Motion on Light Rail System.

Motion tabled that a delegation from Galway City Council should visit sample Cities/Towns in France where a light rail system is in operation.

Press Release 27th October 2015- Light Rail System

Councillor Connolly says a delegation from Galway City Council should visit sample Cities and Towns in France where a light rail system is in operation.

Cllr Connolly said she has tabled a motion for the next City Council Agenda that a delegation from the City Council visit cities and towns in France where light rail is operating successfully.

She said she will be hoping for full support from all City Councillors in relation to this motion that both Councillors and Officials familiarize themselves with how a light rail system operates in different Cities and Towns in France, the cost of same and the benefits to the environment.

Further she said this mode of transport was endorsed by the City Councillors as their preferred mode of public transport as far back as 2010 following an excellent presentation by members of a voluntary committee set up to promote the installation of a light rail system in Galway and chaired by local businessman Brendan Holland.

Despite the Trojan work done by this voluntary committee and notwithstanding the support of all the City Councillors for this option however she said very little progress has been made.

Even more worryingly she said management of both the City and County local authorities are currently engaging in a very costly exercise to build another road which will simply add to the traffic congestion in Galway and be detrimental to the environment.

Unfortunately she said management together with some of Galway West’s TDs have learned absolutely nothing from the debacle of the original plan for an outer by pass which as well as wasting millions of public money in addition to time and energy also deflected management and Councillors from looking at more sustainable solutions.

Unfortunately notwithstanding that the proposal is now off the agenda, management and the majority of Galway West TDs still believe either that another road is the solution and/or that the original proposal should be resurrected!

Councillor Connolly said it is past time for sense to prevail and to actually look at other possible sustainable solutions to Galway’s traffic congestion rather than a new sixteen and half kilometre road at €30 million euro a kilometre ( at a conservative estimate). To proceed with such a project without looking at a cheaper, more effective and more sustainable solution like light rail beggars belief and both City and County Management and TDs should be held to account she said.

 

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