Gamble Now ! What Transport 21 Items funded in 2007/08 Budget ?

trellheim

Well we have two weeks to go.... what do you reckon Biffo will open the wallet for this year ?


My predictions :
1: Maglev Offaly / Merrion Sq ?
2: WRC to Collooney
3: Reopen the North Kerry Line
4: Interconnector

Spot the odd one out

PS [ It's the maglev - it's the only one likely to be built . ]

markf909

I could be mistaken but I thought I heard that capital spending will be increased in this budget?

Chris_533976

WRC
Higher roads budget
More 'promises' on the Midleton line?

trellheim

Last week's T21 Dail statements didn't tell one way or the other.

Major Cap-ex is usually but not always held till the Budget.

Most of the estimates are out but the big stuff is held over till Budget.

Zoney

The "Inter-urbans" (i.e. just to Dublin) which were supposed to be finished by 2006, now allegedly to be finished by 2010 (unlikely with nothing started on some stretches, e.g. N7 Castletown-Nenagh). Expect the usual recycled press release about these magical wonderful Interurbans that will solve all Ireland's transport problems forever.

I *don't* expect to see any funding of say, the Metro or railway to Navan. Will there even be funding of the Interconnector or DART on Kildare/Maynooth lines? (only been planned since the 70s!) No new buses for Dublin Bus either probably.

There'll probably be funding of the cross-border/NI roads like Derry-Dublin (A5, possibly N2 also), so as Dublin can have people commute from Fermanagh rather than just the usual places of Meath/Westmeath, Offaly, North Tipp, Wexford. :rolleyes:

marmajam

Hey Looney,
Sorry Zooney.........you're too original for me. Yawn.

Victor

marmajam wrote: »

Hey Looney,
Sorry Zooney.........you're too original for me. Yawn.

Cop on.

1huge1

Would they be announcing things like light rail systems in Limerick and Cork this budget? I seen a interesting artists impression of a Limerick light rail in the paper over the weekend.

Chris_533976

I have a feeling those Luas-style things were just election hot air.

Plus the Green party proposals for Galway and Corks' Luas were absolutly ridiculous and showed no grounding in reality whatsoever. How someone could come up with such worthless ideas is beyond me.

AlekSmart

Just watch the Luas Red-Green Link up slip gracefully beneath the Liffey`s gently lapping waves......

Victor

AlekSmart wrote: »

Just watch the Luas Red-Green Link up slip gracefully beneath the Liffey`s gently lapping waves......

At Connolly today I had to explain to a French tourist how to get to the Green Line.

D'Peoples Voice

Victor wrote: »

At Connolly today I had to explain to a French tourist how to get to the Green Line.

I know how you feel, I once had to explain to a spanish girl(with little or no english) how she is to get from the terminus of the number 68(dublin bus) to the terminus of the number 44(dublin bus). In the end, I just told her to get a taxi for the whole of her journey - kind of felt bad afterwards because of the cost she would have faced etc, but other people would have done the same in my position.

Prof_V

1huge1 wrote: »

Would they be announcing things like light rail systems in Limerick and Cork this budget? I seen a interesting artists impression of a Limerick light rail in the paper over the weekend.

Considering the fact that no serious work has been done so far on studying light rail systems outside Dublin and the typical gestation period of a rail project, even Cork is unlikely to see any construction work this side of 2015. It isn't really possible to pull transport projects out of a hat on budget day (infrastructure, at least) because so much work will have to have been done just to get them to "start building within 12 months" stage.

AlekSmart

Victors good deed: [At Connolly today I had to explain to a French tourist how to get to the Green Line]

Oh don`t feel bad Victor...I should imagine that the Parisianisti are run off ther feet these days as they direct forrener`s to whatever few Metro/RER/Bus services there are........and spare a thought for our Teutonic friends,Imagine THEIR inner turmoil at ENTIRE trains not being exactly where they are supposed to be ...

Chris_533976

Prof_V wrote: »

Considering the fact that no serious work has been done so far on studying light rail systems outside Dublin and the typical gestation period of a rail project, even Cork is unlikely to see any construction work this side of 2015. It isn't really possible to pull transport projects out of a hat on budget day (infrastructure, at least) because so much work will have to have been done just to get them to "start building within 12 months" stage.

But they can announce funding as a feel-good factor even though they know damn well the project under question wont be going ahead anytime soon.

Bards

looks like the NRA want more money, which can only be a good thing:D: from http://www.irishtrucker.com/news/news_detail.asp?nid=2250

=============================================
The National Roads Authority (NRA) has called for additional funding to the tune of €2.5 billion over the next five years, to allow it to accelerate work on certain road building projects.

The NRA has requested an extra €500 million in this year’s budget and for each of the next four years to allow it to complete the roads programme ahead of schedule.

The NRA, says the slow-down in residential building means the construction sector is now in a position to absorb additional funds without prompting inflation.

The NRA has been saying for much of this year that there is spare capacity in the construction sector, which could absorb additional infrastructure spending without causing inflation.

trellheim

And just so you know [ something I posted on RI ]

Page 85 of http://debates.oireachtas.ie/Xml/30/DAL20071108A.PDF
there's more in the PDF but ...

T21 Updates - Rail.

Portlaoise Train depot will be completed in the first quarter of 2008, rather than at the end of 2007; this change arose because the planning approval process took longer than anticipated.

• Cork Commuter Rail Service to Midleton:
The construction timetable is yet to be finalised with the contractors, but Iarnro´ d E´ireann is optimistic that passenger services will start in early 2009, rather than in 2008.

• Linking of the existing Luas lines: Dublin Bus expressed serious concerns about the impact the preferred Luas alignment would have on its services. Dublin City Council is currently undertaking traffic modelling
work as part of its examination of revised traffic management arrangements in the city centre, which will be required for the delivery of the Luas city centre link (line BX) and the further extension to Liffey Junction (line D). Following completion of further detailed design work and subject to a satisfactory outcome to the city centre traffic management modelling work, the RPA plans to submit a Railway Order application for Luas Line BX to An Bord Pleana´ la next year.

• The Tallaght to Citywest Luas timescale
has been revised from 2008 to 2010 to accommodate a longer alignment than originally planned.
• The revised completion date for the Connolly to Docklands Luas is 2009, rather than late 2008 as originally scheduled mainly because the RPA devoted a substantial period to addressing and resolving the concerns of businesses in the IFSC about the impact of construction on their operations.
• Metro West: The projected completion date for the entire project remains 2014.
• There were tendering issues on Limerick Southern Ring Road project which meant that the contract award process did not progress as quickly as was originally hoped. Completion is now scheduled for 2010.

Construction starts on both the M3 and theN25 Waterford City Bypass were later than planned because of archaeological issues at Tara and Woodstown respectively.
• Dublin City Centre rail resignalling project was expanded to include the Maynooth line, resulting in a longer construction period and a 2011 completion date.
• Due to a slightly later than planned submission of the Railway Order application, Phase 1 of the Navan Line will now be completed in 2010.

• Metro North: The scheduled completion date is now 2013 to take account of scope changes made which arise from public consultation.

trellheim

So [ as predicted] MetroN+BX = City Centre all dug up till 2013
Add Interconnector = till 2015/2016

I would be very interested if anyone knows the modelling the Council are doing for the BX stuff. This seems to be a very closely guarded secret as is the EIS
[ which hasnt' been published, just like the bunfight between DB and RPA over
BX which face it if accepted is the future for Dublin City Centre. ]

A dark horse published in the papers this week was route selection for Lucan Luas , which, not to be outdone, gives us the chance to dig up Dame St and Christchurch for a year

Chris_533976

trellheim wrote: »

Construction starts on both the M3 and theN25 Waterford City Bypass were later than planned because of archaeological issues at Tara and Woodstown respectively.

I should point out here that the N25 wasnt a 'wasted delay' for the want of a better word, because the upshot of it was that the Gorey bypass was built instead.

spacetweek

Chris_533976 wrote: »

More 'promises' on the Midleton line?

They're supposed to start that this December, so it's a bit late to still be making promises.

D'Peoples Voice

Bards wrote: »

The NRA has requested an extra €500 million in this year’s budget and for each of the next four years to allow it to complete the roads programme ahead of schedule.

To think that benchmarking is costing an additional €1,000 million each year, I know which I rather see prioritised!

trellheim

Dooooooom !! Dooooooom I tells ya .... from RTE

The deterioration in the Public Finances has accelerated sharply, according to new estimates from the Department of Finance.

The figures show that taxes collected this year will be €1.75bn below target and that tax revenues next year will grow at their slowest rate for 19 years.

This would leave the Government more than €4bn short of the amount needed to deliver on its election promises in the Budget next Wednesday.
Advertisement

The new figures are contained in the White Paper on Receipts and Expenditure, a key pre-budget document from the Department of Finance.

It shows the property market slowdown is beginning to bite.

Slower house sales means less stamp duty and the Government will now lose €730m this year as a result.

Linked to that are other big shortfalls in capital gains tax, VAT, excise duties and business tax.

Next year looks even tighter, according to the Department, with taxes receipts expected to grow at just 3%, the slowest rate since 1989.

It all means huge pressure for the Minister for Finance in next Wednesday's budget.

The figures suggest he will have €4.2bn less than the amount he based his election promises on.

The result is likely to be one of the tightest budgets for years.

Chris_533976

Bearing in mind that they are investing in a massive amount of new roads which accounts for a lot of the expenditure in those figures.


Any hope of them bailing out the HSE at all?

Victor

Chris_533976 wrote: »

Any hope of them bailing out the HSE at all?

HSE doesn't need more money. HSE needs the money to be spent properly and not the current 'one for everybody in the audience' fix it when its broken attitude.

Apparently for every €1 spent on cures has the same effect as every €0.05 spent on prevention.

trellheim

yep ... so now someone tell me why Primary Care teams are savagely underfunded in favour of fixing the hospitals.


PS : Clock ticking ... you can hear the Countdown end of time music playing...:eek::eek::eek:

Bards

can we please stick to Transport as if we were to discuss all the problems of the HSE we would need a whole new forum all of it's own

trellheim

snifff..... roads lobby :rolleyes:.....

OTK

Capex for transport in 2008 as released by the Department of transport today:

DoT wrote:

Public Transport - €1.3 billion:

This will enable:

continued construction on Cherrywood and Docklands Luas extensions
commencement of construction on Citywest Luas extension and further capacity enhancements on the existing lines
continued planning/design work and the placing of a Railway order for Metro North
public consultation and design/planning work will continue on Metro West
continued construction work on Kildare Route project
continued construction on phase 1 of the Western Rail Corridor and the Cork-Middleton rail line
continued planning and design work on the Navan Rail line and the Interconnector/Electrification projects.

Roads - €2.3 billion:

This will allow:

continued roll-out of the major inter urban routes
work to commence on the N18 Oranmore/Gort/Cusheen phase of the Atlantic Road Corridor.
phase 1 and 3 of the M50 project
barrier-free tolling on the Westlink will be completed
up to 6 more national roads schemes to commence.

Non National Roads €53.8 million with €565 million from the Local Government Fund (LGF):

The capital element will contribute to the non-national road investment programme and the LGF will provide for the maintenance of the non-national road network.

Road Safety Authority - €40 million:

Of this amount the RSA will provide €11.4 million for the Driving test system and €5.9 million will be provided towards Road Safety promotion Campaigns & Programmes.

Maritime safety and Irish Coast Guard - €48 million:

This allocation will allow us to improve and modernise the Irish Coast Guard and the Maritime Safety to equip these areas to meet the needs of a 21st Century maritime nation.

Regional Airports - €41.5 million

The Department will continue the rollout of the €86 million multi-annual capital grant programme for these airports under Transport 21. The provision aims to enhance safety and security measures and to assist in providing the infrastructure necessary to cater for projected growth in the sector.

Regional Harbours - €3.8 million:

The Department will concentrate this funding on essential remedial works pending the transfer of the harbours to local control.

http://www.transport.ie/viewitem.asp?id=10028&lang=ENG&loc=2126

spacetweek

OTK wrote: »

Capex for transport in 2008 as released by the Department of transport today:

Luas A1 is nice to see, but it's really late. And nothing about BX, of course. No surprise there. Is it ever going to happen?

I wonder what the 6 new national road projects will be?

Victor

Luas A1 is purely developer led. I wonder how many people will use the Luas to ge to the Ard Fhéiseanna.

I'm surprised no mention is made of the main ports as a bunch of them are applying for expansion.

spacetweek

Victor wrote: »

Luas A1 is purely developer led. I wonder how many people will use the Luas to ge to the Ard Fhéiseanna.

I know Citywest is urban sprawl, but i's currently very poorly served by PT. At the very least the existing PT users will switch to it. Plus it also serves surrounding areas, and hopefully it will encourage the remaining land along the corridor to be developed to higher density.