Luas

[lostcarpark]

Today it was announced that the govenment would be seeking the public's input into the selection for the Luas tram line to link the two currently disjoint lines, the so-called BX line.

There are five routes to choose from, but the general press seems to be very vague on what they actually are.

After some digging, I can reveal that the route details can be downloaded as a PDF from a not-so-well publicised spot on the RPA webiste by clicking here.

Here's a picture cut from the Acrobat file:



Personally I have a problem with all of the proposed routes that when the Metro comes along in a few years it will also go under O'Connell Street too, which is rather wasteful duplication. Why not start with route C and send Luas up Jervis Street or Capel Street so that when Metro is added in, the two serve a larger portion of the city?

Comments

[pigeonhed.livejournal.com]

A, D & E seem to go down already crowded streets and seem designed to exacerbate existing congestion. I might be tempted to take C slightly further down Aungier ST before cutting back in to St Stephens Green a block or two lower down?

Where is the Metro going to go? Up through the Northside?

[lostcarpark.livejournal.com]

Well, if by crowded streets, you mean crowded with cars, I believe the intention is to get those cars off the streets and encourage people to use public transport.

I think the final Metro route is still to be decided, but something along the lines of Stephen's Green, Westmorland Street, O'Connell Street, Mater Hospital, Glasnevin/Phibsborough (Maynooth line interchange), DCU, Ballymun, Airport, Swords.

Of course, that will mean digging up the nice paving they're doing now to insert a Metro station. If they had any sense, they'd insert a concrete box under the street now for the Metro to use later.

[pigeonhed.livejournal.com]

It always struck me as odd that the DART didnt serve the airport.

I was thinking both of cars and of pedestrian crowding too. I don't see how this tram will actually make enough reduction to counteract the reduced road space in places on those routes. Thats why B or C would be much better. Is there a link or planned link to the Ferry terminals?

[lostcarpark.livejournal.com]

There was a proposal for a DART link to the airport back as far as 1975, including an underground section through the city centre:



The problem was successive governments wouldn't put up the money for it.

If it's going down O'Connell Street, I'd favour the shortest, quickest route (A). I think that removing cars from Dawson Street through Westmorland Street and O'Connell Street will free up more street space for pedestrians than the trams will take up. I think cars really shouldn't be using this route at all. There's a new bridge which should be beginning construction soon at Macken Street which should divert a lot of traffic away from O'Connell Bridge.

The Red line will go as far as The Point, though that's not much help for the ferry terminals. I think the number of foot passengers on ferries isn't enough to justify taking the line further into the port. Most people travelling on foot these days will fly, while the majority of ferry users are bringing their cars. The only justification for bringing Luas into the port would be if port workers would use it, and I don't know if enough of them would. Presently boats are met by busses, and for the numbers of people and sailings, this seems to be adequite.

[pigeonhed.livejournal.com]

I didnt know about the new bridge, I think that will contribute more to traffic easing thna the trams.

Last time I got the ferry into the port rather than Dun Laoghaire I then had to get to a bank to change money (it was a spontaneous trip) and then get to Heuston for a train to Galway on a Sunday afternoon. A link to the sation would have helped a lot

[lostcarpark.livejournal.com]

I can appreciate that, but I don't think the passenger numbers would justify it. There'd be a couple of hundred passengers several times a day, then empty trams running the rest of the time. I think the bus currently just goes between the port and Busaras. It would make a lot of sense for it to link to Heuston.

The new bridge will link Macken St and Guild St, at the right-hand edge of those maps, and should save a lot of traffic from going right into the centre of town.

[pigeonhed.livejournal.com]

They will of course remember to change the signage and road priorities to steer traffic via the new bridge?

As I dont drive into Dublin something to make the trip to/from the airport would help. I think last time I spent more time on the bus than on the plane...

[dubnordie.livejournal.com]

Considering that (as far as I'm aware) nothing like the dart or the Luas or anything else seems to address the whole northside away from the coast (I'm thinking about that bit between Malahide/Howth and Ballymun), I'd like to see that being addressed with something. Malahide already have the Dart, the trains, and the buses, Ballymun have the buses (and a proposed Luas line I think), and that whole Drumcondra/Swords road area has.......the bus. and cars. that's it. oh, and the port tunnel (useless in terms of public transport).

I thnk the whole town to airport is going to looked at with a Luas going there either via Howth/Malahide area or Ballymun area. In either case, once again Drumcondra/Swords will again miss out

[lostcarpark.livejournal.com]

Drumcondra/Swords is actually catered for quite well by the government's ten year plan - assuming it survives the next election. The Metro will run from Stephens Green to Swords via Ballymun and the Airport. The Metro will differ from Luas in that it will all be off-street and will have longer, faster trains running at higher speeds.

Drumcondra will be on the Maynooth Dart line, which will be electrafied as part of the plan.

After the BX section, the Green Luas line will be extended further north to form an interchange with the Maynooth DART line, but no further north (a shame, because continuing up to Finglas would make heaps of sense.

[dubnordie.livejournal.com]

grumble, well ok.....but reading that map it appears it's going from o'connell street, up through glasnevin to DCU and northwards from there. Which for me would require a 20-30 min walk to the nearest luas stop at DCU. Pitty the poor buggers who live on the malahide road who will still have to rely on the buses waiting 30 mins at the Donycarney church......