What is the remit of the RPA?

AngryLips

Is it a purely Dublin organisation or does it have a scope beyond the M50 as well? Shouldn't it be responsible for all railway infrastructure projects instead of only the non-IE ones?

Jamie2k9

AngryLips wrote: »

Is it a purely Dublin organisation or does it have a scope beyond the M50 as well? Shouldn't it be responsible for all railway infrastructure projects instead of only the non-IE ones?

It has scope beyond Ireland. The Dep of Transport can direct it to do what it likes in the field of transport so technically it could advise Irish Rail however legislation would need to be changed to do anything further.

It's so far charged with Meto/Luas projects, Leap and BRT. It can also advice third parties in transport sector particularly outside Ireland as a commercial opportunity.

AlekSmart

AngryLips wrote: »

Is it a purely Dublin organisation or does it have a scope beyond the M50 as well? Shouldn't it be responsible for all railway infrastructure projects instead of only the non-IE ones?

Nope it's not Dublin centric,but for now Dublin's Luas is it's major gig...

http://www.rpa.ie/en/rpa/about/Pages/remit.aspx

Secure the provision of, or to provide, such light railway and metro infrastructure as may be determined from time to time by the Minister for Transport

So as long as it's Light Rail and/or Metro then the sky's the limit....not bad for a spin off of a CIE Department ?

cgcsb

It's not entirely Dublin Centric in the sense that it'd be tasked with the proposed BRT/Luas project in Cork if/when that gets funded. It'd also be tasked with BRT in Belfast if Belfast were part of the republic. So theoretically it's a nationwide body, although in practice it is currently restricted to county Dublin.

LXFlyer

The answer to the OP's question is on the website:

Remit

RPA was established as an Independent Statutory Body, by Ministerial Order on December 28th 2001 following the passing of the Transport (Railway Infrastructure) Act, 2001. RPA's brief is to:

•Secure the provision of, or to provide, such light railway and metro infrastructure as may be determined from time to time by the Minister for Transport

•Monitor and publish regular reports on the safety of the light railway and metro infrastructure

•Enter into agreements with other persons in order to secure the provision of such railway infrastructure whether by means of a concession, joint venture, public private partnership or any other means

•Acquire and facilitate the development of land adjacent to any railway works subject to an application for a railway order where such acquisition and development contributes to the economic viability of the said railway works

AngryLips

cgcsb wrote: »

It's not entirely Dublin Centric in the sense that it'd be tasked with the proposed BRT/Luas project in Cork if/when that gets funded. It'd also be tasked with BRT in Belfast if Belfast were part of the republic. So theoretically it's a nationwide body, although in practice it is currently restricted to county Dublin.

Why would the Northern Assembly task the RPA with this project? I doubt they're recognised north of the border. Any Cork BRT/light rail? Is that even a thing?

annfield1978

RPA will shortly be merging with the NRA

90515 - NRA310 - Fit out of offices on Parkgate Street, Dublin 8
Publication date: 28-11-2014
Response deadline: 19-12-2014 12:00 Irish time
Procedure: Restricted Procedure (NON OJEU)
Description: The NRA & RPA require a building contractor to refurbish the office premises at Blocks A & B, Parkgate Business Centre, Parkgate Street, Dublin 8. The works include (but are not limited to) demolitions, general building work associated with office fit-out works including construction of a glazed entrance lobby (specialist glazing works), replacement of external glass screens, canteen fit out, finishes to include stone flooring, plastering, wall cladding, specialist office partitions, acoustic ceilings, specialist joinery including acoustic timber wall screens, provision of new office furniture, alterations to existing office furniture, provision of door sets, and reception desk. The works also include a high proportion of specialist mechanical and electrical works, including provision of new and alterations to existing landlord and tenant mechanical and electrical central and fit out plant. Offices area are circa 4,500 sq. metres. The works will be phased to accommodate decanting. There is also an option for further fit out works 2,000 sq. metres of offices at the same location. The only document required at this stage is a completed questionnaire.
Buyer: National Roads Authority ( NRA )

corktina

AngryLips wrote: »

Why would the Northern Assembly task the RPA with this project? I doubt they're recognised north of the border. Any Cork BRT/light rail? Is that even a thing?

I think it's the Provisional RPA in the North isn't it?

cgcsb

AngryLips wrote: »

Why would the Northern Assembly task the RPA with this project? I doubt they're recognised north of the border.

As I said, IF Belfast were part of the republic the RPA would look after their BRT project.

AngryLips wrote: »

Any Cork BRT/light rail? Is that even a thing?

Yes, I believe it's called CATS and is part of the City's development plan.

icdg

annfield1978 wrote: »

RPA will shortly be merging with the NRA

The legislation to effect this (the Roads Bill 2014) has been stalled since February. This could mean anything from nothing other than the government has bigger fish to fry and it'll come back to it, or there could be a rethink. It's a daft move merging an authority responsible for roads mainly outside the M50 with an agency responsible primarily for trams inside the M50 but I understand the thinking (both involved in procuring infrastructure projects) I still think the natural home for the RPA's functions is the NTA.

It was a daft name in the first place - it never had anything to do with (heavy) railways.

corktina

the RPA are responsible for quite bit more than trams

icdg

Like what? I mean actually delivered projects, not plans which may or may not ever see the light of day. The Leap Card doesn't count because they don't have responsibility for it any more.

monument

Merging the RPA and NTA is folly, if they were really interested in lowering the numbers of quangos with overlap they would merge the two with the NTA.

Jamie2k9 wrote: »

It's so far charged with Meto/Luas projects, Leap and BRT. It can also advice third parties in transport sector particularly outside Ireland as a commercial opportunity.

Was Leap not taken over by the NTA?

And what exactly are they doing with BRT? It's the NTA's baby, and private consultants have so-far been the only ones to draw up detailed drawings which have been made public?

Grandeeod

corktina wrote: »

the RPA are responsible for quite bit more than trams

When the 2001 Transport Act was drawn up, it originally gave control of the proposed Navan line and the Interconnector to the RPA. But that was "fixed" and normal service was resumed. They now have light rail/metro as a string to their bow. When the act was drawn up, there was a deliberate attempt to strip CIE/IE of any input to the development of any rail project, but politics stepped in as usual.

Jamie2k9

monument wrote: »

Merging the RPA and NTA is folly, if they were really interested in lowering the numbers of quangos with overlap they would merge the two with the NTA.



Was Leap not taken over by the NTA?

And what exactly are they doing with BRT? It's the NTA's baby, and private consultants have so-far been the only ones to draw up detailed drawings which have been made public?

According to their business plan 2012-2016 (page 5) the following is what they have done besides light rail.

RPA’s founding legislation allows the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to extend our mandate to take responsibility for implementing other transport projects. These powers were first exercised in relation to the Integrated Ticketing project, which RPA managed at the design and implementation phase. On the establishment of National Transport Authority (NTA), that body took over the formal mandate for the project but immediately assigned responsibility to RPA for the completion of the build phase. RPA continues to support NTA in implementing Phase 2 of the Leap card implementation and supports the project through Luas operations.

During 2011, RPA’s powers were extended to plan and design Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), which has been identified as an objective for Dublin in the draft NTA Strategy for Transport in the Greater Dublin Area. RPA prepared a system concept for BRT for consideration by NTA and other stakeholders, which is based on providing a quality of transport comparable to light rail but with lower capacity. It is proposed that BRT would be the appropriate, and most affordable, mode of urban transport in corridors that demand higher capacity than is offered by Quality Bus Corridors (QBCs) but that would not require light rail capacity, even in
the longer term.

http://www.rpa.ie/Documents/Corporate%20RPA/Corporate_Business_Plans/RPA_Corporate_Business_Plan_2012_to_2016.pdf

monument

Jamie2k9 wrote: »

According to their business plan 2012-2016 (page 5) the following is what they have done besides light rail.

http://www.rpa.ie/Documents/Corporate%20RPA/Corporate_Business_Plans/RPA_Corporate_Business_Plan_2012_to_2016.pdf

1. Leap: A project which took way too long to get to launch and which cost way too much.

2. The BRT concept (of different scales) is outlined by a number of reports and agencies across Europe etc. The design work is being done by outside consultants bn

annfield1978

monument wrote: »

1. Leap: A project which took way too long to get to launch and which cost way too much.

2. The BRT concept (of different scales) is outlined by a number of reports and agencies across Europe etc. The design work is being done by outside consultants bn

Not exactly true, while Arup/AECOM and ROD are working on the Swords City BRT, the RPA have been developing the feasibility of the routes, Blanch to UCD and Clongriffin to City Centre