SunnyDub
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I’m glad there’s something going beside the point as it’s new western facade (bland massing) really needs hiding
Why do all the PC heads insist on helmets? Even Boris Johnson has to wear one now for fear of offending them!
Might not be the right thread, but does anyone have any images of the new theatre they’re building at Grand Canal Dock and what it will look like?
transport and architecture are linked… sad but true fix the bridge as well
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Missarchi, I have to say good concept drawing, I like the idea of tunnels through this point for Luas & metro, not so sure about buses though. I wonder if alternative diversions can be found to remove the through traffic?
I understand where busman is coming from trying to minimise bus stops / speed up buses but this negates the whole role and system of buses which are designed to stop at short intervals, whereas trams are designed at longer intervals, metro even longer intervals and heavy rail longer intervals again.
All trams don’t blast people out of it, most just ring their bell and go quietly by…
I fear your College Green Platz idea is hopefully unrealistic, at least in the short-term, I think it’s more Picadilly Circus than a quiet pedestrian zone.
The core issue to be decided first is bus or luas or both, and banning cars, it looks like they’re going for bus & luas and banning cars, I personally don’t see how you can run Luas through there and not significantly disrupt the buses, maybe tunnels are the right option, that’s long-term though and means shelving line BX, no harm really. or maybe bus tunnels and leave luas on the ground as it’s much less intrusive.
The plaza idea is pie in the sky at this stage!
I personally don’t think there’s much of a visual clutter problem from the overhead wires, I don’t really notice them on Abbey St or Harcourt St, for example. They were in College Green before the old trams were taken out. I don’t think all the overhead wires in Vienna do much harm either.
I think Luas can be used to improve the public realm and calm streets generally, it shouldn’t go down back streets as there’s not much of a speed advantage (e.g. red line) and it then loses its civilising force and presence, on-street trams will always be slowish and that’s just a reality.
I suspect that the public realm situation for College Green is going to be addressed once cars are banned from the area although maybe the RPA will have too much of a say, we’ll see, as a start they could widen the footpaths including along lower Grafton Street.
FYI the drawings for the O Connell St stop show an entrance on either side of the street and not in the central median.
The RPA was originally the Light Rail Project Office under CIE before before separated from CIE for the first Luas project and then later became the RPA with a new chairman and expanded role.
The drawings show a widening of the pavement on Westmoreland Street which is to be welcomed, hopefully they’ll continue this wider pavement up to include lower Grafton St which is a bit of a pedestrian choke point.
Are you saying that just the tower has stopped or the whole point village? because Harry Crosbie was quoted in the Irish Times last saturday saying that it’s full steam ahead?
Metro North Light Rail Plan will go ahead, insists Minister
By Paul Melia
Irish Independent
Thursday August 07 2008THE massive €3.7bn Metro North project in Dublin will go ahead as planned, the Government has confirmed.
Finance Minister Brian Lenihan met with the Railway Procurement Agency (RPA) late last week and instructed the agency responsible for delivering the light-rail system to inform bidders that it would go ahead.
The move is designed so the four bidding parties seeking to build and operate the system submit the best possible price for delivering the light rail project, which will run from St Stephen’s Green to north of Swords.
It comes after the Government has repeatedly refused to state if it will be shelved as a result of falling tax revenues and the economic downturn.
Last night the Department of Finance confirmed that the meeting between Mr Lenihan, the RPA’s chairman Tom Mulcahy and chief executive Frank Allen took place last Thursday, but it refused to comment on what was discussed.
The RPA also refused to comment.
But informed sources have told the Irish Independent that the Government wanted to send out the message that the project, estimated to cost €3.7bn, would go ahead so the four bidders would submit the best price.
Message
“The meeting was to send a message to reassure the four consortia that the Government want a strong bid and for it (Metro North) to go ahead,” one said.
“If we keep the four consortia interested, we get the best price. But as was always the case, it has to come back to the Cabinet for final sign-off. It was always envisaged that this would be the case.”
Last week it emerged that a decision on whether Metro North would be approved will not be made until early next year.
Until the final cost of building the 17km line is known, the Cabinet will not approve funding.
In September the RPA, which has already spent €33m planning the project, will seek planning permission to build the line and the successful bidder which will design, build and operate the system, is not expected to be announced until November, after which it will negotiate with the RPA over a final price.
This process could run into early 2009.
Any delay to the project could have serious knock-on effects. The Ballymun Regeneration Scheme, expansion of Dublin Airport, development of a new town of 100,000 people in Swords and retail outlets, like Ikea, are all relying on the train route, and if it is put on the long finger it could send a signal that Ireland is not investing in infrastructure.
– Paul Melia
I think the other point worth making is that this huge building is being built inside the Phoenix Park
City conservation officer: “Development within the curtilage of Phoenix Park and the Royal Imfirmary. Includes demolition of park wall…”
Also, planner’s report: “The proposal would entail the siting of a substantial built form in the south eastern extremity of the Phoenix Park…”
(DCC Ref No. 1375/07)
Does anyone have any pics of the new large Courts building currently under construction in the Phoenix Park?
I think a few of you need to realise that Metro North ain’t going to be cancelled on money grounds as no payment will required to be made until it’s up and running. It’s a PPP where the private sector raises the finance and then gets paid back over 30 years.
From
http://www.rpa.ie/?id=327Q. How much will Metro North cost?
A. Metro North will be procured as a Public Private Partnership (PPP), funded through annual availability payments, over a period of approximately 30 years. The first availability payment is not made until the Metro North opens for passenger service. In order to comply with the Department of Finance PPP Guidelines, the capital cost included in the Metro North business case and the values of annual availability payments remain commercially sensitive in advance of the public procurement process.
Section 2.7.9 of the PPP Guidelines specifically state that the final Public Sector Benchmark (the capital cost of the project if funded by the Exchequer), or any elements thereof, is not made public on the basis that revealing the amount that the State is willing to pay for a service may give tenderers an opportunity to increase their asking price above what they might otherwise seek.
In other words it’ll be actually more expensive overall as government can borrow / raise money at much cheaper interest rates than the private sector. Comprende!
As far as I’m aware the reason for the high €6bn figure is because there’s private finance involved i.e. they’re not paying to build it in a straight forward way, they’re using a PPP, they’re getting someone else to build it with their own money (borrowed or financed at market rates – higher than gov rates) and then paying them back over 30 years!
therefore the cost is massive so it will be a lot more expensive than if the government just put the money up itself or borrowed the money itself.
:confused:
Athlone! gimme a break!
Dublin is the most accessible location, all roads and rail lead there. how do you get to Athlone from Donegal or Waterford of Dundalk or Belfast or Derry…?
Also, largest population centre
It’s a no-brainer, surely
