DUBLIN North West TD, Dessie Ellis (SF), is calling on traffic planners to review the Dublin Outer Orbital Route as an alternative to increasing tolls on the M50.
The much-mooted 80km orbital route was planned to run outside the M50 and link the M1 near Drogheda, through the N2 at Slane, the N3 at Navan and the N4 at Kilkock, lining into the M7 at Kilcullen.
The plan was eventually shelved but Deputy Ellis, the Sinn Féin transport spokesperson, says it would be preferable to any future increase on M50 tolls, as suggested earlier this month in an NRA report.
It’s believed that the report proposed five tolling points, including one between Ballymun and Finglas, which combined could result in charges of up to e6.50 to use the motorway.
NRA spokesperson Séan O’Neil said that while increasing tolling could be an option in the future it had no role in setting tolls, which was up to the Government to implement.
Deputy Ellis said his party had consistently opposed tolling on the M50 and didn’t believe it would deal with the problem of congestion.
“It would simply raise more money from already hard-pressed road users,
? he added.
“The reason the M50 is congested at times is that it is the best option for many motorists to get to their destination. The solution is not to make the motorway less attractive and encourage people on to smaller roads shifting the problem. The solution is to give commuters options.
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The local TD said reviewing plans such as the Dublin Outer Orbital Route could create jobs and offer an alternative solution to congestion.
The Irish Road Haulage Association also voiced its concern over increased tolling and the problems it could potentially create for licensed road haulage operators.
“The report is very concerning for our industry and creates even greater urgency on the need to overhaul the commercial vehicle road tax system in Ireland,
? said IRHA President, Eoin Gavin.
Mr Gavin said his organisation wants a change in policy to the charging of commercial traffic and is calling for the introduction of a nationwide
‘pay-as-you-go’ road user charge for commercial vehicles.
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Minister for Transport, Leo Varadkar has said he has no plans to introduce new tolling points on the M50.
“I think it would just displace traffic into other areas like Lucan, Palmerstown and Castleknock off the M50 into residential areas,
? he said.
“There will be a point in time when we need to look at congestion across Dublin again, but that should be done on a holistic basis.
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