Sell ‘air space’ to save money on the ground

MAY I recommend a little lateral — or, more precisely, vertical — thinking on the costs associated with the €34 billion updated transport plan?

In many countries, governments have sold the 'air space' above stations and redundant capacity in marshalling yards for property development.

This can make a very significant contribution to the high costs of transport improvement by maximising the value of existing public assets.

This infrastructure is usually located fairly centrally in high property value areas.

I recommend that Transport Minister Martin Cullen urgently commission a review of similar locations in Ireland to determine whether they could be marketed as development opportunities and to determine their financial value.

This should include, at least, the air space above all main railway stations and land in the associated marshalling yards.

Good existing models for him to examine include the Federation Square development in Melbourne and the developments all around the rail network in Japan.

This initiative has the potential significantly to reduce the transport plan's cost burden for taxpayers even possibly to the extent of eliminating the need to introduce 'small fees' on roads (if the rationale for this is actually to contribute to the costs of the transport plan and not for other reasons).

Here is a chance for the minister to shine.

Donal Fellows

ul. Prosta 70

00-838 Warsaw

Poland.