Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 June 2022
64. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Transport further to Parliamentary Question No. 113 of 26 April 2022, the status of the upcoming review of the Galway Transport Strategy; the timeline for same; the timeline for the feasibility study for light rail; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30706/22]
View answerTá an cheist seo faoi chúrsaí iompair i nGaillimh agus tá a fhios agam go bhfuil an-taithí ag an Aire Stáit faoi chúrsaí tráchta i nGaillimh. Baineann an cheist seo go sonrach leis an athbhreithniú atá beartaithe maidir le light rail, leis an an staidéar féidearthachta agus leis an athbhreithniú atá beartaithe ó thaobh cúrsaí iompair de i nGaillimh.
I understand that the National Transport Authority expects to engage support services later this year to undertake the review of the Galway transport strategy and commence the review process at the end of the year. The review will be led by the NTA in co-operation with Galway City Council and Galway County Council.
The review process will include consideration of all potential transport modes including light rail. As part of the strategy review work, assessment work will be undertaken in relation to light rail. As I have noted previously, this approach will allow for a multi-modal perspective and integration within an overall land-use plan.
The NTA expects to publish a draft updated transport strategy for Galway for public consultation in quarter 3 of next year. I agree with the Deputy on the need to increase sustainable mobility options in Galway and to consider the merits of light rail as part of those options. We need to shape the city around public transport rather than roads. The review of the Galway transport strategy will look at population projections, development density, employment forecasts and travel demand patterns. This analysis will be used to reassess the public transport needs across the city and the potential role all modes of transport, including light rail, can play in meeting those needs. In the meantime, implementation will continue on the current Galway transport strategy. This includes the Galway BusConnects programme with key elements like the Salmon Weir Bridge, the cross-city link and the Dublin Road corridor advancing. Further projects include the roll-out of improved active travel infrastructure, redevelopment of Ceannt Station and the improvements planned for Oranmore station and rail track infrastructure.
I welcome some of the improvements that are taking place, albeit belatedly. The Minister of State will know that Galway is going under with traffic. It is one of the most beautiful cities in the country which is thriving in terms of employment but it is absolutely bogged down in traffic. The Minister of State knows that if I showed her a photograph of all the reports from my 17 years on the council it would almost reach the ceiling. We had smart travel that was anything but smart, the Buchanan transport study and now we are in 2022. The Minister of State was there with me when the council unanimously agreed to put in park and ride in 2005 which was never rolled out. Here we are and the NTA in its latest response to me tells me that it is only looking at the east of the city. Every time I ask a question the situation seems to deteriorate without any recognition of the urgent need to take bold brave steps with Galway city and roll it out as a green lean city. The first thing is a feasibility study on light rail.
I must say I agree about park and ride and the urgency of identifying sites if we want to encourage people out of their cars to use public transport. I understand that the NTA is developing its park and ride strategy for Galway and will present it to Galway City Council and County Council in July.
As I am sure the Deputy will know, a feasibility study for light rail in Galway will be carried out as part of the review of the strategy and will be considered in the overall framework of the strategy. That will allow for a multi-modal perspective and integration within an overall land use plan.
There is no sense of urgency with the NTA. Absolutely none. It is 2022 and it is slowly looking at park and ride on one side of the city when in 2005 the elected members voted to roll out park and ride. A climate emergency was declared years ago now and then there is biodiversity yet we are still looking at unsustainable levels of traffic in Galway and no bold measures. I have absolutely no confidence that the NTA will carry out a feasibility study for light rail because it is clearly on record as saying that it will not suit Galway. The people of Galway have led us, as the Minister of State knows. Some 22,000 people signed a petition imploring the then-Minister to carry out a feasibility study. We cannot blame motorists if we do not offer them alternatives. We must lift the traffic off the road. I am a cyclist but we are getting bogged down in minutiae of small cycling, little stretches, without looking at the overall plan of a sustainable city with sustainable transport. People will move if we provide that.
I share the frustration about the progress on public transport options in Galway. There has been the cross-city corridor, the Salmon Weir Bridge and there is some movement with BusConnects but it needs to continue and move faster. I understand the NTA will present the strategy on park and ride sites to both councils in July and that the feasibility study for light rail will be done as part of the overall framework for the Galway transport strategy. That will ensure that it looks at a multi-modal perspective and integrated approach that includes an overall land-use plan.
