The Challenge
An IRNX global study published in 2019 identified Dublin as one of worst cities in the world for traffic congestion. Only drivers in Bogota and Rome spent more time stuck in cars.
The Department of Transport has estimated that the cost of aggravated congestion was €358 million in the base year (2012). This is forecasted to rise to over €2 billion per year in 2033 without significant infrastructure investment and/or other policy initiatives
According to the Dublin Chamber of Commerce, almost three quarters of companies in Dublin have seen the negative effects of congestion on their business increase in recent times. Time spent caught up in congestion can also impact on the physical and mental health of commuters.
While the move towards electric or other alternative fuel cars may assist address air quality issues, it will not address congestion. Active travel (walking and cycling) together with greater usage of public transport, is the only sustainable solution.
What CIÉ are doing
A single full bus has the ability to remove approximately 80 private cars from our roads, reducing congestion and traffic jams around cities. A commuter train can carry over 1,000 passengers.
CIÉ believe greater public transport usage and priority is the only realistic solution to ease congestion in our cities, with the provision of a flexible bus service being central to tackling congestion and facilitating population growth.
CIÉ fully support the NTA’s Bus Connects programme which includes the provision of 230kms of dedicated bus lanes and 200kms of cycle tracks along 16 of the busiest corridors in Dublin. The core bus corridor project will deliver journey time savings of up to 40-50% on each corridor. Similar bus priority is required in our other cities.