The Green Party today warned that this morning’s traffic chaos is a sign of things to come. The party Leader Eamon Ryan explains that the gridlock following the closure of a section of the M50 this morning is a sign of the bigger transport crisis we face
Green Party Leader Eamon Ryan said: “While an early morning accident caused a particular problem today, the reality is that the M50 is not going to be able to cope as traffic volumes continue to rise. It is not possible to provide any additional capacity on the road and certain sections are already reaching full capacity. The NTA themselves warn that the M50 will exceed its safe capacity and become increasingly dangerous for motorists within the next five years. Because every national road leads to this motorway, and because city life is increasingly designed around this ring road, this is going to be one of the biggest problems our country faces.
“The solution has to be investment in public transport alternatives, but Fine Gael and Labour abandoned the Metro and Dart Interconnector projects just as they were ready to go to construction. They now say they will deliver them in future decades but will be too late to deal with the immediate crisis we face. We have less than five years to solve this problem.
“Luas and commuter rail lines are also at full capacity. The only short term solution has to be a massive investment in bus, cycling and walking infrastructure. Unfortunately the Government has again been blind to this necessity. The first priority in their new Capital investment Plan is to build yet more roads, which still accounts for two thirds of the budget. There is no money available in their plan for the bus, cycling and pedestrian projects we urgently need.
“The mistakes this Government has made in transport policy is going to be one of the worst legacies of their administration. The commuters left stranded this morning can expect delays on a more regular basis, unless the Government acts. We need to change the transport plan so that investment in public transport cycling and walking get two thirds of an enhanced budget. The alternative is increasing gridlock and the slow strangulation of our economy and our city.”