Curious Route Proposed for Luas Green Line Extension
This map is from the RPA’s website showing the preferred route of the proposed B2 extension of the Luas Green Line. It’s curious, isn’t it? Previous extension plans showed the Luas branching from Old Connaught Road eastwards towards the town of Bray. This make lots of sense. Bringing a mode of mass transit into a well-populated area.
But look at the branch heading west. Where is it ferrying travelers from? The great unknown? Or perhaps zoned development land devoid of houses at the moment? I’m purely speculating here. It could turn out that this preferred route is planning to connect land not zoned residential. In that case, will the west branch be ferrying cows in and out to Stephen’s Green? Perhaps they like shopping in Dundrum.
The west branch of this proposed extension doesn’t seem to make sense on the maps of today, does it on the maps of tomorrow? And who owns this land? Who stands to benefit here?
The RPA had a public meeting on April 4th to present their plans. The period of public consultation closed last Saturday, April 26th. Unfortunately, I only heard about this yesterday.
Anyone else find the map curious? How is this going to work in reality? Does a branched Luas route mean every Nth tram must follow a different route? Confusing solution, methinks. More details available on the RPA’s B2 Extension page. Here’s the B2 proposal map.
April 30th, 2008 at 2:00 pm
It is odd all right. My only theory after five minutes of thought is that it is a good Park and ride spot - given the larger greystones / wicklow etc. catchment area. But that hardly seems a valid reason to do it.
May 1st, 2008 at 7:39 am
JB, the Dart interconnect at Bray where the Dart and the Luas meet could be billed as serving Greystones as the Dart passes through it. I still find the branching part weird though. How will it operate?