City light rail system could end the jams

A new advocate for a light rail system in Galway has designed a video showing how the four-line tram system would work, claiming it would virtually eradicate traffic jams at the four main congestion points through which 77,000 commuters pass each day.

Joe Kelly insists that based on costings produced by Government consultants, the system would pay for itself within seven years when it would start to turn a yearly profit of €97m.

He has estimated that Galway’s version of the LUAS or the SUIG – Solas Uirbeach Iarnrod na Gaillimhe – as he has labelled, would cost between €500m and €600m to build.

He predicted that for an adult fare of €5 a day, the city’s beleaguered motorists dragged out of their cars to save money on fuel and parking. It would also see private investors willing to back the project, with annual receipts racking up to €100m.

In a presentation on Monday to Green Drinks Galway, a group which holds free public talks on environmental topics, the native of Mervue explained the four line system contained two integrated hybrid bus lines and four park and ride centres to encourage motorists from outside of the city to leave their cars behind.

It went through all the main areas where workers, residents and students congregated and dealt with congestions at four key commuter notes – Claregalway, Oranmore, Barna and Moycullen.

One line went along a route from the airport, along Briarhill, the racecourse, Lough Atalia and terminating at the Docks. The second started at Cappagh Park, stopping in Taylor’s Hill, the Prom, the Claddagh and finishing at Nimmos Pier. The third line began at Bushy Park and took in NUIG, Headford Road, Liosbán and the Tuam Road, with a fourth line from Oranmore, through Doughiska and onto the Docks.

Joe, 34, who was reared in Claregalway, has a business degree from the University of Limerick and a post graduate diploma in geography and planning studies from University College Cork. He is currently studying e-business analysis at NUIG. After stints working in Italy and Germany, he began working on proposals for light rail systems for Galway and Limerick and over the last two years has produced online videos outlining his proposals. So far, he has not got a penny for all his efforts. But he is hoping to attract the interest of potential investors.

“My motives are benevolent – for anyone living or working in Galway the congestion is horrendous. I wanted to come up with a system which would solve the congestion, generate tourism and create jobs – this is about safeguarding the environment for future generations by creating a more responsible, sustainable transport system,” he insisted.

He claims his system is far more comprehensive and represents better value for money than the one proposed by a consortium of business leaders some years back known as GLUAS – it was a two line system over 19km  serving 40% of Galway residents and costing in the region of €200m.

Only last April, the former transport minister Leo Varadkar said that LUAS-style trams for other cities were dead in the water. His department was focusing on cheaper alternatives in cities such as Galway such as bus lanes, green routes, cycle lanes and safety measures for pedestrians and cyclists.

“The Government spend €880m on defence, if they can put down €600m to the border counties for a peace campaign – when they’re not at war – surely fund a light rail system in Galway.”

An independent online poll some years back found that 80% of the people of Galway supported a tram system.