BALLYMUN could lose out on a long-promised major transport system now under evaluation, despite it being a key element of the area’s regeneration plans.
Northsiders have less than two weeks left to have their views heard on six options proposed for the multi-million euro transport system for Fingal and North Dublin that will link Dublin Airport to the city.
But there’s no certainty the chosen route will go through Ballymun, even though Metro North was touted as a central pillar of the Ballymun Regeneration Plan.
One of the six options now on the table is a rail spur that would branch off the Malahide DART line at Clongriffin and connect to the airport and Swords, bypassing Ballymun entirely.
A scaled down or
‘optimised’ version of Metro North that does go through Ballymun is another option.
But an official appraisal report of the six proposals warns that the cost of this new Metro North scheme is high, despite a reduction of
?¬421 million from the original proposal.
When Metro North was originally shelved during the financial crisis, other projects in Ballymun also fell by the wayside, including the multi-million euro Spring Cross shopping centre.
Local councillor Noeleen Reilly (SF) warned that locals could be left stranded by the new transport system.
“Metro North was supposed to be a link for the people of Ballymun and Glasnevin with Dublin airport,
? she said.
“The minute the Government announced in 2011 that the project had been stalled, it paved the way for other local developments to be cancelled.
“All the master plans for the Ballymun regeneration very much included the Metro North as a key element of the regeneration.
“We have no direct link to the airport and now we have no concrete future plans for transport in the area.
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There are four other options for the new transport system. These include a rail link from Drumcondra to Dublin Airport that would tunnel under Glasnevin Cemetery, the Botanic Gardens and Ballymun.
This would also be an expensive choice due to the amount of tunnelling required and disruption on Ballymun Road would be significant during construction.
Another option being considered is an extension of the Luas Cross City from Cabra to Swords, which would also involve expensive tunnelling under Glasnevin Cemetery.
Also on the shortlist is this Luas route combined with a rail link from Clongriffin, giving airport passengers a choice between heavy and light rail services to the city.
The final option is a combination of a number of proposed
Swiftway or Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) services, which would be a cost effective choice covering an extensive catchment area.
BRT is a relatively new concept based on providing high capacity bus transport through a more effective system than conventional Quality Bus Corridors.
The National Transport Authority is keen to introduce the system in Dublin and three routes are currently in the planning stages.
The public has until January 19 to submit views on the six options chosen from 25 proposals for the transport system for Fingal and North Dublin.
Submissions will be considered by the National Transport Authority as part of ongoing work to identify a final option. This preferred option will then be included in the NTA’s over- all Greater Dublin Area Strategy plan, due to be presented to Minister for Transport, Paschal Donohoe, in June for consideration and final decision.
Gerry Murphy, CEO of the National Transport Authority, said there was a need to plan ahead for Fingal and North Dublin.
“It’s an area of Dublin that has grown greatly in the last decade and which will continue to grow due to increasing population and greater economic activity,
? he said.
“The objective is to find the project that best meets the needs of such an important area of the Dublin region on a value for money basis
“I encourage everyone with an interest in this area to take a look at the proposal details on our website (www.nta.ie) and to make their views known to us before the deadline of January 19.
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