Dublin transport office reaffirms support for light rail transit plan

THE newly established Dublin Transportation Office, which is charged with co-ordinating implementation of the capital's transportation strategy, has reaffirmed its support for CIE's £200 million light rail transit plan serving Dundrum and Tallaght.

In its first "status report" on the Dublin Transportation Initiative's strategy, the DTO said it was "satisfied" that the two lines should be pressed ahead in the context of the EU funded transport programme as they could be implemented more readily within the "very tight" time scale.

Although the European Commission has ordered a further study to determine whether a line to Ballymun should be built before the Dundrum line, the DTO said the lines provisionally agreed by the Government offered a greater potential for shifting commuters from private cars to public transport.

Referring to recent suggested alternatives to LRT, the DTO said it was "equally satisfied that an on street light rail option better meets the Dublin Transportation Initiative's vision than any underground system" and it noted the development of many on street systems throughout Europe.

Conceding that there has been "some slippage" in the timetable of major projects, such as LRT, the port tunnel and the completion of the M50, the DTO report "strongly recommends" that they should be pressed ahead "otherwise the window of opportunity presented by the EU funded Operational Programme may be missed".

According to the DTO, quality bus corridors (QBCs) are being given a high priority because they can have an immediate impact in persuading car commuters to transfer to public transport. Accordingly, a "disproportionate" share of the budget was being allocated to implement all 10 recommended QBCs by the end of 1997.

Inaugurating the DTO's office in St Stephen's Green, the Minister for the Environment, Mr Howlin, said he expected a consultancy report in about three months on the appointment of a Director of Traffic for Dublin to take over responsibility for traffic wardens, on the spot parking fines and the introduction of wheel clamping.

The DTO, which is run by a steering committee representing the various public agencies, has set up project teams on cycling, environmental traffic planning, parking restraint, park and ride facilities, the port tunnel, LRT and quality bus corridors. A local authority committee and consultative panel have also been appointed.

Mr John Henry, the DTO's director and a former engineer with South Dublin County Council, said this represented "a turning point" because it put in place a mechanism to implement the agreed transport strategy for the capital. "Today, the car is dominant in the city of Dublin. We must give the city back to the people," he declared.

Regarding the largely tunnelled port access route, the report confirms that its "current estimated cost" is £130 million, £24 million more than the original figure. It also says that tolling and traffic management measures, to encourage heavy trucks to use the port tunnel, must be an integral part of the scheme.

The DTO, which is chaired by Mr John Mahony, formerly of the Office of Public Works, and reports to the Minister for the Environment, has pledged to maintain an "open door" policy in its dealings with the public and says it will be issuing regular bulletins on the progress being made to implement Dublin's £1.2 billion transport strategy.