More rail based public transport needed – Greens

From 2002 to 2006, the Government spent three times as much money building roads as on public transport and at that time it was accepted by many as being the way to go. However,the likelihood of ongoing high oil prices and EU fines for our CO2 emissions necessitates a changing of lifestyle in terms of our over-reliance on the car as the sole means of travel.We believe that our rail services should be strengthened and expanded and that new high-speed, inter-urban trains could eliminate the need for most of the costly and polluting internal flights that the Government currently subsidises.More of us would use buses and cycles more frequently if some of the difficulties associated with both were sorted out.So, in our submission, we have called for greater frequency of bus services which are joined-up with accessible timetable and route information and more, well-designed Quality Bus Coridors.In addition, we are calling for safe cycle routes, more storage and rental facilities, and the introduction of cycle training into school curriculums.

Trish Forde-Brennan, Green party representative in Limerick

The Green Party representative for Limerick East Trish Brennan has called for the feasibility study into the provision of a light rail system for Limerick to be completed as a mater of urgency in the hope that more public carbon free public transport will help Ireland meet EU requirements on CO2 emmissions.

“If we remember that just over a year ago oil was trading at $66 per barrel and that in New York’s commodity markets yesterday it came to within five cents of its all time peak of $127.82 then it does not take a genius to know its time for all of us to change our dependence and over-reliance on oil.” she said.

Since the statement was received from Trish, Bloomberg is reporting oil prices standing at $130.34 a barrel.

“It’s time to focus our energies on making our public transport fit for the twenty first century and for Limerick to have its light rail feasibility study completed. Times are changing and we must now adapt if we are to retain our economic competativeness and keep inflation under control.”

This entry was posted on Thursday, May 22nd, 2008 at 1:32 am and is filed under All. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

raggedtrousers

i know this old, but i can't sleep now. i remembered i left a coment here. i locked my front wheel to a gate, took off the saddle and didn't lock the back wheel- i always do- as i was a bit late. i came out an hour later and the back wheel was gone. not shocked just upset. it's not a swish wheel.

TRISH

It's about choice and workable options, Raggedtrousers. Limerick does not offer real options other than the car.You are cycling which is brilliant but I am sure that there are days when you feel" This is a monkeys------."
With the critical need to reduce our CO2 emissions, get an handle on alternative energy sources ( sustainable, of course!) I cannot understand how some of our elected representatives are not using their energies to studying and identifying creative solutions to issues such as loss of kerbside parking. When we think of the standard of public transport provision in most european cities it is frankly embarrassing what we Irish have.We need to "get vocal and say sort it out, and stop playing politics!"
Trish Forde-Brennan

raggedtrousers

i commute by bike. i'm on my fourth bike as one was stolen and unbelieveably a van driver drove over another in stopped traffic because he wanted to get up onto the foothpath. i don't cycle on the foothpath, i'd prefer if others didn't, but if they feel safer doing this- as long as they don't plough into pedestrians which has also happened to me. oh yeah could pedestrians keep off the cycle lane?- is that asking too much. the current cycle lanes are ridiculous. i agree there are people who can't cycle and perhaps shouldn't this can also be said of motorists. it's a licence to drive not kill.
many cars could be taken off the road if the current rail lines between ennis castleconnell and tipperary etc. were utilised- it's not impossible, more light rail doesn't need to be laid. for personal reasons i will not travel by train. i've given up on the city busses- had to give up complaining. i would take the Euro bus once in a while. otherwise i literally cycle everywhere.

Sean

Trish,et al.
Why bother with a light rail system in Limerick.?We already have an exellent railway track system Going from The Cement plant,Mungret around to Ballynanty/Moyross on the North side.From there Ennis,etc.So all we need is a proper set up of stations around the town or stops.
Use what is already there ,and quit planning to build more concrete structures or non useable or sensible bus lanes like caherdavin or non used bike lanes in the Childers road.

TRISH

Dear all, Trish here.Am on my way to Dublin by train so forgive the rushed response.
Firstly, Hoof, you make some valid comments and I would love to see some real discussion in a public forum with our local authorities on Rail for Limerick and what can be done or not.That is a primary reason for calling for the completion of the feasibility study on light rail so that we have something definitive to consider and then plan from the findings of the study.None of us know what conclusions will be drawn but I think we need to know one way or another before we can plan and implement what can and should be done.
Secondly, Maureen, for the record. I sat with Eamonn Ryan, not Trevor Sargent and Limerick was cited with Cork, Galway and Waterford in our Transport Policy and Election Manifesto.Furthermore, the press conference in Limerick dealt with Limerick in some detail. It was in a live interview elsewhere that Eamonn inadvertently did not Include Limerick. If you look at the Programme for Government a faeasibility study on Luas style light rail is committed to. Re your call to buy no more buses what are suggesting when and if buses in use are no longer road worthy? Cars? Planes? Many more could cycle but not everyone is able to cycle. Last but not least Maureen, please call me Trish, Forde-Brennan or Trish Forde-Brennan. My surname is a combination of my maiden name and married name.I kept both because of the following rationale:
While I love my husband I will not deny my father.
Oh, Yes--John.I like your suggestion.Have you any specifics from Boston which you can email me? Squid has my contact address.I would love to study the specifics and I will certainly feed it back to my party.
TRISH

John

How about tax breaks for alternative energy users?
Every new home that is built should have a mandatory solar panel installed that is linked to the national grid.

Here in Boston there is some great incentives for the use and installation of alternative energy. The best I think is that you can hook it up to the grid and it can reduce your bill by spinning the meter backwards when you are creating more electricity than you are using.
I know this is slightly off the topic but its more a comment to some of the previous comments

Lex

I thought the Limerick Regeneration crowd are trying to that at the moment?

Hoof

There is a fair amount of track already in place throughout the city, and in particular on the Ennis line where a few platforms at 4 or so locations would be a start. I'm surprised the Greens didn't see fit to concentrate on that instead of a Light-Rail System that would be infinitely more costly, and would probably be rejected for that reason.

Within the city area the other lines could be developed - in particular a line extending to Mungret via the Crescent Centre/Ballykeefe. That would only require a rebuilding of a bridge and some spanning at Carey's Road. The spur off that could service Raheen and Patrickswell, line already there too. The old station stops at Dromkeen, Boher and Oola might become feasible again on the Lk. Junction line as "Park&Ride" facilities. No harm to have at least the bones of a Commuter service using this existing track and rolling stock, and ideally linked to an efficient bus system. Rather than spouting fanciful notions of a LUAS type system that will end up being shelved simply because the figures won't add up.

Like the idea of a School for Cyclists. Lesson one: "Footpaths are for people".

Nutboy

I agree with the Greens, a light rail system to Shannon would/could take thousands of cars off the road every day. Cycle lanes to most schools (I know its not possible everywhere) and more frequent buses.

It does not take a rocket scientist to see how this could be acheived and the rewards. The roads are much more quiet during school holidays so actions such as those outlined could achieve some success.

Squid

In fairness to her Maureen, there was no way of knowing that the price of Oil would rise by 100 percent in the successive twelve months. However I have published your question so that you may get an answer.

Maureen

Did Trish Forde not sit at a press conference last May with Trevor Sargent in Limerick where they expressly stated that they were in favour of light rail for Galway and Cork but completely ignored Limerick? Forde knows there is no case for light rail in Limerick with the current population and is mearly pandering to popular opinion that a light rail would be "nice" for Limerick.

How about asking her Minister for something more sensible and doable - but less press worthy - like a complete halt to buying any new buses for Limerick (or elsewhere) that use oil for transport?

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More rail based public transport needed – Greens