To whom it may concern,
As Green Party Councillors for the South East Area, representing Kimmage Rathmines, the South East Inner City and Pembroke, we wish to highlight the following observations and concerns about the NTA’s recently published Greater Dublin Area Transport Strategy.
As we emerge from the Covid crisis while continuing to deal with a climate emergency, it is clear that we cannot accept a return to a gridlocked city with chronic car-dependency, ever-worsening air quality, poor walking and cycling infrastructure and the ongoing loss of biodiversity. It is heartening to see that in the last round of consultation, over 4,000 individuals and groups submitted their views and ideas, and that almost everyone agreed we need to reduce private car usage. Clearly these submissions recognised, as we do, that the imperative to offer safe, sustainable and low-carbon transport options has never been more urgent.
We believe in an integrated transport solution for Dublin; one that creates an opportunity to reimagine our city and plan for a future where Dublin is a connected, climate-resilient capital where streets are for people and private car ownership is an option not a necessity.
While the spirit of the GDA Transport Strategy speaks to this vision in a ‘big picture’ sense, and there are aspects of it that are very welcome, it must be stated that the strategy lacks the urgency, ambition, specificity and scale of action we need to drive the modal shift our city needs to make if we are to achieve that vision on a timeline that is conducive to reaching our climate goals. We hope you will consider the following comments on the actions needed to ensure this strategy is bold, ambitious and visionary, and delivers for the people, the environment, the public realm and the quality of life of residents in Dublin city, the South East area, and beyond.
Transport:
A core focus of the strategy must be on the reallocation of road space to walking, cycling, e mobility and public transport, with specific targets set out. Currently there are large gaps in the proposed network, and it’s critical to recognise that lack of connectivity will have implications for modal choice, and strangely, the role of public transport in enabling citizens to move around their city is largely ignored. Safety on public transport must be a priority, with adequate security on the all routes, in stations and with well-lit, secure access to public transport stations.