18th September 2003

GREEN PARTY LAUNCH ‘JOIN THE DOTS’ POSTCARD CAMPAIGN TO CONNECT LUAS LINES

The Green Party has launched a campaign to link up the two LUAS light rail lines that are currently under construction in Dublin.

Green Party TD's Eamon Ryan and Ciarán Cuffe launched the campaign with the
signing of a giant postcard at College Green in Dublin's city centre at 11 o'clock on Thursday morning.

Deputy Ciaran Cuffe said,  "We plan to distribute thousands of postcards addressed to the Minister for Transport urging him to 'join the dots' and connect the two LUAS light rail lines in the centre of Dublin. We need a public transport system that is joined and integrated.  What is the point of going to all this expense and disruption if you are not prepared to join the lines and offer Dubliners a proper integrated transport system "

"The Minister for Transport, and some opposition parties appear to be disowning the entire project", stated Ciarán Cuffe. "Instead what we need is a stronger commitment to public transport.   A lot of time and money has been spent on Luas, and we want the Minister to ensure that the two lines join up in the city centre so that we get the best value from our investment."

Green Party Transport spokesperson, Eamon Ryan TD,  added, "Traffic flows through College Green have been greatly reduced following traffic changes at the bottom of Dawson Street, South Great Georges Street and Parnell Street.  Using some of the redundant road space for LUAS would restore the area as our most spectacular civic space where the pedestrian rather than the car dominates."

"The overground connection would not become redundant on completion of an underground Metro as there would still be huge demand to connect the overground Tallaght line as far as Ranelagh.  The connection could be built within the lifetime of this government as the planning and design stages are already completed."

TEXT OF THE POSTCARD READS AS FOLLOWS:

Dear Minister,

It seems ludicrous that enormous investment is being spent on building two light rail lines, which do not link up in the city centre. The initial plans showed how easily this could be achieved.

The decision not to connect them resulted from the previous Fianna Fail / Progressive Democrat Government's failure to provide funding and vision for public transport.

Minister, on behalf of the people of Dublin we ask you to join the dots and connect the two lines.

Yours Sincerely,

Name ………………….
Address…………………