A public meeting to build support for an integrated public transport system for the city, including GLUAS, a proposed light rail system similar to the LUAS in Dublin, takes place on Monday September 24 at 8pm in the Harbour Hotel.
The meeting is being organised by the Independent Galway West TD Catherine Connolly, and will also be addressed by Prof Ulf Strohmayer from the NUI Galway Geography Department, as well as by the GLUAS team, led by Brendan Holland, which will speak about its work to date.
Dep Connolly believes light rail has the potential to “transform” Galway. “It will give an entirely new green image to Galway and provide positive opportunities for urban renewal and development leading to increased population densities,” she said. “This is in keeping with both the spirit and the detail of the Government’s Ireland 2040 plan, which has specifically mentioned Galway as one of the five cities destined for growth. Moreover, our commitments under climate mitigation legislation oblige us to take both immediate and long term steps to reduce our emissions and a light rail system will go a long way towards achieving these objectives.”
The TD is appealing to the public, as well as councillors, TDs, and senators, to attend the meeting. She says there is support for GLUAS, citing a petition conducted towards the end of last year which collected more than 21,000 signatures, calling on the Minister for Transport, Shane Ross, to carry out a feasibility study for light rail.
