Dublin's Chamber of Commerce has suggested a water-taxi service as part of one way of beating traffic gridlock on the streets. The organisation also urged the establishment of a part-time traffic policing unit at the busiest times of the day on the roads.
The pleas for action were made in a report seeking short-term measures to improve traffic conditions in central Dublin over the next two years.
The report coincided with an unprecedented period of roadworks in Dublin connected with the construction of a tunnel to the city's port and a new light rail transport system, which has coincided with record numbers of cars on the roads. The main measures recommended by the chamber were:
•A part-time police unit to enforce traffic regulations at peak periods.
•A water-borne taxi service around Dublin Bay and docklands.
•A transfer ticketing system for use on both buses and trains during specified two-hour periods.
• Government funding to upgrade existing suburban rail services and increase passenger capacity by 40 per cent.
Chamber of 'Commerce chief executive Gina Quinn said: "We are highlighting the fact that while Dublin is waiting for the delivery of key pieces of transport infrastructure, there are a number of moves that could be adopted to improve matters up to 2004."