biodiversity and enhancing street appeal
• Improvements to stormwater drainage