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A transportation union is calling for the MetroLink project to be phased out and BusConnects to be changed due to the coronavirus crisis.
The National Union of Buses and Railways (NBRU) says that multimillion-dollar euro projects should be replaced by lower-cost plans.
It also wants staggered opening hours for schools and workplaces, to allow for social distancing on public transportation.
In a letter to the Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, and other party leaders, he says that planning for future transportation needs “should be based on what can be accomplished, not what is desired.”
“Surely it is time to take stock to see how we, as a country, can use our resources to improve many transportation projects.”
He also says that the type of investment suggested in the Dublin Metro proposals, of up to € 5 billion, “perhaps should be viewed through the prism of what we can still get for our money.”
Image: MetroLinkIn BusConnects terms, he says this should be complemented by a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) “to solve serious congestion problems in Dublin, Cork, Limerick and Galway at a fraction of the price of an integrated subway line.”
Dermot O’Leary is Secretary General of the NBRU.
He told Newstalk Breakfast that the pandemic has shown that there are other ways to do things.
“I think COVID has shown what can happen if we decongest our cities … it has shown quite clearly that there could be a better way or another.”
“I suppose all we are trying to do here is generate debate.”
“Decisions about transportation provision are made by a small number of people at this stage and are not being tested.”
“However, what we are doing here is that BusConnects was designed to compete if you like with the vehicular traffic on our streets and there was a notion that people’s gardens and roads would be razed.”
“Once again, COVID has shown that if you take the car out of town, you may not need to.
“However … the orbital bus routes that were suggested as part of BusConnects could still be inserted into the network.”
“If that money was ever found just for Metro, we are saying quite clearly … there are many projects that could be funded through that type of money across the country, and not just in Dublin.”
“And it would help disperse the population.”
Main Image: The Swords to Charlemont MetroLink Route | Image: MetroLink
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