Overview

Background

The NSW Fast Rail project represents a transformative vision for the state's transportation infrastructure, aiming to drastically reduce travel times between key regional centers and Sydney, thereby enhancing connectivity, economic opportunities, and access to services. This ambitious project formed part of a broader strategy to future-proof NSW’s transport networks, responding to growing population demands and shifting economic landscapes.

Objective

Within this visionary context, Andy Wilson's objective was to meticulously analyze various fast rail options, applying sophisticated modelling techniques to assess their feasibility, impact, and alignment with long-term transport and urban development goals.

Role

Reporting to the Fast Rail Modelling Manager, Andy’s role was multifaceted, reflecting a deep engagement with both the technical and strategic dimensions of transport modelling:

Technical Modelling:

• Andy spearheaded the assessment of STM (Sydney Travel Model) outputs, focusing on the integration of fast rail options and their implications under various scenarios, including the evolving impacts of COVID-19 and different model versions.
• He adeptly ran simulations using STM3.8, incorporating TZP16, TZP19, and TZP22 land uses, alongside testing the new Work From Home (WFH) module, to provide a nuanced understanding of potential travel patterns and demand shifts.

Capabilities Demonstrated:

• Analytical Rigor: Andy's work required a high level of analytical skill to dissect complex datasets and model outputs, ensuring accuracy and relevance in the findings.
• Technical Proficiency: Proficiency in using advanced transport modelling tools and software, such as STM, was crucial for simulating the scenarios and understanding the nuanced impacts of fast rail.
• Collaborative Expertise: Engaging with economists, Andy facilitated a multidisciplinary approach, synthesizing technical model outputs with economic analyses to craft a comprehensive picture of the project’s feasibility and benefits.
  

Outcomes

The culmination of Andy’s efforts was a robust set of deliverables that significantly contributed to the project's strategic and economic evaluation:

• Comprehensive Report: A detailed report encapsulating all findings from the transport modelling exercises, offering insights into travel time reductions, demand forecasting, and potential impacts on regional connectivity and urban development.

• Economic Spreadsheet Outputs: Andy provided crucial inputs for the project's economic analysis by supplying refined spreadsheet outputs from the model. These outputs enabled economists to accurately assess the economic viability, cost-benefit ratios, and broader economic impacts of the fast rail options.

These outcomes laid a solid foundation for its economic analysis, driving forward the project's development and planning phases. Andy’s contribution thus played an important technical role in exploring options for future NSW generations.