Large areas of Dublin city centre could be closed to private traffic within a year under radical new proposals to tackle congestion.
The Joint Oireachtas transport committee has developed a draft report recommending that a number of key streets be prioritised for buses.
These include O’Connell, Dame and Westmoreland Streets along with College Green and the closures could be in place by next April.
Committee chairman Frank Fahey of Fianna Fail claimed the scheme was workable and that traffic management measures would be put in place.
“We decided bus transport, a reliable high frequency bus service can effectively deal with traffic congestion in Dublin in the short term,” he said.
“There will be traffic management measures put in place to ensure proper circulation.
“What we have put forward is a short term action plan to be implemented in 2008/2009, so that by next April this plan for traffic being banned would be put in place,” he told RTE radio.
Mr Fahey said drivers from Dublin Bus had addressed the Committee on the difficulties they face in getting through the capital’s clogged streets.
He added if the public was to be encouraged to use public transport bus priority measures must be established.
Traffic measures are to be put in place to help smooth the transition to a car-free zone, with the construction of two new bridges over the Liffey, one at Macken Street and another at either Hawkins Street or Marlborough Street.
A similar plan could be rolled out for Galway, Cork, Waterford and Limerick.
Irish Times
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