70% of motorists would avoid tolls

ALMOST 70% of motorists have said they would change their routes if additional tolls are applied on the M50 and other routes.

The Automobile Association (AA) poll highlights that proposals for new tolls on the M50 would do much more harm than good because they would cause additional traffic to avoid the motorway and re-congest suburbs like Sandyford, Dundrum and Blanchardstown instead.

The NRA is engaged in a study to assess the feasibility of placing tolls the entire length of the M50 rather than just the Westlink Bridge. The AA is calling on Transport Minister Leo Varadkar to call a halt to this immediately.

Director of policy at the AA, Conor Faughnan, said putting a toll on the entire length of the M50 would be “an act of traffic planning madness”.

“For Dublin, new M50 tolls would mean a return to the bad old days of major congestion in the suburbs. Residents and businesses, who well remember what it was like before the M50 was completed, are contacting the AA expressing their dismay at the idea,” he said.

The AA pointed out that despite its apparent attractiveness as a revenue-raising measure, tolls are not in fact as lucrative as they seem. The M50 toll raises €80 million per year but it also costs over €20m to run — money that the AA sees as pure waste.

“Compared to the €2.5 billion we pay in fuel taxes it is relatively small money. In fact just a couple of cents of excise duty on petrol and diesel raises more money than every toll in the country combined. Considering the collateral damage that they cause, tolls aren’t worth it,” said Mr Faughnan.