Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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18. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when a feasibility study for light rail in Galway will be undertaken or commissioned by his Department; his views on the importance of light rail in the context of climate change obligations and commitments under the national planning framework; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35763/20]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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As the Deputy is aware, transport investment in all the major cities is now guided by the development of metropolitan area transport strategies.

Since 2016 transport strategies have been published in respect of the Greater Dublin Area, Galway and the Cork Metropolitan Area, while development of a transport strategy for the Limerick-Shannon Metropolitan Area has commenced and work on the final strategy in respect of the Waterford Metropolitan Area will commence this year.

This move toward evidence based, plan-led transport planning for our major cities is to be welcomed and allows for consideration of all relevant issues and the potential role all modes of transport can play in addressing those issues. I would also note that providing this type of long-term investment framework represents international best practice in the area of transport planning.

In relation to Galway, I understand there are a variety of proposals as to how public transport corridors could be served including the possibility of bus rapid transport corridors that share many of the characteristics of light rail systems and could, at a later date, be upgraded to light rail.

BusConnects Galway aims to deliver a rationalised network of five high-performing cross-city routes. All routes will serve major city centre attractions as well as linking all major destinations across the city. It will also comprise next generation bus lanes, enhanced services, cashless fares and account-based ticketing and a transition to low emission and zero emission vehicles.

I recently met with Galway-based stakeholders who had an interest in a new light rail technology emerging in the UK, and there may indeed be merit in that technology at some point in the future.

I welcome the fact that consultations are currently underway in relation to the Cross-City Corridor and the Dublin Road Corridor which together have a really important role in delivering bus and active travel improvements from east to west across the city and want to see both progress to planning and construction as soon as possible.