Chamber warns of transport crisis

DUBLIN will grind to a halt unless the sharp rise in passengers using rail, bus and Luas is matched by an increase in spending on public transport according to the Dublin Chamber of Commerce.

The Chamber issued the warning after figures released recently by the National Transport Authority showed that 10 million more passengers travelled on public transport in 2016 than in the previous year.

The number of passengers using public transport has risen by 13 per cent over the past five years from 207 million in 2012 to 234 million in 2016, the Chamber said.

“Dublin’s public transport infrastructure is at saturation point on a daily basis,” said Chamber CEO Mary Rose Burke.

“This is due to the significant lack of investment in our transport infrastructure over the past decade. A significant increase in investment is now required before the city grinds to a halt.

“The number of people coming into Dublin is growing all the time. The new NTA figures are proof of that. As the economy continues to grow, the pressure on our transport network is increasing.

“Currently we’re spending around €175 million while competitor cities abroad, like Manchester and London – cities we’re competing with on a daily basis for business and jobs – are spending 2-3-times as much.”

The Chamber is calling on the Government to act this year to avert what it calls a “looming congestion crisis” and wants Dart Underground to be brought back onto the transport agenda.