[Article] Higgins calls for regional transport planning in Galway

Navan Junction

Lorna Siggins, Western Correspondent, Irish Times, 22/05/2006

Future transportation needs for Galway must be planned for on a regional rather than local basis, said Labour Party president Michael D Higgins.


The Galway West TD was commenting on the publication of an independent plan for a light rail system for the western capital, which was endorsed by him as "imaginative" at a public meeting hosted by the Labour Party in Oranmore last week.

The proposal to address Galway's increasing traffic congestion involves introducing a two-line light rail network, with the first line running from Knocknacarra and Rahoon in the west of the city to Oranmore in the east. The route would take in Terryland, Mervue/Wellpark, and Ballybane/Ballybrit.

The second line would run from Eyre Square to Moycullen via Newcastle, where there would be an interchange between the two routes at NUI Galway. Total network length would be 28kms (17 miles), and there would be minimal disruption as less than 10 per cent of the track-length would be "on street".

The investment could be recouped in 15 years, said independent transport researcher Brian Guckian, who drew up the proposal as one of a series of lines for a number of urban areas which he has submitted to the Department of Transport and local authorities.

Mr Guckian said the concept is not based on the existing Luas in Dublin, but on a much lower cost and flexible model which has been developed on the Continent and in Britain. Light rail technologies can be built for as little as €1.5 million a kilometre, whereas new road schemes can cost up to €10 million a kilometre and more, he said.

Light rail will become an essential part of urban transport as commuting becomes uneconomic, due to the energy crisis, he said.

Mr Guckian agreed that the Corrib light rail proposal should be viewed as "part of a wider sustainable and innovative transportation strategy" for Galway given the area's rapid development.

A "partnership of community and public representatives" could come up with a final proposal which would be submitted to a feasibility study, he said.

Meanwhile, Mr Higgins has criticised CIÉ for giving an "absurdly short" timescale for public submissions on the €750 million redevelopment of its 14-acre site at Ceannt station in Galway city.

The company agreed to accept public submissions up until last Friday t but emphasised that the proposal was still at the pre-planning stage.

The redevelopment will include bus/rail facilities, and may also include a retail, office and residential space.

© The Irish Times

Chris_533976

Good idea, but it would be a national disgrace if Galway got a LUAS before Cork

base2

Galway is too small a place for this sort of plan. The problem with Galway has been poor planning regarding the location of services and houses.

spacetweek

base2 wrote:

Galway is too small a place for this sort of plan. The problem with Galway has been poor planning regarding the location of services and houses.

Don't blow it out of the water. The city can always grow into its Luas lines.

How would this be funded though?

Victor

Can someone do us a map?

bazzer06

there's a route map here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corrib_Light_Rail

Chris_533976

After what I said earlier about Cork vs. Galway, I have been living in Galway and seeing its traffic snarlups for a while, and thinking about it, this idea is absolutely fantastic.

The routes are a great idea, but I wouldnt agree with going all the way to Oranmore and Moycullen though. Too far IMO, but the basic idea is excellent. Not sure how they're gonna fit two dirty great tram lines in and say "Only 10% is onstreet"

Edit: All that said, Cork needs light rail more than Galway, say from the Train Station to Ballincollig, passing the bus station, Washington Street, UCC, CIT etc. And another from Blackpool to the Airport, say. At least Galway has a half decent bus service, unlike Cork.