Transport Policy

Transport Policy
Our Transport Policy, supporting people and the environment.A recession is definitely not the time to ignore transport issues. While money for new infrastructure may not be immediately available, no government or council can ignore the needs of people who risk entrenched unemployment and social isolation because transportation becomes unaffordable for them. The current financial constraints may also make people more amenable to transport solutions that are, in the longer term, more sustainable.

In the longer term, transportation in Ireland should support the various lifestyles of this country with maximum sustainability and quality. City and town dwellers, living in sufficiently concentrated areas, must not be forced to rely on their cars and contribute to congestion. Those who do choose a car-dependent lifestyle, including one off rural dwelling, are also making a valid Irish lifestyle choice and should get quality transportation support, but not a subsidy from people who make other choices.

Our proposals:

Use the government vote to halt, with immediate effect, decommissioning of buses in companies with a public share in ownership, in Dublin and elsewhere. Certain financial losses should be seen as acceptable, especially in servicing disadvantaged areas. Any buses taken off city routes must be reallocated to other routes or to commuter services for suburban/exurban towns. This is not just a matter for negotiation between bus companies and driver unions — on the contrary, social impact should be the main driving force in decisions.
Enhance bus services to commuter towns of the major cities, making sure these services form a realistic alternative for commuting (this includes availability throughout the day with decent intervals, as well as evening services).
Develop permanent park and ride locations on major road entrances in all major cities (not only Dublin but also Cork, Limerick, Galway, and Waterford), with a quality public transport connection to the respective city centres. Vacant business park locations are available because of recent closures; some of them can be converted to park and ride locations.
We are committed to reducing the number of taxi plates on the road to a level whereby a taxi driver can be expected to make a reasonable living without state assistance. Plates will also be made non transferable except to immediate family. Alternate employment and educational options and incentives will be offered to existing plate holders in lieu of their current profession.

Use existing rail track to provide tram connections, especially to park and ride locations. Where rail track exists but is closed and uneconomical to repair, or existed but was dismantled with the land still available, use the rail track locations to develop bus only roads.

Encourage private and community non-profit arrangements (for example, subscription-based) for rural commuter transport. Support these by tax breaks and grants for vehicle purchases, and where appropriate by handing over unused vehicles owned by public companies, (A company that only provides a decent income for the drivers, owned by the drivers themselves or the community, should be recognized as non-profit.)

Introduce road rates for one off housing, tiered depending on the concentration of housing on a road and existence of other uses of the road (i.e. the owner of a house on an N or well used R road pays much less than the owner of one at the end of a nameless back road). Ring-fence the rate funds for maintenance of the roads, especially those outside the N grid. This is a win-win solution: one off house holders will be rid of the endless potholes that they currently endure, while the rest of the people will not have to pay for roads that only provide benefit to this group. As a side benefit, owners of empty residences will have an incentive to sell them or rent them out. (An exception for commercial farmers may be considered).

Prioritize available infrastructure funds to deliver public transport in the form of bus lanes/roads, light rail, and eventually a high speed rail network between the major cities. Minimise public funding of motorway construction, and rely instead on private funds in PPP arrangements (resulting in tolled motorways). The State should not be bound to ensure a profit for private partners. No land with significant archeological or cultural value may be allocated for a motorway; where no other passage is possible, existing roads should be widened instead, in as much as possible.