Dublin city traffic plan – the bigger picture

Sir, – I refer to the opinion piece debate (“Should the Dublin city traffic plan go ahead this summer?”, Opinion & Analysis, May 28th) between Billy Hann of Dublin Bus and Richard Guiney of the Dublin Town business organisation on plans for traffic in Dublin city. The document referred to is the Dublin City Centre Traffic Plan. The plan covers a very small geographical area relative to the size of the city. Dublin Bus covers a much more extensive area and includes many routes outside the M50. For that reason I found it difficult to understand how Mr Hann is so supportive of the plan, given that much of the congestion is outside the area of the city centre.

Mr Guiney, on the other hand might be expected to focus on the core area of the city, given his remit as CEO of a largely city centre business organisation. However, Mr Guiney recommends a “region-wide traffic plan” and this would recognise the potential impacts outside the city centre area. References to Google maps and other traffic apps indicate that many recommended routes in suburban areas of Dublin are now long and circuitous when planning many trips in the city.

We are told that every action has some knock-on effect. Would an overall study as recommended by Mr Guiney confirm that there may actually be a connection between a bus gate on Bachelor’s Walk and increased congestion on the M50? – Yours, etc,

DANNY O’CONNOR,