Drop in car usage in Luas areas low - study

Bus usage in Luas catchment areas has almost halved since the light rail service was introduced, while the decrease in car usage has been marginal, a study commissioned by Dublin Transportation Office (DTO) has found.

However, when Luas and bus journeys are combined the percentage of people using public transport has increased in those parts of the city served by the Luas.

The report on travel behaviour and attitudes along the Luas lines - to be published by the DTO today - found the number of residents relying on their car for any journey in areas served by the Luas fell by just 2 per cent in 2006, compared with 2004.

In areas of the city not served by Luas or other rail services car usage increased by 4 per cent over the same period. Bus usage in areas not served by Luas has also increased. Three in 10 residents in Luas catchment regions surveyed said they now use the service at least once a week.

The survey also showed that the Luas is generating additional journeys across the city.

More than a third (35 per cent) of respondents said they are now making journeys they would not have made before the service was introduced, with shopping the primary reason.

Some 45 per cent of Luas passengers surveyed said they had access to a car but decided not to use it, with parking charges and congestion among the reasons cited.

While four out of five respondents believe the Luas has made travel to the city centre easier, only 60 per cent think it has eased overall traffic congestion.

The study for the DTO was carried out by Millward Brown/IMS who interviewed over 3,260 people from 11 areas: four along each Luas line and three parts of the city not served by the Luas.

A Dublin Bus spokeswoman said 9 million passenger journeys a year have been lost from bus routes now served by a Luas line.