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| West Footscray Station |
"West Footscray is a vibrant and diverse community, with new residential developments altering the suburb's industrial face. The rebuilt railway station will be an important part of this change, providing another modern transport hub on the city's western fringe. Work at the station started in 2012 and will be completed by early 2014.
The existing West Footscray railway station will continue to operate throughout construction, and pedestrian connection across the railway line will be maintained while our work is carried out. The Rising Sun footbridge and the existing West Footscray railway station overpass will be removed and replaced with a new crossing at the new West Footscray railway station (approximately 160 metres west of the existing station). Additional improvements will be made to accessibility, safety, connectivity and amenity for the West Footscray railway station precinct. Share on twitterShare on linkedinShare on facebook Station features The railway station will be rebuilt approximately 160 metres west of the existing station. It will feature: a covered pedestrian and cycle overpass connecting Sunshine Road and Cross Street stairs, lifts and ramps from the overpass to the station entrances and to all platforms canopies above the station entrances, stairs and platforms station facilities on the overpass, including waiting areas and restrooms landscaped forecourt areas on both sides of the station featuring native grass and tree species, seating, greenery and improved lighting new car parks (with additional parking on the north side of the station), improved connections to buses, and taxi and drop off zones on both sides of the station secure bicycle storage improved pedestrian access to the station, including a signalised crossing on Sunshine Road.
Changes to pedestrian and cycling access The Rising Sun footbridge (on the east side of Geelong Road) was removed in January 2013 to enable the new Regional Rail Link tracks to be constructed south of the existing electrified tracks. Over 2,000 letters were sent to local residents in December 2012 to inform them of the removal of the bridge. A number of key stakeholders have been consulted on the works including Footscray Primary School who has been provided with information on alternative routes to the school. Local residents were also invited to a community barbecue where they could speak with members of the project team about the bridge removal and the changes for pedestrians and cyclists. The project team has also met with individual residents onsite to talk in detail about these changes. While construction is underway, access across the rail corridor will be maintained via the existing West Footscray railway station overpass and Victoria Street.
When the new West Footscray railway station is complete pedestrians and cyclists will be able to cross the corridor via the new station overpass and Victoria Street. Review of pedestrian and cycling access The Footscray – Deer Park project team undertook a review to better understand the implications of removing the Rising Sun footbridge from a technical, economic and community perspective. As part of this review, community feedback was sought through feedback forms distributed to the 5,500 local residents in the local communities of Footscray, Seddon, Kingsville and West Footscray and an information display was held at the Western Bulldogs Family Day in February 2012 with over 5,000 people attending. In early 2012, and again in April 2012, pedestrian counts were performed to understand the use of the Rising Sun footbridge, as well as the pedestrian bridge at West Footscray railway station and Victoria Street underpass. Key aspects and finding included in the review include: a replacement footbridge cannot be built in the same location as existing due to requirements to cater for mobility impaired users and space considerations a review of pedestrian travel paths shows that there is very little (if any) difference in distance to key locations as a consequence of removing the Rising Sun footbridge existing pedestrian usage of Rising Sun footbridge is very low bicycle Network Victoria support the new West Footscray station footbridge as the principle location of cross-corridor connectivity.
For more information read the Rising Sun footbridge position paper (PDF, 13.1 MB, 84 pp.) prepared by the Footscray – Deer Park project team. At a council meeting on 21 August 2012, the council acknowledged the need to remove the Rising Sun footbridge and responded positively to the delivery of a range of improvements to accessibility, safety, connectivity and amenity for the West Footscray railway station precinct. Maribyrnong City Council has prepared a report in support of the Footscray – Deer Park proposal (available from the Council's website) for their Community and Services Special Committee and ratified the decision at a council meeting. The Footscray - Deer Park project team continues to work closely with Maribyrnong City Council to ensure the works proposed for the West Footscray precinct are consistent with their master planning process, including accessibility, connectivity and safety for the area.
Improvements to cycling and pedestrian links The Footscray – Deer Park project team has been working with Maribyrnong City Council on improving pedestrian and cycling links in the West Footscray precinct. These improvements have been informed by Council and community feedback gathered through the project team’s review which helped to identify community concerns and better understand pedestrian and cycling connectivity. These improvements include: a new pedestrian overpass at the rebuilt West Footscray railway station that is wide enough for both pedestrians and cyclists a signalised crossing at Sunshine Road and across the Geelong Road off-ramp for safe access to West Footscray railway station additional lighting at the Geelong Road underpass and Victoria Street underpass extension of the shared path and bicycle network from Cross Street to Buckingham Street full footpath access from the new station to the Geelong Road bus stop creation of new landscaped areas around the rebuilt station improved way finding and enhanced signage in the precinct. A signalised crossing on Sunshine Road will provide safe access to the rebuilt station from the south side of Sunshine Road. We are also exploring the safest option to transfer people from Buckley Street and Kingsville to the signalised crossing. More detail will be provided as the design develops. This work will be carried out in 2013/14. The new West Footscray railway station overpass will be opened in early 2014."
http://www.regionalraillink.vic.gov.au/about/overview/stations/west-footscray-railway-station
