PLANNING FOR Metro West – a new rail line to link Ballymun and Tallaght – has been frozen, Minister for Transport Leo Varadkar announced yesterday.
Mr Varadkar said he had instructed the Railway Procurement Agency to withdraw its application for a railway order from An Bord Pleanála.
He said the move did not mean the project was cancelled, simply that it was postponed. The Minister said that even as a partnership with the private sector it would have required “a significant exchequer contribution”.
“Metro West has always been considered a long-term project and many of the new communities that it will serve have not materialised due to the collapse in home building,” he said.
He also revealed that since the financial crisis began three years ago, none of the Government’s planned major public-private partnerships (PPPs) had secured funding.
He said: “The successful awarding of a major PPP contract involving private funding is challenging at any time but particularly in current circumstances. No major PPP project has secured funding since the financial crisis began three years ago.
“Until financial credibility is restored, the international debt funding market will be reluctant to lend funds to finance projects in Ireland, the repayment of which is ultimately dependant on the State. Moreover, the exchequer will not be able to make its contribution to the cost in the foreseeable future.”
Asked if this meant the Government would not be able to make its contribution to the cost of the full range of public-private partnerships, a spokesman said Mr Varadkar had been speaking only in relation to Metro West.
The spokesman said all other transport projects would be brought to planning finality and a decision taken in relation to available capital funding at that time.
Meanwhile, An Taisce chairman Charles Stanley-Smith said Mr Varadkar’s decision was “a welcome act of sanity and the only responsible approach in the context of the economic constraints facing the country and the lack of funding for the project”. He said the proposal included an “unacceptable” crossing of the river Liffey valley at one of its most scenic points and in the heart of the Special Amenity Area Order. “We are calling for more of this responsible decision-making and for a transport solution for Dublin that is fit for people’s needs now and the country’s capacity to deliver it.”
Mr Stanley-Smith said that, in the short term, the expense of an oral hearing has also been saved. This would have cost the local community hundreds of thousands of euro.
However, Fianna Fáil councillor David McGuinness described the decision as “short-sighted and premature”.
Mr McGuinness said that “while everyone recognises that to commence construction of this project was unlikely in the short term, to not advance it to a shovel-ready status is the wrong decision and shows a worrying lack of vision for public transport in Dublin West by Minister Varadkar”.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Showing posts with label metro west. Show all posts
Showing posts with label metro west. Show all posts
Monday, 3 October 2011
An Taisce welcomes halt to Metro West
HERITAGE body An Taisce has welcomed the decision by Transport Minister Leo Varadkar to put a stop to what it described as "the Metro West folly".
Mr Varadkar announced yesterday that he had suspended the planning process as funding to construct the new railway in Dublin would not be available in the foreseeable future.
He said he was acting on the advice of the National Transport Authority when he instructed the Railway Procurement Agency to withdraw its application for a railway order from An Bord Pleanála.
"From this weekend, I have suspended all planning works for Metro West, and the An Bord Pleanála oral hearing which was due to commence will not now proceed," he said.
The Metro West line, funded by a public-private partnership, was due to go from Tallaght through Clondalkin, Liffey Valley and Blanchardstown and link up with the planned Metro North line to end at Dublin Airport.
Charles Stanley-Smith, An Taisce chairman, said the decision was a "welcome act of sanity" and the only responsible approach given the economic constraints facing the country and the lack of funding for the project.
He said the proposal included an unacceptable crossing of the Liffey Valley at one of its most scenic points and in the heart of a special amenity area order.
"We are calling for more of this responsible decision-making and for a transport solution for Dublin that is fit for people’s needs now, and the country’s capacity to deliver it," he said.
A spokesperson for the Railway Procurement Agency said the issue was a matter for the minister and noted that the client process had been suspended, not cancelled.
Mr Varadkar said that until financial credibility was restored, the international debt funding market would be reluctant to lend funds to finance projects in Ireland and the exchequer would not be able to make its contribution to the cost in the foreseeable future.
"Metro West will be examined again at a future stage when the country’s finances have improved," said Mr Varadkar.
Irish Examiner
www.buckplanning.ie
Mr Varadkar announced yesterday that he had suspended the planning process as funding to construct the new railway in Dublin would not be available in the foreseeable future.
He said he was acting on the advice of the National Transport Authority when he instructed the Railway Procurement Agency to withdraw its application for a railway order from An Bord Pleanála.
"From this weekend, I have suspended all planning works for Metro West, and the An Bord Pleanála oral hearing which was due to commence will not now proceed," he said.
The Metro West line, funded by a public-private partnership, was due to go from Tallaght through Clondalkin, Liffey Valley and Blanchardstown and link up with the planned Metro North line to end at Dublin Airport.
Charles Stanley-Smith, An Taisce chairman, said the decision was a "welcome act of sanity" and the only responsible approach given the economic constraints facing the country and the lack of funding for the project.
He said the proposal included an unacceptable crossing of the Liffey Valley at one of its most scenic points and in the heart of a special amenity area order.
"We are calling for more of this responsible decision-making and for a transport solution for Dublin that is fit for people’s needs now, and the country’s capacity to deliver it," he said.
A spokesperson for the Railway Procurement Agency said the issue was a matter for the minister and noted that the client process had been suspended, not cancelled.
Mr Varadkar said that until financial credibility was restored, the international debt funding market would be reluctant to lend funds to finance projects in Ireland and the exchequer would not be able to make its contribution to the cost in the foreseeable future.
"Metro West will be examined again at a future stage when the country’s finances have improved," said Mr Varadkar.
Irish Examiner
www.buckplanning.ie
Sunday, 25 September 2011
Varadkar suspends Metro West
Minister for Transport Leo Varadkar confirmed today he has suspended the planning process for Metro West as funding to construct the new railway will not be available in the foreseeable future.
He said he had instructed the Railway Procurement Agency to withdraw its application for a Railway Order from An Bord Pleanála on the advice of the National Transport Authority.
“Metro West was to be procured as a Public Private Partnership (PPP)..However, a significant Exchequer contribution would also have been required. The successful awarding of a major PPP contract involving private funding is challenging at any time but particularly in current circumstances,” he said.
“No majorPPP project has secured funding since the financial crisis began three years
ago. Until financial credibility is restored, the international debt funding market will be reluctant to lend funds to finance projects in Ireland, the repayment of which is ultimately dependant on the State.
"Moreover, the Exchequer will not be able to make its contribution to the cost in the
foreseeable future.”
Mr Varadkar said Metro West had always been regarded as a long-term project and that many of the communities that it would have served had not materialised due to the
collapse in home building.
“This does not mean that Metro West has been cancelled. However, with very limited funding available for capital projects over the next few years, I did not consider it to be a good use of taxpayers’ money to advance Metro West any further through the planning process, as I do not know when we will be able to build it.
“By the time we are able to build, it’s likely that planning and environmental laws will have changed and railway technology will be different. So we would then have to go back over it all again anyway.”
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
He said he had instructed the Railway Procurement Agency to withdraw its application for a Railway Order from An Bord Pleanála on the advice of the National Transport Authority.
“Metro West was to be procured as a Public Private Partnership (PPP)..However, a significant Exchequer contribution would also have been required. The successful awarding of a major PPP contract involving private funding is challenging at any time but particularly in current circumstances,” he said.
“No majorPPP project has secured funding since the financial crisis began three years
ago. Until financial credibility is restored, the international debt funding market will be reluctant to lend funds to finance projects in Ireland, the repayment of which is ultimately dependant on the State.
"Moreover, the Exchequer will not be able to make its contribution to the cost in the
foreseeable future.”
Mr Varadkar said Metro West had always been regarded as a long-term project and that many of the communities that it would have served had not materialised due to the
collapse in home building.
“This does not mean that Metro West has been cancelled. However, with very limited funding available for capital projects over the next few years, I did not consider it to be a good use of taxpayers’ money to advance Metro West any further through the planning process, as I do not know when we will be able to build it.
“By the time we are able to build, it’s likely that planning and environmental laws will have changed and railway technology will be different. So we would then have to go back over it all again anyway.”
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Tuesday, 26 October 2010
Rail agency applies for order to proceed with Metro West
THE RAILWAY Procurement Agency (RPA) has announced its intention to proceed with Metro West by applying to An Bord Pleanála for a railway order for the orbital light rail line, which would connect Tallaght, Clondalkin and Blanchardstown.
The Luas-type project would link up with Metro North at Dardistown, south of Dublin airport.
According to the agency, it would “deliver substantial benefits to communities in west Dublin, providing a quality public transport system [and] employment opportunities”.
As with Metro North, no costings have been given for the project, nor has the agency provided any estimate of likely patronage on the line, which would connect areas not linked even by a bus service. Neither has any cost-benefit analysis been published.
No provision was made for Metro West in the Government’s revised €13 million capital spending plan to 2016, unveiled last July. But Metro North, which would link Swords with St Stephen’s Green, and the Dart underground from Heuston to Docklands are part of it.
The RPA said the Metro West light rail would begin at a new terminus in the median of Belgard Road, adjacent to the Institute of Technology Tallaght, and run on the same track bed as the existing Tallaght Luas line before branching off to Clondalkin.
It would serve Liffey Valley shopping centre and cross the river on a new bridge, continuing onwards to Porterstown and Blanchardstown, past the National Aquatic Centre, and looping around through Cappoge before ending at Dardistown.
The agency described Metro West as a key element of Transport 21, the Government’s investment framework published in November 2005, and said its railway order application “represents a significant milestone in the delivery of the project”.
From October 29th, the environmental impact statement will be on display at the offices of South Dublin and Fingal county councils, the RPA and An Bord Pleanála, and on www.dublinmetrowest.ie
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
The Luas-type project would link up with Metro North at Dardistown, south of Dublin airport.
According to the agency, it would “deliver substantial benefits to communities in west Dublin, providing a quality public transport system [and] employment opportunities”.
As with Metro North, no costings have been given for the project, nor has the agency provided any estimate of likely patronage on the line, which would connect areas not linked even by a bus service. Neither has any cost-benefit analysis been published.
No provision was made for Metro West in the Government’s revised €13 million capital spending plan to 2016, unveiled last July. But Metro North, which would link Swords with St Stephen’s Green, and the Dart underground from Heuston to Docklands are part of it.
The RPA said the Metro West light rail would begin at a new terminus in the median of Belgard Road, adjacent to the Institute of Technology Tallaght, and run on the same track bed as the existing Tallaght Luas line before branching off to Clondalkin.
It would serve Liffey Valley shopping centre and cross the river on a new bridge, continuing onwards to Porterstown and Blanchardstown, past the National Aquatic Centre, and looping around through Cappoge before ending at Dardistown.
The agency described Metro West as a key element of Transport 21, the Government’s investment framework published in November 2005, and said its railway order application “represents a significant milestone in the delivery of the project”.
From October 29th, the environmental impact statement will be on display at the offices of South Dublin and Fingal county councils, the RPA and An Bord Pleanála, and on www.dublinmetrowest.ie
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Sunday, 24 May 2009
Metro West and Luas extension plan 'delayed indefinitely'
PLANS to build Dublin's proposed Metro West line and the Luas line from Lucan to the city centre have been delayed indefinitely due to budgetary difficulties.
The government has removed the construction and opening target dates for both projects from its latest progress report for potential developers, stating that these were now "under review".
The report also said the construction start and completion dates for both projects were now subject to the "public consultation, statutory planning process, PPP procurement process and funding availability".
Previous updates had indicated that Metro West would be completed by 2014 while the Lucan Luas line was due to have been finished by 2015.
The revelation comes just weeks after transport minister Noel Dempsey reaffirmed his commitment to building the next two phases of the Western Rail Corridor in advance of next month's local elections.
These phases, which run between Athenry and Claremorris, still have firm target dates, even though many commentators believe they are unlikely to attract significant numbers of passengers; a similar stretch of line between Waterford and Limerick Junction is dubbed the "ghost train" in railway circles.
Mark Gleeson of Rail Users Ireland said the two phases were "a political potato" and that the apparent granting of priority to them over Metro West in particular raised issues about the government's decision-making.
Gleeson said Metro West was an important project for Dublin because it was an orbital route which would connect Metro North, the capital's railway lines and the proposed Luas lines without forcing passengers into the city centre to change services.
"It's worry that people are not taking a clinical view of projects in light of the budgetary issues involved. This decision raises serious questions about whether projects are being prioritised in a fair and transparent manner," he said.
A spokeswoman for the Department of Transport admitted that the target dates for Metro West and the Lucan Luas had been dropped. She claimed, however, that the projects hadn't been delayed and said the Railway Procurement Agency had been told to seek planning permission.
"Once these projects have the necessary planning permission, progress can be made on their delivery as economic circumstances allow," she said. "This will be decided on a case-by-case basis as projects become 'shovel ready'."
She added Metro North was a priority for the minister.
Sunday Tribune
www.buckplanning.ie
The government has removed the construction and opening target dates for both projects from its latest progress report for potential developers, stating that these were now "under review".
The report also said the construction start and completion dates for both projects were now subject to the "public consultation, statutory planning process, PPP procurement process and funding availability".
Previous updates had indicated that Metro West would be completed by 2014 while the Lucan Luas line was due to have been finished by 2015.
The revelation comes just weeks after transport minister Noel Dempsey reaffirmed his commitment to building the next two phases of the Western Rail Corridor in advance of next month's local elections.
These phases, which run between Athenry and Claremorris, still have firm target dates, even though many commentators believe they are unlikely to attract significant numbers of passengers; a similar stretch of line between Waterford and Limerick Junction is dubbed the "ghost train" in railway circles.
Mark Gleeson of Rail Users Ireland said the two phases were "a political potato" and that the apparent granting of priority to them over Metro West in particular raised issues about the government's decision-making.
Gleeson said Metro West was an important project for Dublin because it was an orbital route which would connect Metro North, the capital's railway lines and the proposed Luas lines without forcing passengers into the city centre to change services.
"It's worry that people are not taking a clinical view of projects in light of the budgetary issues involved. This decision raises serious questions about whether projects are being prioritised in a fair and transparent manner," he said.
A spokeswoman for the Department of Transport admitted that the target dates for Metro West and the Lucan Luas had been dropped. She claimed, however, that the projects hadn't been delayed and said the Railway Procurement Agency had been told to seek planning permission.
"Once these projects have the necessary planning permission, progress can be made on their delivery as economic circumstances allow," she said. "This will be decided on a case-by-case basis as projects become 'shovel ready'."
She added Metro North was a priority for the minister.
Sunday Tribune
www.buckplanning.ie
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