January 2006

Delivery of Transport 21 
Since the December 2005 progress report, the following has taken place:

Luas

• A Railway Order Application was submitted by the RPA for a Luas extension from Connolly Station to the Docklands on 1 December 2005.
  
• The Minister for Transport has directed that Public Inquiries be conducted for the Docklands and Cherrywood Railway Order applications and has appointed Mr. James Connolly SC as inspector to conduct the Inquiries. These Public Inquiries are expected to be completed by the summer. Subject to the outcome, it is expected that construction contracts will be awarded by the end of 2006.
  
• On 24 November 2005, the RPA launched a public consultation on five potential routes for linking both Luas lines in the city centre. An announcement on the preferred route is expected in early February 2006. An application for a Railway Order is expected in early 2007. 
  
• The RPA is in discussions with developers and South Dublin County Council about a possible extension of the Luas from Tallaght to Citywest.
  

Metro  

• The RPA expect to commence public consultation on the route of Metro North during February 2006.
  
• The RPA are in discussions with Irish Rail concerning interface issues between the Metro and Interconnector stations in St. Stephen’s Green.
  
• The first visible physical work on the Metro is likely to commence by Summer 2006. This will involve geotechnical testing of the sub soil on potential routes for the Metro tunnel, including the use of on-street drilling rigs. The RPA will be consulting with the relevant road authorities to minimise disruption. 
  
• Dublin City Council and the RPA have recently established a joint working group to deal with issues arising from the development of new Luas and Metro projects

Heavy Rail 

• The Railway Order Public Inquiry for the Kildare Route Project began on 24 January 2006. 
  
• Iarnród Éireann has placed an order for 30 Intercity Railcars (additional to the 120 railcars already on order) to be deployed on the Rosslare and Sligo Intercity routes.
  
• An application has been received from Iarnród Éireann for funding for a new Docklands railway station.

Bus

• Dublin Bus has submitted an application for additional fleet requirements in 2006 and 2007. The Department is examining the application with due regard to emerging findings of the review of the bus network in Dublin currently being finalised by the Company.

Roads

•  Since the launch of Transport 21 in November 2005, 3 road projects have opened to traffic -
  o N6 Kinnegad-Enfield Bypass
  o N22 Gortatlea-Farranfore
  o N6 Loughrea Bypass 
  
•  Work has commenced on 3 road projects -
  o N5 Charlestown Bypass
  o M50 Phase 1, and
  o N51 Navan Inner Relief Road.
  
  During 2006, the NRA expects to complete some thirteen projects with a combined length of over 82 kilometres and to commence work on fifteen projects with a combined length of 334 kilometres.