A projected population increase of 51 per cent in the mid-east region and the ensuing traffic congestion can be tackled by proper planning and investment in railways, write Derek Wheeler and Mark Gleeson.
Last week's figures from the CSO show that the population growth of the Greater Dublin Area is expected to continue at an unprecedented rate. With a projected population increase of 51 per cent in the mid-east region, the already strained transportation infrastructure in Leinster will come under intolerable pressure.
Road upgrades such as the widening of the N7 south of Rathcoole and the proposed M3 motorway will simply funnel yet more car-dependent commuters into the ever-growing tailback towards the M50. We simply cannot build ourselves out of the current crisis.
While much has been planned, in particular the Dublin Transportation Office's Platform for Change proposal, little has been implemented. The announcement of the long-promised 10-year transport plan appears to be on indefinite hold.
Although congestion is unquestionably at its worst in Dublin, Cork has taken the lead with an approach to facilitate development while ensuring proper provision for public transport is put in place in parallel.
The Cork Area Strategic Plan (Casp), developed jointly by Cork City and County Councils, has shown the way by focusing development along existing and closed railway lines. Meath County Council and Fingal in north Co Dublin followed Cork's lead.
As a direct result of Casp the Cork-Midleton railway line is to be reopened. Fingal County Council has granted planning permission for the North Fringe development in Baldoyle, on condition that a new railway station be provided at the developers' expense in Grange Road. Similar arrangements are in place at the Adamstown development in west Dublin.
The proposed metro from St Stephen's Green to Dublin Airport will do little to ease the current congestion problem. While a high-quality citywide metro system has a role to play in tackling congestion, it will do nothing for the commuter stuck on the N3, N4 or N7. In the ideal case a fully integrated metro system would service the quickly developing Swords area.
However, there is hope under the title Provision of a Fully Integrated Greater Dublin Rail System, 2004-2010. Iarnród Éireann has proposed a massive expansion of the current Dart network to include services to Kildare, Maynooth, Dunboyne, Dublin Airport and the Dublin docklands. The key to this project is a new tunnel between Heuston and Spencer Dock, which will provide a second cross-city rail line and in doing so unlock massive capacity on lines into Dublin.
The core of the plan features three cross-city Dart lines, Kildare-Drogheda via Heuston, St Stephen's Green, Pearse and Spencer Dock; Maynooth/Dunboyne to Bray via Pearse, Tara Street and Connolly; and Heuston-Dublin Airport via St Stephen's Green, Pearse, Spencer Dock and Howth Junction.
A key element is a massive increase in long-distance suburban services stretching deep into the mid-east region and beyond, serving Portlaoise, Athy, Tullamore, Athlone, Longford and Gorey.
With full integration with Intercity, Luas and metro (if built), the proposal offers a world-class public transport system for the entire greater Dublin region.
However, it is clear that balanced regional development is needed as highlighted in the recent national spatial strategy.
Limerick city, with four radiating railway lines, has the potential to form an excellent integrated network promoting development. With the exception of the successful Limerick-Ennis service, the railway lines into Limerick lie idle to commuters. The rapidly-growing Raheen industrial estate already has a line but no service.
Equally Galway, with its station positioned in Eyre Square, offers a unique opportunity for commuter rail services from Oranmore with high-quality bus links to the Parkmore and Ballybrit industrial estates, and services possibly stretching farther to Athenry and later to Tuam and Ennis.
We must avoid the unsustainable car-dependent culture as Ireland grows. It is in our interests, with the total population expected to exceed five million by 2021, according to the CSO.
Derek Wheeler and Mark Gleeson are members of Platform II, a rail lobby group