Dispute delays Luas lines connection
The Irish Examiner has learned the bulk of the proposed route has been largely determined, travelling from St Stephen’s Green to a new bridge at Hawkins Street.
However, disagreement continues on which 200 metres will be used on the north side of the river in the O’Connell Street/Marlborough Street area.
Since exactly one year ago, the Railway Procurement Agency has been exploring five options to join the lines (the BX route) but Dublin Bus has not cooperated fully because of the potential disruption to its network.
The city’s business community yesterday called for tough decisions to be made so that tracks can finally be laid across the city centre.
Chairman of the Dublin City Business Association, Basil Good, said its members are annoyed.
“We are obviously not happy with the delay in getting this sorted out, there has been quite a lot of discussion and indecision.
“We have been told that the route up Marlborough Street was the preferred option which we would agree with. We think it is time for the RPA to make a decision and to force it through.”
Spokeswoman Grainne Mackin said Dublin Bus remained concerned because one-third of its routes are channelled along College Green and O’Connell Street which will be the most affected.
“There have been meetings continuing since the RPA first announced the plan. At the moment it is a matter of sitting down and sorting things out.
“We would just be anxious to see some sort of traffic assessment undertaken to see how it will affect our routes and our passengers, both during construction and into the future.”
Dublin Chamber of Commerce’s director of policy Aebhric McGibney said it wants legislation, giving statutory powers to the Dublin Transport Authority, to be speeded up to allow it referee the process.
“We think that DTA should be able to intervene and speed up the development of the BX line and help resolve any outstanding issues.”
The RPA’s director of corporate affairs Ger Hannon said the delays were being resolved and it hopes to release a final route plan in January.
“In the past year, we have gone through, in great detail, all of the options and had a lot of discussions with Bus Átha Cliath and Dublin City Council.
“Early in January we hope to be able to return with a much more finely tuned document and which will bring much more clarity to the issue.”
Another stumbling block is how the line will eventually be extended in the direction of the new Dublin Institute of Technology Campus at Grangegorman and on to link up with the western commuter rail link.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
