CBD Freight Movement
and Servicing workshops
1
April 2015 | Version: 1
Contents
CBD Freight Movement and Servicing workshops
3
Issues and solutions identified by workshop participants
4
Key topics discussed across workshops
6
What workshop participants said
7
Potential trials and actions
8
How the trials will work ... next steps10
Author:
Michael Stokoe, Sonia McGregor
Date:
April 2015
Version:
1
Reference:
n/a
Division:
Freight and Regional Development
Review Date:
April 2016
CBD Freight Movement
and Servicing workshops
Transport for NSW (TfNSW) hosted three workshops in February 2015 for service, delivery and
trade workers, and the businesses they serve. The workshops focused on future changes to the
Sydney CBD transport networks, and the challenges of keeping Sydney “open for business”
during the city’s transformation. TfNSW gained valuable insights and ideas from the participants
who generously gave up their time to attend the three workshops.
Participants from a range of very different businesses expressed their willingness to work
together to come up with possible solutions to the challenges raised. Some of these solutions
could have a lasting effect on reducing CBD congestion and improving overall efficiency.
TfNSW briefed guests about the changes to the CBD transport network as a result of the light
rail construction and other public transport improvements. This brief also provided some highlevel information about the planned removal and relocation of some kerbside loading spaces.
Participants engaged in discussions to identify current and future issues around deliveries and
servicing. They also developed a range of potential solutions which led to identifying trials that
could be undertaken.
Everyone who filled in feedback forms said they felt better informed after the workshops, and
two-thirds indicated that they would be personally interested in participating in a trial.
This document combines information participants provided during all three workshops. This
includes issues and possible solutions. The table on pages four and five consolidates issues and
solutions from participants in all three workshops.
Initial trials and the way forward are identified from page eight. The CBD Freight team looks
forward to engaging with businesses to plan and implement them.
CBD Freight Movement and Servicing workshops approach | April 2015
3
Issues and solutions identified
by workshop participants
Issue
Suggested solutions
Loading zone use
• Better management of available space.
Unauthorised vehicles occupying spaces and
authorised vehicles over-staying (multiple
ticket button presses). Both take space away
from other legitimate users.
• Review regulations.
Priority and timed deliveries
• Loading dock booking systems.
Some goods, e.g. fresh food and overnight air
freight, must be delivered as a priority during
the morning peak. Customer-set time frames
mean tight timeframes/KPIs.
• Prioritise windows for different types of products/
deliveries, e.g. stagger them.
Retimed delivery
• Investigate alternatives that do not need staff on
the premises. Trusted supplier relationships.
Deliveries outside peak times.
• Technology for booking, monitoring and reporting
on-street loading space. Also smart phone app for
locating spots.
• In ground monitoring, reporting and booking
technology for booking on-street loading space.
Also smart phone app for locating spots.
• Diverting deliveries to lockers, secure and dedicated
spaces in other commercial buildings or hotels.
• Centralised mail/delivery rooms in larger buildings –
could also cater for other premises.
Competition for space on the street
Less space will be available as CBD
transformation projects are undertaken.
• To compensate for this investigate space off the
street e.g. loading docks, car parks, hotels and
office towers.
Provision of information
• Develop a communication plan to keep us informed.
When and where will changes happen? We
need this information so we can plan.
• Regular and timely notifications about upcoming
work.
Access to off-street parking
• Investigate alternative space off the street.
Standard parking station fee structures can
discourage patronage by tradespeople and
service providers.
• Purchase and manage some capacity off the street.
• Introduce rates for genuine tradespeople and other
service providers.
• Space should be suitable for larger vehicles, e.g.
over 1.9m high, if possible.
Maximising productivity
Dock management rules do not allow couriers
to service more than one property.
• Find means to allow couriers to park in one place
and carry out multiple deliveries securely.
• Develop off-street courier zones in centralised
locations.
Emergency access
• Develop emergency services plan.
This includes emergency services and
responding to building emergencies such as
burst water pipes and dangerous electrical
malfunctions.
• Regular communication.
CBD Freight Movement and Servicing workshops approach | April 2015
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Issue
Suggested solutions
Retimed deliveries
• Install better lighting, security cameras and lockers.
Night time deliveries present security and
safety risks for people and goods.
• Improve footpaths for safer use at night.
• Delivery hubs/cages in locations already with 24/7
concierge/security staff, e.g. hotels and office towers.
• Could self storage companies close to the city
provide space for small consolidation centres?
• Extended operating hours for construction deliveries.
WHS challenges
Carrying goods and equipment over longer
distances presents challenges (WHS risks/
rules).
Pavement conflict
Potential conflict with pedestrians with more
trolleys on footpaths.
• CBD freight hubs/lockers with zoned share trolleys
that lock if taken out of area.
• Facilities for tradespeople to drop off tools and
equipment, store them securely and then return
after parking vehicles off the street.
• Education/information program for couriers and
trade/service deliverers.
• CBD freight hubs/lockers with zoned share trolleys
that lock if taken out of area.
• Defined off-street courier zones.
Potential conflict
• Information/education program for all lane users
and CBD businesses.
Safety risks re Castlereagh Street cycleway
during changeover periods – 10:00am, 3:00pm, • Clear explanatory signage.
8:00pm.
• On-the-ground monitoring at the beginning of the
trial period.
Servicing businesses without docks
Buildings without docks are losing nearby
loading zones.
• Investigate alternative drop off zones/lockers and
last leg of delivery by trolley/bicycle.
• Share loading docks with neighbours.
• Retime some deliveries for night time or early
morning.
• Consolidate deliveries outside the CBD.
Increased congestion
• Manage private vehicle use in CBD.
Changes will increase traffic congestion and
impact travel times/costs. More vehicles will
circle the block while waiting for space.
• CBD surcharge on deliveries.
WHS issues and pavement risks
• Prioritise dock and kerb space usage.
Difficult to deliver goods, e.g. heavy objects,
beer kegs etc.
• Retime deliveries of larger, heavy goods where
possible.
Congestion – construction
• Marshalling areas for construction vehicles.
Concrete must get from batching plant to site
within 40 minutes. Land rezoning means some
plants will need to relocate further from the CBD.
• Inter-peak deliveries.
• Investigate consolidation of suitable materials
outside CBD.
CBD Freight Movement and Servicing workshops approach | April 2015
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Key topics discussed across workshops
Workshop 1
Workshop 2
Parking for
trade vehicles
Emergency access
Out of CBD
consolidation
Communication
Spare capacity
off-street
Urban planning
/DAs
Use and access of
loading docks
Retimed
deliveries
Prioritise on-street
loading zone use
Sharing on-street
space
Freight drop
points
Identify underutilised spaces
CBD fringe truck
marshalling
Workshop 3
Common topics came up in all workshops. This diagram highlights the theme of the
discussions. Specific topics were raised in some workshops generally reflecting the interests
of particular participants.
CBD Freight Movement and Servicing workshops approach | April 2015
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What workshop participants said
“There is plenty of
parking space in office
towers and hotel docks
in the afternoon and
at night.”
“We can all talk about loss
but let’s look at what can
be achieved by making the
small, forgotten spaces
work for us over the next
four years.”
“There’s more certainty
around travel times
outside the peaks.”
“The incentives for
construction deliveries
between the peaks would
be faster trips and no
penalty rates.”
“My guys could have
an app on their smart
phones to show them
where the spaces are.”
“Our dock is empty
in the afternoons –
we could share the
space then.”
“One of our buildings has
a centralised mail room for
everything from flowers
to biscuits and stationery.
This could work in other
buildings.”
“The hospitality industry is
ideal for trialling night time
deliveries. Hotels are 24/7
operations with concierges
and security staff on hand.”
CBD Freight Movement and Servicing workshops approach | April 2015
“Trucks could be held
in yards close to the
city and called in when
space is available.”
7
Potential trials and actions
Based on feedback from the workshops, TfNSW sees the following as potential trials and
actions that could be developed and undertaken. More than one approach may be required
to address issues and there are overlaps in the concepts below. The boundaries of each trial
can be established during its development and will depend on which organisations choose to
participate.
Trial
Outline
Loading zone use
• Better management of available loading zone
space.
• This could include consideration of rules and
regulations for loading zones and applying
technological solutions to better manage (book and
monitor) the space.
• Capabilities for trades people to drop tools,
equipment and people (see also Off-street parking
for trade vehicles).
Permits and booked deliveries
• Prioritising time critical activities
• Allow booking of space
• Could be applied to on or off street locations
Providing timely information
Action for TfNSW
• Provide information for businesses and service
providers that will enable them to plan operational
approaches.
• Education programs.
Retimed /overnight deliveries
• Investigate methods for deliveries to be completed
outside normal business hours.
• Comments generally identify this being carried out
to a point just short of delivery to the final customer
such as to a locker/refrigerated locker in reasonable
proximity to the customer.
• The hospitality sector was discussed as an area
with potential (see also Consolidating freight for
delivery).
Broader loading dock and car park access
• This has multiple applications to other trial subjects
– particularly to larger vehicles.
• Explore options for vehicles to deliver/service to
neighbourhood locations from a loading dock, e.g.
permission from property managers.
Off-street parking for trade vehicles
• Develop propositions for trade vehicles to park
in convenient off-street locations for prolonged
periods.
Off-street space for use as drop points
• Could be developed in conjunction with the above.
• Delivery cage/hubs with 24/7 access.
• “Mailroom” concepts to manage deliveries to one or
more neighbouring buildings.
CBD Freight Movement and Servicing workshops approach | April 2015
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Trial
Outline
Off-street space for use as courier zones
• Enabling timely courier deliveries to occur from
centralised locations.
• Maximising productivity and minimising vehicle
repositioning.
Consolidating freight for delivery
• Identify sectors where this would be possible/
beneficial.
• The result would be fewer vehicles operating in the
CBD.
• Timing of deliveries could be more flexible.
• Investigate how freight can be consolidated outside
the CBD and delivered at feasible times (see also
Off street space for use as drop points).
• In other cities this has been used to good effect for
smaller types of construction materials.
Last leg delivery methods - alternative
vehicles/equipment
• Exploring whether alternative vehicles can be used
for delivery and servicing in the CBD that
—— Enable greater flexibility
—— Greater efficiency
—— Address environmental concerns
• This might be applied to various areas of the city
during construction.
Marshalling areas on the CBD fringe for large
vehicles/improving construction industry
vehicle practices
• Areas for large vehicles to pause before entering
the CBD. Avoid causing in-block congestion (see
also Retimed/overnight deliveries).
Land use planning, environmental planning
considerations
• Longer term considerations of what will lead to
greater efficiency.
CBD Freight Movement and Servicing workshops approach | April 2015
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How the trials will work ... next steps
The workshops have given us a good insight into the challenges you face and the solutions you
identify. With this information, TfNSW aims to work on developing these solutions into viable
trials. The primary objective of trials is to:
•To keep Sydney’s CBD open for business
•To maintain and, ideally, improve productivity of freight and servicing to CBD businesses
•Address any safety concerns
•To consider how to get though the transformation period AND deliver ongoing legacies
•In any trials we plan to undertake, we must look at how it will achieve one or more of these
objectives.
To develop the trials, it is essential there is ongoing cooperation between all parties to achieve
this. We anticipate forming groups of the interested parties who are committed to making a
specific trial happen and be a success.
Priorities will be influenced by construction timelines of key projects that will impact some specific areas
of the CBD. Further information on this will be shared as soon as possible.
Establish trial
working groups
Who, what,
when, where,
how
Undertake
workshops
Gather
any further
feedback
Prioritise
actions / trials
Develop
priority trials
Manage
the trials
Evaluate and
close trials
Decisions
on next steps
Making trialled
activity business
as usual
What we would like you to do
-
Review this document and provide any further comments.
-
Consider what and where are your priorities.
-
Consider how your business may wish to participate in potential trials.
You can respond by sending an email to [email protected]
or phoning 02 8202 2502.
CBD Freight Movement and Servicing workshops approach | April 2015
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transport.nsw.gov.au
Tel02 8202 2502 Fax 02 8202 3191
18 Lee Street Chippendale NSW 2008
PO Box K659 Haymarket 1240
freight.transport.nsw.gov.au
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with respect to the accuracy of any information, data or representation. The authors
(including copyright owners) expressly disclaim all liability in respect of anything done or
omitted to be done and the consequences upon reliance of the contents of this information.
© Transport for New South Wales
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