Plans to mitigate impact of LUAS outlined

The Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) submitted in association with the application by CIE for a Light Railway Order proposes measures to mitigate the impact of the scheme, largely in relation to visual effects, noise and vibration.

Because the route travels along land already earmarked for public transport in local county development plans, these measures largely relate to the areas where the line passes through residential estates, such as in Tallaght and the inner city. The EIS also looks at the effects of the line on local traffic, on buildings and other townscape issues.

Sections included deal with issues relating to land use, planning and development, human beings, property, local history and interactions.

The overall EIS was prepared by McHugh Consultants and Mr Bernard McHugh of that firm is expected to give evidence to the inquiry on the detail of the EIS later in the week.

A number of specialists who had input into the EIS in terms of air quality, flora and fauna and visual amenity among others are also available to the inquiry.

According to Mr Donal Mangan, project director at the Light Rail Office, the proposed service "will provide an attractive alternative to the private car with competitive travel times for the journey to work in particular".

The system will be complemented by traffic-calming, management and other traffic reduction schemes along the route.

Construction will commence at a number of sites, with the on-street locations in the city centre being identified as the most difficult.

It is proposed to construct the tracks in 500-metre sections in the city centre, under an intensive programme designed to ensure that access to businesses and households is disrupted as little as possible.

Site co-ordinators are to be appointed to each location to resolve local difficulties and the manner and timing of local access to premises will be agreed with residents and monitored daily. According to Mr Mangan, "the socio-economic criteria established for investment in public-sector projects of this nature have all been complied with . . . and it is expected that the scheme will return a modest profit on its operations."