NEWS that BusConnects is to be rolled out on a phased basis starting in 2021 presents an opportunity for the Luas Finglas line according to a Dublin North West TD.
Luas is currently scheduled to arrive in Finglas 2027 under the Government’s Project Ireland 2040 plan.
Last week the NTA said BusConnects construction will begin on a phased basis from 2021 with each corridor upgrade taking up to two years to complete. Local TD, Noel Rock (FG), believes this presents a window of opportunity to bring Luas to Finglas before 2027.
“It’s clear that there’s still an awful lot to resolve in relation to BusConnects,” said Deputy Rock who is a member of the Oireachtas Transport Committee.
“I welcome the NTA’s update that BusConnects will be phased in between now and 2023, which gives time to address some of the concerns.
“In my constituency, people weren’t happy with the route plans or the planned road widenings. Yet, they liked some aspects like orbital routes and cashless payments.
“Now that the NTA has confirmed the phased implementation of the project, there is an opportunity here to expedite the ‘FingLuas’ project.
“We know from Transport Committee hearings that the design team from the Metro project will be reassigned to the LUAS project towards the end of this year.
“Subsequently, there is a real window of opportunity to begin scoping, planning and constructing the least expensive line extension which is proposed – chiefly, the extension of the LUAS to Finglas.
“The land is available – it may not always be – so time is of the essence.”
