Governments must shift Sydney's focus to public transport and away from new roads carving through built-up urban areas as the city's population races towards 7 million.

That was the view of a range of cities experts and Labor leader Anthony Albanese who addressed The Sydney Morning Herald Population Summit on Monday.

Governments must shift Sydney's focus to public transport and away from new roads, experts say. Credit:Dominic Lorrimer

The Berejiklian government is forging ahead with the construction of significant public transport projects but also with its ambitious motorways agenda, including the $16.8 billion WestConnex mega-tollroad and the $3 billion NorthConnex project.

Mr Albanese, the MP for Grayndler in Sydney's inner west, said that planning and investment in public transport had to be a priority for governments "for cities to function properly".