Plans for new city light rail system revealed in Green transport initiative

THE Green Party outlined the route of a light rail system for Cork and called for the setting up of a dedicated transport authority for the city and county yesterday.

The calls came during the launch of a pre-election transport policy package which demands a complete overhaul of the city’s entire public transport system.

The transport authority would coordinate all agencies to ensure that public transport becomes an attractive alternative to the private car, Cork South Central TD Dan Boyle said.

He also revealed moves to develop a Luas-style service in Cork.

Frank Allen, chief executive officer of the Rail Procurement Agency, met yesterday with senior city and county council officials with a view to carrying out a feasibility study on the establishment of the service.

The Greens also called for an overhaul of the city’s bus service to eliminate the need for buses to crisscross the city and for the fast-tracking of a water-bus service along the river Lee.

These projects are part of wider national infrastructure package, costed along the lines of the Government’s Transport 21 policy, which the Greens will launch within weeks, party leader, Trevor Sargent said.

Mr Boyle said the light-rail system could follow the routes of old rail lines in the city and be rolled out in three phases.

“The Green Party proposes the development of a light rail system that would see a line connecting Ballincollig to Mahon via the city centre,” he said.

“A spur line from Bishopstown incorporating CIT and Cork University Hospital would join this line.

“A second phase could see a light rail system being extended to Passage West. The third, and most technically challenging element of the system would be the development of light rail for the northside of the city.

“We have already seen the huge success of the Luas in Dublin and we believe Cork should see the next roll-out of this excellent public transport system.”

Mr Sargent said the Government’s Transport 21 package had left Cork out of the picture with regards to high-budget transport development programmes.

“Much of what is proposed for Cork under Transport 21 was already underway or has been postponed indefinitely,” he said.

“Other projects such as the North Ring route around the city and the bypass for Macroom have been delayed indefinitely. Cork does not deserve this.”

Cllr Chris O’Leary, who will run for the Greens in Cork North Central, said the waterbus project was the kind of alternative thinking needed to solve gridlock.