Parramatta Lord Mayor Lorraine Wearne has called for Infrastructure Australia to allocate funding to the light rail link project proposed by Parramatta Council.
Cr Wearne said it would not have been the right decision for the federal government to move the $2.1 billion set aside for the Parramatta to Epping link to fund the north west rail link.
The federal body earlier today ruled out shifting the funding, as had been suggested by Infrastructure NSW.
"And the federal government has always held this position," Cr Wearne said.
"That money was set aside to provide connections to Parramatta.
"But if the funding was to be moved anywhere it should be moved to the light rail link project, which will link up the northern and southern parts of western Sydney."
She said the Parramatta to Epping link was important too and so was the north west rail link, but the latter would only continue to take people into the city, which was already full to capacity.
"We can't just keep providing transport that's east to west because jobs need to be created elsewhere there just won't be enough room in Sydney city in ten years time."
The state government insisted that the north west rail link project would go ahead yesterday, despite the application for funding being rejected by the federal body.
Commuters heading to Parramatta from the Hills were left speculating whether a rail link would ever be provided.
Jose Romo, 59, who catches a bus from Rouse Hill to Parramatta every day, said he’ll be dead by the time the North West Rail Link was built.
‘‘Politicians tend to make too many promises just to make you vote for them,’’ the Rouse Hill resident said.
‘‘And then they pull out and there’s not much you can do.’’
Reports said Infrastructure Australia had formally rejected a request from the state government to fund the rail project, saying it was not the top priority for the state.
Infrastructure NSW had asked for the $2.1 billion allocated for the Epping to Parramatta rail link to be transferred to the north-west project, but this request was knocked back.
Parramatta MP Julie Owens said Infrastructure Australia had not made a final decision about whether or not federal funding would be provided for the rail link.
‘‘Nothing has been decided; state government bureaucrats are meeting with the federal government today,’’ Ms Owens said yesterday.
‘‘Both of the Parramatta to Epping link and the north west rail link should go ahead, it shouldn’t be an either/or situation.’’
Ms Owens said the two projects had been a long time coming and were only two of the many projects essential for the future of western Sydney.
‘‘There’s also the completion of the M4, the widening of the M5 and numerous other projects which need to be completed.
‘‘The money for the Parramatta to Epping rail link is actually there, it’s been set aside already and the north west rail link is an important priority too.
‘‘We should get at least one of these projects done and soon.’’