Launch of Transport 21 Annual Report 2007

Date: 05 March 2008

82% INCREASE IN SPEND ON PUBLIC TRANSPORT PROJECTS IN 2007

ROAD PROJECTS BEING DELIVERED ON TIME AND WITHIN BUDGET

Transformation of our Transport Infrastructure: €108 per second being spent in lifetime of Transport 21

The Minister for Transport, Noel Dempsey TD today launched the Transport 21 Second Annual Progress Report in respect of 2007. A major highlight of the year was that spending on public transport, at €640m, increased by 82% over 2006.

Further progress also took place on road building with over 600 kilometres of the planned 738 kilometres of Major Inter-Urban Routes (MIUs) now either open to traffic or under construction. The NRA remains on target to complete the MIUs in 2010.

A total of €2.8bn was spent under Transport 21 in 2007 - an increase of 46% on 2006. In the ten-year lifetime of Transport 21, from 2006-2015, €108 per second is being spent to transform Ireland’s transport infrastructure.

Cumulative expenditure in the two years since Transport 21 began was €4.7bn.

According to the Annual Report, expenditure on national roads was €2.2 billion and on public transport was €640.4m. The estimated expenditure on public transport for 2008 is €986m, representing a further year on year increase of 54%. This demonstrates in a tangible way the overall commitment in Transport 21 to delivering real public transport solutions throughout Ireland.

Minister Dempsey said: "Transport 21 is delivering tangible benefits - increased public transport facilities, more services, shorter travel times and greater connectivity between the regions".

"At €34bn, this is the largest coordinated transport infrastructure project in Irish history. It encompasses trains, trams, buses and roads, and it is delivering new projects from 2006 to 2015, in every part of the country," he added.

"This is Progress in Motion and everybody will benefit from the social and economic benefits of Transport 21 projects," concluded the Minister.

At the end of 2007, the following had been delivered under Transport 21:

· The M1 Dublin - Border motorway completed

· 86% of the five Major Inter-Urban routes (MIUs) was either open to traffic or at construction

· All other projects on the MIU network are now through the statutory approval process

· 11 national road projects were completed during the year

· Construction started on a further 10 national road projects

· Hourly return services on the Cork - Dublin route were introduced

· Passenger numbers grew by 14% on the Cork service

· New intercity railcars were introduced on the Sligo line

· Upgrading of the Kildare rail line commenced to permit a major increase in route services

· Phase 1 of the Western Rail Corridor started

· Dublin Docklands railway station opened

· New buses were delivered in Dublin

· Longer trams were introduced on the Tallaght Luas line (increasing length from 30-40m)

· Work started on the Cherrywood and Docklands Luas extensions

· Grants totalling €86 million were approved for the six regional airports

Expressing satisfaction at the progress that has been made to date on Transport 21, the Minister said: "2007 saw a considerable increase in investment in public transport delivering increased capacity on Luas, buses and suburban and intercity trains, a new train station at Dublin’s Docklands and perhaps more importantly, on the start of construction of a number of major rail projects. In addition, eleven national roads projects were completed including the first of the MIUs from Dublin to the Border, and ten new roads projects started".

Progress will continue this year with Transport 21’s 2008 expenditure provision at almost €3bn.

Focus on public transport delivery will continue as a priority, with a total spend of almost €1bn.

· The deployment of the new intercity railcars will continue across the rail network. This new fleet will be maintained at a new traincare depot in Portlaoise which will open during the year.

· An Bord Pleanala approved the railway order for the first phase of the Navan line last week. This involves 7.5km of line between Clonsilla and Pace and the provision of a park-and-ride at Pace. Work will get underway as soon as the Order becomes enforceable.

· Construction on Phase 1 of the Western Rail Corridor will continue.

· The main construction contract on the reopening of the Midleton line will get underway.

· Work will get underway on the Dublin city centre resignalling project which will increase capacity on the city centre and the Maynooth line.

· Work will continue on the Kildare line upgrade.

· Work will continue on the Cherrywood and Docklands Luas extensions and work should get underway on the Citywest Luas extension, subject to an enforceable Railway Order.

· Progress will be made on both the Interconnector and Metro North during the year, with an invitation to tender issuing in respect of Metro North to 4 pre-qualified consortia later in the year.

Almost 2bn will be invested in national roads in 2008.

· All of the outstanding contracts on the major inter-urban routes (MIUs) will be awarded this year.

· Seven major projects, totalling 100km, will open this year.

· Seven new projects will get underway, involving a total of 169km, and

· Work will continue on a further 13 projects.

ENDS

Clickhere for the Transport 21 Annual Report 2007