Activate Parramatta outlines measures to maintain foot traffic, create activity around construction zones and develop unique experiences that will encourage patronage along the alignment.
Measures outlined in Activate Parramatta include:
• Public events, street art, installations and live entertainment.
• Pop-up ‘parklets’ with temporary greenspace and outdoor seating.
• Business Advisory Services: free one-on-one support including specialist workshops and marketing advice.
• A Business Reference Group (BRG) to provide local knowledge, advice and recommendations to the Parramatta Light Rail project team.
• Business forums and networking opportunities offering educational tools and resources on a range of topics.
• Attractive wayfinding signs to communicate changed access arrangements and create awareness of the dining and retail options on offer.
• ‘Shop Local’ campaigns to attract visitors and shoppers.
• Vacant premises to be considered for pop-up galleries, cafes and retail space
• Light rail street celebrations or ‘launch events’ as each section is completed.
• Pop-up ‘parklets’ with temporary greenspace and outdoor seating.
• Business Advisory Services: free one-on-one support including specialist workshops and marketing advice.
• A Business Reference Group (BRG) to provide local knowledge, advice and recommendations to the Parramatta Light Rail project team.
• Business forums and networking opportunities offering educational tools and resources on a range of topics.
• Attractive wayfinding signs to communicate changed access arrangements and create awareness of the dining and retail options on offer.
• ‘Shop Local’ campaigns to attract visitors and shoppers.
• Vacant premises to be considered for pop-up galleries, cafes and retail space
• Light rail street celebrations or ‘launch events’ as each section is completed.
Activate Parramatta will extend across five key precincts including Westmead, Parramatta North, the ‘Eat Street’ dining district, the Parramatta CBD, and Camellia to Carlingford.
Transport for NSW will work closely with all businesses along the route to ensure they are aware of the wide range of support and services on offer.
Each business activation initiative endeavours to promote the vibrancy and unique identities of precincts to attract visitors and communicate that businesses are open during construction.
Transport for NSW is also investigating how Eat Street could benefit from a flexible construction schedule which works around the street’s busiest trading times, weekends, early evenings and holidays.
Construction on Parramatta’s busy ‘Eat Street’ is guaranteed not to commence until 2020.
Activate Parramatta has been developed in consultation with key stakeholders including Transport for NSW’s Sydney Coordination Office, City of Parramatta Council, Parramatta Chamber of Commerce and Parramatta Light Rail’s Business Reference Group to ensure a coordinated approach.
Stage 1 of the Parramatta Light Rail will connect Westmead to Carlingford via Parramatta CBD and Camellia and will transport nearly 30,000 passengers per day.
Roadworks and traffic changes associated with the Parramatta Light Rail will begin in late 2018, with main works to commence in 2019 and in Parramatta’s Eat Street from 2020.
More information will be announced after the awarding of final contracts for the major works, with light rail services expected to commence in 2023.
For more information and to view the Activate Parramatta plan, visit
