The Gluas Committee said it very much welcomed “positive comments” made by Martin last month when the Cork TD was visiting Galway to open the Crown Square development.
Martin told the Galway Advertiser he would look at funding a route analysis for the Gluas in the government’s latest National Development Plan, expected to be published within weeks, outlining resource allocations until 2035.
“The Gluas committee very much welcomes the positive comments made by the Taoiseach recently in Galway and reported by the Advertiser. His city of Cork has just announced its preferential route to much acclaim. This is where we are trying to get to with Gluas,” said group chairman, Brendan Holland.
The €165 billion NDP will be published this month, and it is estimated a Very Light Rail (VLR ) preferred route plan could be completed for less than €2 million.
“In the greater scheme of things, it is small money to do this study, and once done, it would protect that route from [obstructing] development. It would also send a message to developers, planners and others that Galway is looking to future-proof its development, and solve its chronic traffic problem,” says Holland.
Engineer Murt Coleman of the Gluas group presented possible route options to a group of parliamentarians at a Leinster House meeting last week, sponsored and attended by Galway West TD Catherine Connolly, who has been a long-term supporter of a light rail option for Galway.
Minister for Transport, Darragh O’Brien, sent his apologies to the meeting, as he was attending a rail debate within the Dáil chamber, but it is understood his assistant did attend, alongside officials from the National Transport Authority and Department of Transport.
Minister Sean Canney, Senator Seán Kyne, Senator Anne Rabbitte, John Connolly TD, Albert Dolan TD, Roderick O’Gorman TD, Aengus O’Snodaigh TD, and Louis O’Hara TD were all spotted at the audio-visual presentation. It is understood assistants to other TDs and ministers were also present to observe.
“The Labour Party has a vision for transport in Ireland that would see Luas designs advanced for all five Irish cities with a view to completion of at least 15 new lines by 2040 as set out in our election manifesto,” said Ciaran Ahern TD, after the meeting, adding that he supported funding for a route plan for Galway city in the current NDP.
“The committee has been convincing both [Galway] city and county councils to put their full weight and support behind this project, so that the NTA and Department of Transport understand: what is good for Cork can also be equally – if not better – for Galway,” says Holland.
A public consultation period on an identified preferred route for a Cork Luas ended yesterday. The 18km route includes 25 stops from the west side of the city, eastward to Blackrock, via the hospital and university.
