WORLD YOUTH DAY
World Youth Day (WYD) is the largest youth event in the world and will be held in Sydney from Tuesday 15 to Sunday 20 July 2008.

Organised by the Catholic Church, WYD brings together young people from around the globe to celebrate and learn about their faith on a more regular basis.

During this period there will be major changes to traffic flow and conditions – particularly around the CBD and Randwick Racecourse.

The following taxi ranks will be affected each day between 10am and midnight from Tuesday 15 July until Friday 18 July:

• Alfred St. Circular Quay rank will be closed and replaced by a temporary rank in Pitt Street on the Western side between Underwood Street and Alfred Street. The existing rank on the Eastern side of Pitt Street will be closed. Access will be via Loftus Street and Alfred Street.
• The Four Seasons Hotel rank in George Street will be relocated into Essex Street with access to and from Harrington Street.
• Access to the Park Hyatt, Pier One and the Sydney Theatre in Hickson Road will be via Cumberland Street, Lower Fort St and George Street.
  The following changes will happen between 12:00am on Saturday 19 July and midnight Sunday 20 July:
• The Central Station rank at the Country Platform will be relocated onto the Eastern side of George Street between Rawson Place and Pitt Street. Access to the rank will be via Ultimo Road and George Street.
• The taxi rank at North Sydney Station will be relocated to the Western side of Miller Street between Blue Street and the Pacific Highway between 2:00am and 5:00pm on Saturday 19 July. Access is via Miller Street, Blues Point Road, William Street then Blue Street.
• The taxi rank at the Entertainment Quarter should be accessed most easily via Cook Road and Lang Road on Saturday 19 and Sunday 20. Access may also be available via Driver Avenue and Lang Road depending on the impact of pedestrian activity.

More details about the broader traffic changes are available at www.rta.nsw.gov.au or call the WYD Hotline on 1300 993 793.

Sydney 2030 Plan
The NSW Taxi Council recently attended a workshop regarding the City of Sydney’s disability access plan and the Sydney 2020 plan. There was a considerable emphasis put on the need for more drop-off and pick up locations in the City and the importance of the role Wheelchair Accessible Taxis (and other taxis) play in the lives of people with disabilities.

City of Sydney Rangers
The Taxi Council has been told that the City of Sydney rangers will be keeping an eye out for taxis stopping on pedestrian crossings (such as those at Martin Place) and will be issuing infringement notices.
Stopping on pedestrian crossings is regarded as a dangerous practice and is a demerit point offence. As a suggestion, if you are looking to drop at Martin Place, try using the No Stopping – Taxis Excepted (1 Minute Limit) space just north of Martin Place on Elizabeth – it’s nearby and it’s legal.

Opera House Lights Up For Taxis
The Sydney Opera House has installed a taxi light in the window of the Gatehouse at the entrance to the Opera House, which will provide an easier notification to drivers whether vehicles are required in the forecourt.

Avoid a Ticket – Use The New Rank
A new rank has been established in Jamison Street near George Street in a bid to stop taxi drivers stopping illegally in George Street outside the National Australia Bank building. The City of Sydney has recently stepped up its policing of the illegal stopping area outside NAB, and taxi drivers have been offered a new legal rank instead.

Burwood Station
The NSW Taxi Council has thanked Burwood Council for responding so swiftly to an Industry complaint about the reduction in capacity of the taxi rank at Burwood Station. Burwood Council has now extended the rank to accommodate six taxis.

Burwood Council provided some interesting feedback – when asking taxi drivers for their opinion on the rank, drivers were apparently “extremely helpful and polite” – no doubt a big contributor to the great outcome.

Worth Street, Penrith
Penrith City Council has agreed to install a “No Parking (Taxi set down and pick up point)” sign on the western side of Worth Street about 10m north of the intersection with Union Lane., and on the rear of the signage there will be a passenger notification that the location is a “Taxi Pick Up Point”.

Star City Rank – Closed on 3 June
The entire Star City complex will be closed between 8:30am and 3:00pm, for annual regulatory tests on the power and essential service equipment.
All emergency systems will be checked to ensure the safety of patrons and staff in the event of a power failure or fire. It will affect the entire complex including the hotel, gaming floors, restaurants, car park, and hotel driveway.
During the shut down, the taxi rank on Jones Bay Road will be occupied by heavy machinery (generator).

South Parade, Auburn Station
The rank at the station has been returned to its original location after the completion of the station upgrade – but it has been reduced in size.
The NSW Taxi Council is seeking feedback from drivers about the adequacy of the new rank and any particular times of the day/week when there are more cabs than available spaces on the rank.
If there are problems the Taxi Council will resume discussions with Auburn Council.

Tooheys Lane, Lidcombe
Auburn Council has advised us that taxi drivers are not using the taxi rank in Tooheys Lane at Lidcombe, but continue to use the space in Church Street which was installed as a temporary rank.
Auburn Council is under pressure to reallocate one or other of the ranks for parking and or drop-off areas.
The Taxi Council welcomes any feedback from taxi drivers to help ensure adequate capacity for taxis is maintained in this area.