COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

south dublin county council crest

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, July 08, 2013

MOTION NO. 8

MOTION: Councillor T. Gilligan

That this Council fully opposes any new tolls in the South Dublin area.

REPORT:

The M50 Upgrade Project received statutory approval from An Bord Pleanála in 2005. (The scheme comprised the addition of a third lane in both directions on the M50 from the M1 to Sandyford, with a fourth auxiliary lane between the M1 and N81. It also included major improvements of the M1, M2, M3, N4, M7 and Ballymount Interchanges. In addition, the project also included the removal of the West Link Toll Plaza and the installation of Open Road Tolling.)

In recognising the potential for significant traffic growth on the newly upgraded M50, Condition 7 of the statutory approval required the following:

Condition 7: A scheme of specific demand management measures for the M50 motorway corridor shall be published by the relevant road authorities not later than three years after the M50 Motorway Upgrade Scheme has been completed. ( All elements of upgrade completed in September 2010)

Reason: To protect the traffic capacity provided by the M50 Motorway Upgrade Scheme over its design life.

A working group comprising the four Dublin local authorities and the National Roads Authority was convened in early 2012 to study appropriate measures for inclusion in such a Scheme. The working group has now completed initial work in considering appropriate measures and has begun the process of briefing each of the four Strategic Policy Committees. These briefings commenced in DLR Co Council on 11th June, Dublin City Council on 12th June, Fingal Co Council, on 1st July and South Dublin County Council on 5th September.

There are a number of components to demand management identified in the draft report as follows.

If the motion is passed, its terms will be conveyed to the Minister for Transport Tourism and Sport.