December 2009

December 2009 Progress Report


The following developments took place in December:

METRO NORTH

On 18th December, the RPA published a notice relating to its proposed modifications of the design of the Mater, Seatown and Ballymun Stops to An Bord Pleanála. The revised material may be inspected (or purchased for a fee) at the offices of An Bord Pleanála (Marlborough St.), Dublin City Council (Civic Offices), Fingal County Council (County Hall, Swords), the Railway Procurement Agency (Parkgate St.) and Ballymun Regeneration Ltd (Ballymun Road). The information may also be viewed/downloaded at www.dublinmetronorth.ie. Any submissions or observations on the revised material must be received by An Bord Pleanála (together, if applicable, with a fee of €50) not later than 5.30pm on Monday 8th February 2010.

LUAS

New Luas Extension to Docklands Opened.

On 8th December, the Minister for Transport, Mr. Noel Dempsey TD, officially opened the new Luas extension to the Docklands. This project extended the Luas Red Line by 1.5km from Connolly Station to The Point. Total journey time on the extended Red Line from The Point to Tallaght is 52 minutes and trams depart The Point for Tallaght every 6½ minutes at peak times and every 8 minutes at all other times on weekdays.


HEAVY RAIL

Iarnród Éireann

· Works on the Royal Canal and the Barnhill bridges are complete on the Clonsilla to Pace project and the Clonsilla turnback has been extended.
· Driver training on the new Ennis to Athenry line began in November but was postponed due to severe flooding. It is scheduled to recommence on January 17th 2010.
· Accessibility works on the Galway line at Athenry, Athlone and Clara were completed in December.



BUSES

Real Time Passenger Information (RTPI) Project
· A Real Time Passenger Information (RTPI) Project for Dublin is currently being lead by Dublin City Council (DCC). DCC have recently received tenders for the provision of this service. It is intended that DCC will appoint a contractor in Q1 2010 with completion of the project by Q4 2010.
· It has also been decided that, in line with the commitment in the Renewed Programme for Government, the project will be expanded to include a pilot RTPI project in Metropolitan Cork.

Bus Éireann

Local Transport Initiative

The Local Transport Pilot Initiative is well underway. Many of the joint pilots between Bus Éireann, the Rural Transport Programme, the HSE and disability transport groups are up and running and are proving successful. It is envisaged that the pilots will be independently evaluated in early 2010.


ROADS

M6 Galway to Ballinasloe
The M6 Galway to Ballinasloe motorway project was officially opened on 18th December 2009. The 56km motorway opened 4 months ahead of schedule and is on budget. The opening of this section of the M6 completes the Dublin to Galway inter-urban route and reduces travel times from Galway to Ballinasloe by 25 minutes.

M9 Kilcullen to Carlow
The M9 Killcullen to Carlow motorway project opened on 21st December 2009, 10 months ahead of schedule and on budget. The 28km motorway provides a bypass of Castledermot and also provides a new national secondary road to Athy via the new junction at Mullamast.