Dublin - Metrolink (Swords to Charlemont only)

People are going to have to accept that just because a project goes through their neighbourhood, doesn't mean that they have the right to block or delay something that is for the greater good, ie. Public transport projects.

There is a similar mindset in Bray with regards to the n11 buslane project. In all reality, the project benefits the people and commuters south of Bray and along the eastern Wicklow and Wexford corridor. But its very possible those shouting loudest in Bray will scupper the project.

Saw this on an ad board coming up to the Botanic pub. Gave me a chuckle after reading this thread earlier today.

Is it built yet?

Mod :Off topic..

Exciting times. The oral hearing for DART+ West is finished as of this week, the board will now consider the oral submissions. It's been decided to grant some, but not all bus connects corridors without oral hearing, but no grant date yet and the second anniversary of the first corridor going to planning is coming up rapidly. Hopefully there'll now be capacity for the metrolink oral hearing. One hopes in December but realistically at this point we're probably talking Jan or Feb.

There's some understanding that rail projects have been prioritised under pressure from government, perhaps an indication that they intend to have some major boots on the ground on big ticket projects before an election and building a bus lane just isn't a headliner, and why should it be really, it shouldn't take 2 years to get planning anyway and most of them don't technically require planning permission but that's just my 2 cents.

I spoke to some people at DART+West Oral Hearing who are working on the metrolink project, they were there in solidarity and taking notes about what they might be in for, they expect to be given a date soon.

No problem there were some tedious submissions, many submissions seemed to be based on information given to residents groups by their county councilor, and was most often incorrect.

The sticking points are:

-the lands at the depot are a flood zone and the owner has hired some fancy experts to ensure that point is hammered home. Irish Rail's answer was that flood attenuation is a detailed design issue, which is standard but I don't think they came across well there.

-Ashtown stables. The stable owners made fools of themselves, they looked and acted like a shower of agressive crusties, no substance in their claim at all as they're only loosing less than 4% of their land and they were caught out lying multiple times, they're barely affected by the project thanks to a last minute decision to route the road through land owned by a motor show room and land owned by a building supply company. The building supply company will have to cease trading as a result and the motor show room will be severely impacted but may still operate. They made a great case against the current option, pointing out the impacts to their business, employees etc all to save the Ashtown stables which frankly is a bit of a waste of space, but Leo backed the stables up (much to his regret now as they're still not happy and they've been harassing his office and dumping horsesh!t at train stations in protest, so it is what it is.

So the RO application was lodged in September 2022 and we won’t have a decision by ABP (which can still be challenged by JR) by “Xmas 2024.

wow.

The longer this gets dragged out for, the more the needs of the city will change, until such time that Metrolink is no longer fit for purpose (see Metro North). Fact is, the whole project is already looking that way as is.

My kingdom for a thread which is just dry progress updates (I know I'm adding to the chaff here but still)

That surprises me since DART+ got to oral hearing 14 months after lodging,