Sir, - The battle between the troglodytes and flat carthers over the format of the city centre portion of LUAS continues apace. Some say that if it goes underground, it will not only cost an arm and a leg, but also provide new playgrounds for thieves murderers, muggers, rapists, buskers and sundry other unsavoury forms of subterranean life.
Should it be installed on the surface, others opine, city traffic will come to a standstill. Utilities will be disrupted for several years. Dail Eireann will have to convene in Athlone and The Irish Tines will be published weekly.
Could the solution to this impasse be to have the city centre stretch of LUAS elevated above the roadways? This would fit in with elevated section of the Harcourt Street line, from the Nine Arches inward, and would dovetail with the already raised stretch of Dart from Westland Row to Connolly. Gracious arches spanning the streets would entail no interference with vehicular traffic and minimal interference with existing utilities - indeed, some of the arches might be subsidised by hamburger franchises!
Perhaps Dublin Transport initiative might consider making the city centre portion of LUAS, Suas. - Yours, etc.
Dartry,
Dublin 6.