COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF DEVELOPMENT PLAN MEETING

Thursday, February 12, 2015

MOTION NO. 178

MOTION: Councillor E. Higgins

That this Council supports the provision of public transport links between existing rail and LUAS lines and nearby communities and that this strategic objective be reflected in the County’s Development Plan.

REPORT:

The provision of public transport services within the County is the responsibility of National agencies such as the National Transport Authority (NTA) and Railway Procurement Agency and overseen by strategic planning documents such as the NTA Integrated Implementation Plan 2013-2018 and (Draft) Greater Dublin Area Transport Strategy 2011-2030.

Metro West would effectively link Tallaght with Dublin Airport and connecting a number of other rail links including the LUAS Red Line with the Dublin-Kildare railway line and the proposed Lucan LUAS. The current status of Metro West is uncertain, with no funding commitments, and scheme has been suspended. Whilst Metro West is unlikely to proceed in its current form, South Dublin County Council can, via the County Development Plan, retain the Metro West transport corridor for the development as a long term high capacity public transport route.

The analysis process undertaken as part of the preparation the County Development Plan also identified some demand for movement between employment and population centres in the vicinity of the Outer Ring Road, such as Citywest, Grangecastle and Lucan. This demand is likely to grow further due to forecast employment and population growth in these areas. South Dublin County Council can, via the County Development Plan, seek to establish this corridor as a long term high capacity public transport. Any such proposal will however need to be discussed with the NTA prior to inclusion.

Recommendation

It is recommended that this motion is adopted.