asked the Minister for the Environment if, in view of the poor system of traffic lights control in the Dublin County area, he will arrange to have traffic engineers from his Department assist the local authority in planning a system of traffic lights which will allow traffic to flow by means of link-lighting, particularly on those stretches of roads where traffic lights are only a few hundred yards apart, and where there is absolutely no synchronisation of systems; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Synchronisation of Traffic Lights.
42.
The provision and operation of traffic lights in the Dublin area is a matter for the individual road authorities, subject to the consent, or at the direction, of the Dublin Transport Authority. In the Dublin area, a substantial measure of traffic lights synchronisation has already been provided by Dublin Corporation in the Central Dublin area with computer-linked signals in a system known as Urban Traffic Control (UTC). The UTC system has been developed under the auspices of the Dublin Transportation Task Force, which was the non-statutory precursor of the Dublin Transport Authority. Since 1982, the cost of the system has been fully financed by State grants paid by the Department of Communications. Outside the area covered by the UTC system, the scope for traffic light synchronisation is limited having regard to factors such as the type and volume of traffic and the frequency of junctions. I understand, however, that Dublin County Council has already provided a partially synchronised system of traffic lights on sections of a number of routes, including the Naas, Bray, Lucan and Blessington Roads.
Under section 35 (2) of the Transport Authority Act, 1986, which came into operation on 12 November 1986, the Authority is obliged, in the performance of its functions in relation to traffic signs, to have regard to the need for a proper system of traffic signs in its functional area. It is, therefore, a matter for the Authority to consider, in consultation with the road authorities concerned, the adequacy or otherwise of traffic signs, including traffic lights, already provided or proposed to be provided in its functional area.