Sir, - I refer to Kieran P. Dooley's letter of September 3rd, in which he correctly points out that there has been a recent increase in the provision of multistorey car parks in Dublin City Centre. He is correct in his presumption that these are for carborne customers. This is just the point. They are for customers who bring business to the city centre, and should not be used by commuters who park their cars all day in the city.
The DTI strategy initially focuses on shifting as many commuters as possible to public transport. It is morning and evening peak time journeys to and from work which cause the main traffic problems in the city.
The DTI strategy strongly pro public transport, and the improvements planned will achieve significant shifts away from, the private car during peak hour. The improved system will also, of course, be more attractive off peak, i.e. during business hours, for those who would otherwise use their private car.
There will still be a need to allow access to all parts of the city to car users on business trips. The DTI Strategy does not oppose this. What it aims to achieve is the restraint of unnecessary car trips in and around the city centre. Commuter trips and trips through the city centre to onward destinations add no value to city centre activity. That is why they must be restrained.
The "significant rearrangement" of traffic referred to in Mr Dooley's letter, and in my article of August 29th, is necessary to achieve the joint objectives of enhancing public transport, restraining commuter and through traffics, and allowing the city centre to achieve its real potential. Work is in progress on this traffic management plan, and it will go through the normal procedures and approvals before its implementation, which will be monitored by the Dublin Transportation Office. Yours, etc.,
Director/chief executive, Dublin Transportation Office, Hainault House,
69-71 St Stephen's Green,
Dublin 2.