Transport spending to focus on walking, cycling and public transport

The National Transport Authority (NTA) will focus its investments in walking, cycling and public transport in Dublin, while around-the-clock Luas and Dart service is unlikely to happen any time soon.

A draft review of the Transport Strategy for the Greater Dublin Area is front-loaded with spending on walking, cycling and bus improvements, while the delivery of any new rail routes is further away.

The key aim of the transport strategy in the capital is “to make it easier for people to choose walking cycling and public transport daily, instead of having to use a petrol or diesel car”, NTA chief executive Anne Graham told an online seminar on Tuesday.

Around-the-clock running of Luas and Dart was “probably not feasible” at present due to the need for track and carriage maintenance, said Ms Graham.

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The Luas had a window of only about four hours a night for maintenance while Dart had only slightly longer. While running services through the night had been successfully introduced at Christmas, the maintenance issue is an ongoing restriction making it difficult to introduce this outside special occasions.

She said the NTA was also committed to the creation of a new “demand management regime” for Dublin city, possibly as soon as this year. The measures could take the form of parking restrictions, charges for entering city centre zones and additional tolling. Ms Graham said it was clear the measures would be needed to achieve the target of reducing carbon emissions from the sector by 51 per cent by 2030.

However, she warned that post-lockdown private traffic volumes on the M50 had recovered while public transport usage was still below 2019 levels, particularly in the morning peak. “We need to ensure that public transport customers do not change to car mode,” she said.

Judicial reviews

On the subject of the Government approval of the Dublin Metro this week Ms Graham said Transport Infrastructure Ireland would take the project through building and it was envisaged a planning application would be lodged with An Bord Pleanála this September, and the exact timeframe after that would depend on the number of objections and possible judicial reviews.

In response to further questions, Ms Graham’s deputy Hugh Creegan said it was not likely the construction work would begin before the next general election, which is expected on or before March 2025. Mr Creegan stressed the timetable was not linked to the general election.

Also proposed are three park-and-ride stations along the N11-M11, planning for which will get under way this year. The plans include a “hard shoulder running” bus lane on the route between Loughlinstown in Co Dublin and north of the Glen of the Downs in Co Wicklow.

The NTA also proposes bus lanes on the N4-M4.

Ms Graham said the longer-term rail improvements would include an extension of the Dart to Kilcock, Naas and Sallins in Co Kildare and Wicklow Town; additional train stations at Cabra, Glasnevin, Heuston, West Kylemore, Woodbrook, West of Sallins, West of Loouisa Bridge, and West of Maynooth; the extension of the M3 Parkway to Navan and additional Luas lines post-2042 to include routes to Clongriffin, Balgriffin, Tyrellstown, Blanchardstown, Clondalkin, Kimmage, Knocklyon, UCD and Sandyford.