The newly published Greater Dublin Area (GDA) Transport Strategy has detailed several extensions to Luas and DART lines for Dublin and its surrounding counties.
The strategy, published by the National Transport Authority (NTA) on Tuesday, has been approved by Transport Minister Eamon Ryan. It covers Dublin city and county as well as the counties of Meath, Kildare and Wicklow and details transport plans over the next six years - and beyond.
The plans include multiple new stops on the Luas to serve Finglas, Lucan, Poolbeg and Bray, and are expected to be delivered by 2029. It also details how a proposed Metrolink would run from north of Swords through to Charlemont.
READ MORE: Fresh blow for Christy Dignam as Aslan star's nephew Christopher has died
A newly-proposed plan in this strategy proposes a Luas to UCD, however this project is not expected until after 2042.
Minister Ryan described it as a "really significant plan for the country’s capital and the surrounding counties."
He said: "This new GDA Strategy when delivered will bring back the sort of comprehensive rail network we had at the start of the last century – but it will be cleaner, faster and better value for money."
He stressed that the plan will help transform the region's bus and rail networks as well as help "achieve our climate ambitions."
Under the strategy, greenhouse gases linked to public transport will fall dramatically.
This will come about as a result of further investment in the DART and Luas, which are already fully electric, but also as a result of the complete transition away from fossil fuels for buses within 13 years, Mr Ryan explained.
Proposed Elements
Among the elements that have already been proposed and which are to be further progressed and delivered during the lifetime of this strategy are:
- All elements of Bus Connects Dublin.
- Increased bus prioritisation on regional bus corridors.
- Revised and enhanced GDA Cycle Network Plan.
- Provision of high-quality pedestrian facilities and pedestrianised routes.
- Next Generation Ticketing.
- Luas extensions to Finglas, Lucan, Poolbeg and Bray.
- 100km of electrified rail under DART+ Programme.
- Metrolink from north of Swords to Charlemont.
What is included?
Newly-proposed plans in this strategy include:
- The provision of a new rail line from the M3 Parkway to Navan
- Extending the DART+ programme to deliver electrified rail services to Sallins/Naas, Kilcock and Wicklow
- Assessing the requirements for new Metro lines when updating the strategy in six years, including previously considered options on the southside.
- The planning and design of a further eight Luas extensions/ new Luas lines to be ready for construction post 2042:
1. Luas to Clongriffin
2. Luas to Balgriffin
3. Luas extension to Tyrellstown
4. Luas to Blanchardstown
5. Luas extension to Clondalkin
6. Luas to Tallaght /Kimmage
7. Luas to Tallaght / Knocklyon
8. Luas to UCD / Sandyford (reduces future passenger congestion on the Green Line in the future)
NTA Chief Executive Officer Anne Graham said that with the planned completion of projects such as BusConnects, Metrolink, Luas extensions and Dart+, this strategy has the potential to be truly transformative, not just for the city, but for the entire region.
"We want to provide more people with better public transport and active travel alternatives so that communities across the region can thrive and develop in a sustainable way in the years and decades ahead," she added.
More information is available at Greater Dublin Area Transport Strategy – National Transport.
READ NEXT:
On-the-run murderers who escaped prison caught after nationwide manhunt
Gunman didn't know Monterey Park dance hall victims, sheriff confirms
Man €1,500 out of pocket as stones go missing from Galway grave - and he believes crows are to blame
Nearly 30,000 new homes built in Ireland in 2022 as Government 'met and exceeded' overall target
Ireland weather: Met Eireann warns ‘huge uncertainty’ in forecast amid ‘Polar Vortex’ fears
Get breaking news to your inbox by signing up to our newsletter
