Labour investment in Luas pays dividend- Humphreys
Embargoed 00.01, Saturday, December 9th
Welcoming the launch of the Luas Cross City Line today, Dublin Labour Senator and Spokesperson on Transport, Kevin Humphreys has called on the Government to prioritise investment in public transport in the ten-year capital plan.
Senator Humphreys said:
“This is a great day for the city of Dublin, as the new service will greatly increase connectivity across the capital. It will particularly benefit those commuters living along the extended line, who will see their journey times into the city greatly reduced, as well as local businesses, shops and restaurants in the city centre as a result of the likely increase in footfall.
“The opening of the Luas Cross City Line also highlights the importance of investing in our public transport services; never has this need been more visible, with the huge increase in traffic delays this Christmas period.
“Even during the height of the economic recession, the Labour Party made investment in our infrastructure a priority.
“In the Capital Plan published in 2011 we prioritised shovel ready projects, and those that could be delivered as quickly as possible. Luas Cross City was a project we ensured was funded- and that €368 million investment is now paying dividends.
“Now as our capital city continues to grow we have finally connected the two Luas lines, and added an extension out to Broombridge, that also provides a direct transport connection to the new DIT campus at Grangegorman from Sandyford and Tallaght.
“Yet today we have still seen no sign of the ten year capital plan; the Government must now show the same foresight and prioritise investment in public transport including Metro North and electrification of the Kildare and Maynooth railway lines to allow for the extension of the DART to those areas.”