Wheels for new transport scheme set in motion

A PUBLIC consultation process is to begin next week on the proposed Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) scheme for Dublin.

The National Transport Authority (NTA) has made presentations on the schemes – which includes routes from Swords/Airport to Dublin City, Blanchardstown to UCD and Clongriffin to Tallaght – to both Dublin City Council and Fingal County Council.

Key features of the ambitious project include:

?¢ The new service will be called Swiftway

?¢ It will carry 2,400 to 3,600 passengers per direction per hour.

?¢ Travel time from Swords to O’Connell Bridge will be 35 minutes.

?¢ A public consultation process will commence on February 17.

?¢ If approved in early 2015 and funding is available, it would take between two and two and a half years to be up and running – so the earliest the project would be delivered would be 2017.

?¢ There is a two year plus lead time from ordering the vehicles to delivery

?¢ The scheme would co-exist with Convention Bus services.

The indicative costs are:

?¢ Swords/Airport to City Centre:

?¬150m to

?¬200m

?¢ Blanchardstown to UCD –

?¬150m to

?¬200m

?¢ Clongriffin to Tallaght –

?¬200m to

?¬250m

Cllr Darragh Butler (FF) said he welcomed any improved transport options for Swords and North Dublin but pressure on the Government needed to be maintained for the delivery of Metro North.

“My main fear would be that we get this BRT scheme not only in the short-term as planned, but ultimately also as a long-term solution instead of Metro North,

? said Cllr Butler.

“We were told by the NTA that this is categorically not intended to be a replacement for Metro North.

“This is intended as an initial solution in advance of Metro North and that Metro North is still the long-term solution.

?

Balbriggan ward councillor Tom O’Leary (FG) said he welcomed the proposal for the service from Swords to the Airport and Dublin city.

“I particularly welcome the clarification by officials from the NTA that their view is firmly that Metro North or a similar project is still required for the current and future development of Fingal,

? he stated.

“The Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) proposal is an addition to the transport service for the area and not a substitution for Metro North.

“Pricing on this new upgraded service will be similar to existing competing services.

?