Chamber getting impatient with Cullen

[Kevin K Kelehan]

Dublin chamber's transport body fears

January 23, 2006 07:36
The Dublin Chamber of Commerce has said it is concerned at possible delays in setting up the implementation body for Transport 21 in the Greater Dublin area.

In a submission to Government, the body has set out its proposals for the establishment of the Dublin Transportation Authority (DTA). CEO Gina Quin said that, from past experience, the DTA might not be fully operational for three to four years.

'We believe that, until the DTA has the necessary legislative power, the Minister for Transport should chair a Transport 21 Implementation Team which should meet monthly,' she said. This would comprise the CEOs of all the transport procurement agencies, a County Manager representing Dublin's local authorities, the Dublin Transportation Office, a representative from Dublin Chamber and Dublin Bus.


In its submission, the chamber also called for tenders to issued to operators for new bus routes across the city, and an increase of 50% in the bus fleet over three years.

It calls on Irish Rail to look at providing an electric rail service from anywhere within a 50-70km radius of the city, along the lines of the double-decker commuter services that operate in Belgium and the Netherlands. The chamber also says some rail routes should be tendered out to private operators when the new network is completed.

From http://www.rte.ie/business/2006/0123/dublin.html