All aboard...
Assessments of two new Metro routes in south Dublin and a rail line to Navan will form part of a review of a transport strategy for the Greater Dublin Area in the coming years.
On Thursday, the National Transport Authority (NTA) published an Issues Paper as an initial part of the statutory review of the transport strategy and called on the public to provide their views as part of a consultation process.
It is the first of two major consultation processes as part of a review that will assess the implementation of the existing transport plan for the Greater Dublin Area with a view to producing an updated strategy right up until 2042.
In advance of a draft strategy review due to be published next summer, the NTA said a number of studies will be undertaken to be fed into the review process.
Included in those studies will be:
- Assessment of Metro to Terenure-Rathfarnham-Knocklyon
- Assessment of Metro to UCD-Sandyford
- Assessment of a rail line to Navan
In March 2019, the NTA confirmed that it planned to terminate the new Metrolink line running from Swords in north Dublin at the Charlemont Luas stop in Dublin city centre.
The decision was taken following reports that the original planned Metrolink route, to Sandyford in South Dublin, would result in a disruption of Luas Green Line services for four years.
The decision prompted calls from Colm Brophy of Fine Gael to explore a Metrolink route to Rathfarnham, Knocklyon and Firhouse, areas which Brophy said have not been well serviced by public transport “for many years” .
A renewed rail link to Navan from Dublin, meanwhile, has been proposed on numerous occasions over the years, but was not included in the government’s Project Ireland 2040 strategy despite an extension to Navan from Clonee having supposed to have opened in 2015 as part of the then-government’s Transport 21 programme.
The NTA said that the revised strategy will reflect national policies on sustainability as set out in climate action and low carbon legislation, and in climate action plans, as well as the impact of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, beyond the short-term.
“This consultation plays an important role in planning a transport system that is fit for purpose, and responsive to the needs of the public,” said Minister for Transport, Eamon Ryan TD.
“I would encourage everyone to engage, read through the discussion document and make your feedback known. This is about improving our overall transport system and deciding how we travel through our local area, how we bring our children to school, travel to work and visit friends and family.”
The NTA Issues paper can be read
here and members of the public can complete an online feedback form
here.
