Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 16 September 2021
130. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Transport further to Parliamentary Question No. 53 of 17 June 2021, his plans to commission a stand-alone feasibility study of light rail in Galway which would feed into the upcoming review of the Galway Transport Strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43905/21]
View answerAs the Deputy knows, I believe that a feasibility study for light rail in Galway would best be considered within the context of the review of the Galway Transport Strategy, which will commence next year, rather than a stand-alone study. This will allow for a multi-modal perspective and integration within an overall land-use plan.
The review of the Strategy will be led by the National Transport Authority in cooperation with Galway City Council and Galway County Council. As with the current review of the Transport Strategy for the Greater Dublin Area, the review will include a comprehensive analysis of changes to population projections, development density, employment forecasts and future travel demand patterns since the finalisation of the current Strategy in 2016. This analysis will be utilised to reassess the public transport needs across Galway city and the potential role all modes of transport, including light rail, can play in meeting those needs.
