Delays on public transport infrastructure is causing chaos for commuters
Delays on public transport infrastructure is causing chaos for commuters - The Labour Party
Labour’s transport spokesperson Ciaran Ahern TD has called on the Tánaiste to allow for a debate on the National Transport Plan as commuters continue to bear the brunt of a failure of Government policy.
Questioning the Tánaiste in the Dáil today, Deputy Ahern said the lack of joined up thinking is leading to congestion issues on roads across the country.
Deputy Ahern said:
“It was bitterly disappointing to see the government returning to its old vice of building more roads and bypasses, while delaying critical public transport infrastructure in the National Development Plan published last week. Not alone has the Government abandoned the 2-to-1 investment ratio, but the active travel budget is, in effect, being cut over the course of this plan, and crucial public transport projects are being put on the long finger.
“The Labour Party has been raising the plight of commuters for months now – both directly with the Minister for Transport as well as the Taoiseach and Tánaiste. Earlier this week we saw Transport Infrastructure Ireland throw up the white flag on the M50, saying that there is nothing more they can do to address congestion issues. It’s disgraceful and it’s having enormous consequences on the lives of people coming to and from Dublin for work.
“My colleague Deputy Mark Wall has been to the fore in raising alarm bells about the M7/N7, and we’re seeing similar congestion issues in all or our major cities – in Galway, in Cork, in Limerick, in Waterford.
“The mistakes of the past are being repeated. This Government is choosing to build a ring road around Galway rather than a Luas – despite the fact that the M50 is an example of a ring road that simply doesn’t function any more. Adding more lanes to it has just led to more cars and further congestion chaos.
“This Government moans about judicial reviews delaying crucial infrastructure projects, but Dart+ South West has planning permission and is shovel-ready to bring 20,000 commuters per hour into Dublin city. But the Government have themselves now delayed this project.
“It is in this context that I have requested a debate on the transport plans of this Government. The NDP failed to lay the groundwork for any meaningful action on the delivery of the missing piece in the puzzle – viable public transport options. We need to give people an effective, efficient and reliable alternative to private cars.
“We know that trains simply aren’t leaving stations early enough in the morning for many commuters, nor are there ample options of departure times. Our busses can be extremely unreliable and are then stuck in gridlock. We know people want to use public transport, but they are effectively being prevented from doing so due to a failure of Government policy.
“There’s been a lot of talk from this Government about infrastructure and delivery, but when it comes to public transport and active travel infrastructure, the rubber doesn’t meet the road.”