Ten days before the removal of buses from George St, the NSW government is trying to prepare retailers and commuters for unprecedented disruption.
A 12-kilometre route is being dug through the heart of Sydney to make way for light rail and a new bus timetable will be introduced on October 4.
The light rail is expected to take 220 buses off the roads in Sydney's central business district and accommodate a big increase in people expected to travel into the city over the next 10 years.
In the meantime, Transport and Infrastructure Minister Andrew Constance wants commuters to use the government's "Olympic style" Travel Choices program to change their route to work.
He is asking workers to negotiate different start and finish times with their employers to reduce pressure on the transport system in peak times.
Mr Constance said on Wednesday the government will provide workplaces with more than 500 staff with a travel adviser and give tool kits and information to small businesses.
With Christmas approaching, he announced a plan to encourage shoppers to keep coming into the city centre, where there will be attractions such as live bands, fashion parades, street lighting, a nine-metre-tall Christmas tree and wi-fi zones.
But the NSW opposition says the next three years while the light rail is being built will be marked by "confusion, chaos and congestion".
Opposition transport spokesman Ryan Park told reporters on Wednesday that organising fun events to attract shoppers to the city centre is not enough to guarantee retailers enough business.
Mr Park, who is opposed to putting light rail along George St and believes buses are better, said the government should compensate commuters who come into the city because they will not be getting what they pay for.
He told AAP Sydney's streets are not as suited to light rail as Melbourne's and he would have preferred a bus tunnel.
Retailers on George St acknowledge the long-term benefits of light rail but are nervous about the short-term impact.
Strand Arcade jeweller Victoria Buckley told AAP the next few years will be hard on businesses but necessary to reduce congestion and noise made by buses.
Strand Coins owner Mark Duff said some retailers will go out of business.
"Any business that requires a bit of ambience will be stuffed," Mr Duff said.
Mr Duff pays about $200,000 a year in rent and wants the state government to provide subsidies as construction will devalue the location of his shop.
The managers of Cotton On and Priceline said the government's communication with them about the project has been excellent.
Cotton On's Rahul Sahay said Transport NSW representatives had visited him several times and left information under the shop door.
Mr Sahay said he was told the construction wall on George St will be relatively low and see-through so potential customers can spot his store from across the street.
AAP ay/rwj
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