Minister praises Grangegorman DIT’s sustainable transport hub

THE new sustainable transport initiative at DIT Grangegorman was visited by Minister for Transport, Paschal Donohoe, last week.

Opened in September to an initial 1,200 students, Dublin’s newest campus is served by 44 Dublin Bus routes, with further services offered by Bus Eireann and Matthews Coaches.

The Smithfield Luas stop also provides connections to Tallaght and the Docklands, as well as interconnecting with Iarnrod Eireann services from Heuston and Connolly.

Coca-Cola Zero Bikes are located near the campus as well, giving students all transport options available in the city.

Third level students can now also avail of the new Student Leap Card that enables them to benefit from special discounted fares for unlimited travel on certain services.

Speaking at the opening, Gerry Murphy, Chief Executive of the National Transport Authority (NTA) said: “Right from the start, this campus has been planned for sustainability in energy and transport terms.

“DIT prides itself on its sustainability focus and is an active partner in our Smarter Travel Campus programme, while the Grangegorman Development Agency (GDA) has designed and is now delivering a world-class urban development with education and health facilities.

“We look forward to completing Luas Cross City which will bring students right to the campus gates.”

Chief Executive of the GDA, Gerry Murphy, said one of the key principles of the Masterplan fro Grangegorman was to create a permeable and integrated piece of the City.

“With the completion of the Phoenix Care Centre and the arrival of the first DIT students we have already created several new openings,” he added.

“Most importantly, it is by working together with the NTA, DIT, HSE, Dublin Bus and DCC that these new openings are connected to high quality public transport and that is vital for the continued sustainable development of Grangegorman”.

Speaking during last week’s official visit, Minister Donohoe said the Grangegorman campus sets a great example on how a major development should be undertaken. “As an elected representative of the local community, I am proud of the work that has gone into creating a vibrant centre of research and learning, here in the heart of the city, with a minimal impact on traffic volumes for the surrounding community,” he added.

“From the outset, planning for the mass-movement of thousands of students was at the heart of accessibility planning, and the three public bodies can be proud of their collaborative approach and early achievements.”

The new DIT campus is part of the overall Grangegorman Project, which aims to create a vibrant city quarter on the grounds of the old St Brendan’s Hospital.