Galway had a tram in 1904 and if the GLUAS light rail system can be incorporated into the forthcoming transport plan for the city, a modern tram system will be back 110 years later in 2014.
This is the view of GLUAS chairperson Brendan Holland who was speaking after a detailed feasibility study of the GLUAS system was presented to the consultants from Martin Vorhees and Associates. MVA has been appointed by the Galway City Council to develop a transport plan for the city.
Detailed drawings of the four line system, undertaken by Colm Cantillon MRIAI from Simon J Kelly Architects, were analysed and discussed and overall feedback from the consultants is understood to have been positive.
“Galway’s set up is ideal as it is a linear city which means that the four routes selected will pass through 60 per cent of the population,” said Mr Cantillon.
The MVA consultants highlighted that there were a lot of new factors in terms of both the engineering technology and the financing package; however, it is exactly this innovative aspect that the GLUAS group is focusing on with the aim for Galway to become a model city.
MVA will be presenting a plan to the Galway City Council on April 27, following deliberations from various groups, organisations, and the public.
“A lot of work has gone in to the GLUAS project to show a light rail system can work in Galway,” said Brendan Holland, chairperson of GLUAS. “We hope this will be seriously considered by the consultants in Galway city’s future transport plan.”
