Greater Dublin Area: Twice as many public passengers are envisaged, writes Frank McDonald, Environment Editor.
A "huge increase" in public transport capacity in the Greater Dublin Area has been pledged by Minister for Transport Martin Cullen, following implementation over the next 10 years of Luas extensions, two metro lines and an underground rail link in the city centre.
St Stephen's Green would become be a key transport hub, enabling transfer between Luas, metro and suburban rail.
In effect, Mr Cullen said, "it will be to Dublin what Grand Central is to New York - integrating all services at a central city location".
The Government's Transport 21 plan, unveiled yesterday, anticipates the number of public transport passengers in Dublin almost to double, from 200 million a year at present to 375 million a year in 2015, when all the elements of the programme are in place.
These include:
A signalling project to relieve congestion on the city centre rail network, principally around Connolly Station, to increase the number of trains in each direction from 12 to 16.
Upgrading the Heuston-Kildare line, as planned by Iarnród Éireann, to separate mainline and commuter trains and provide a service to places like Parkwest and Adamstown.
Reopening the railway line to Navan, Co Meath, on a phased basis, initially with a spur off the existing Maynooth line as far as Dunboyne, with a new terminal at Spencer Dock in the Docklands.
A rail interconnector running underground from Heuston station to Spencer Dock, via St Stephen's Green and Pearse Station, to cater for a major expansion of suburban commuter services.
Electrification of the northern, Kildare and Maynooth commuter lines as far as Balbriggan, Hazelhatch and Maynooth (respectively) to make them compatible with Dart and Dart-type trains.
Joining the two Luas lines in the city centre, as originally planned, and extending the Sandyford line northwards via Broadstone to connect with the Maynooth line at Liffey Junction.
Extending the Tallaght Luas line to the Docklands, building a spur to serve Citywest and extending the Sandyford Luas line to Cherrywood and later to Bray, Co Wicklow, to connect with the Dart line.
A metro line from St Stephen's Green to Swords, via Glasnevin, Dublin City University, Ballymun and Dublin airport, enabling the airport's users to reach the city centre in 17 minutes.
A new Luas line from Lucan to the city centre, running via Liffey Valley, where it would connect with a proposed orbital metro line linking Tallaght, Clondalkin and Blanchardstown.
In his speech at yesterday's launch, the Minister emphasised that buses would continue to play a "crucial role" in Dublin's public transport system, particularly in the short to medium term, "whilst the other infrastructure is being put in place".
He said the Quality Bus Corridor (QBC) network would be "at least doubled" over the 10- year period, but there would also be a greater focus on developing orbital, feeder and local services and integrating bus and rail services in the city.
"I have asked Dublin Bus to review their network in light of the planned investment and to examine the most effective means of expanding bus services in the short, medium and long term and they are to report to me early in the new year, " Mr Cullen said. The transport plan would increase total bus capacity to cater for an extra 80,000 passenger journeys by 2015. However, the Minister said he was conscious that there was an "immediate need" for 20 additional buses and he would sanction these in the coming weeks.
More park-and-ride facilities are to be provided, with a particular focus on rail-based public transport, as well as better interchange facilities between bus and rail.
Integrated ticketing and passenger information will also be introduced on a phased basis.
The only major road project targeted for completion in the 10- year period is the major upgrade of the M50, under which the motorway junctions will be rebuilt and the number of lanes increased from four to six, at an estimated cost of €1 billion.
Feasibility and planning work will be undertaken on an eastern bypass motorway, linking the Port Tunnel with the southern leg of the M50, as well as an outer orbital road from Drogheda, Co Louth, via Navan, Co Meath, and south to Naas, Co Kildare, with a possible extension to Wicklow.