TLM
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On a related note, is private traffic from the south to be prevented travelling up O’Connell Street (the same way as traffic from the northside is?) Cheers
Clearly the interconnecter was part of the P11 plan, but how much of their proposal is’nt implemented by what Cullen is proposing? (I think a new Spencer Dock station is to go ahead as well).
In todays Independent..
Transport Minister Martin Cullen is reportedly planning a €6bn 10-year transport package that will include the construction of a second terminal at Dublin Airport and an underground metro line linking the airport to the city centre.
Reports this morning said the package included €3.5bn for the metro line, which would run from the city centre to Swords, via the Rotunda Hospital, Dorset Street, Drumcondra and Whitehall.It also reportedly includes the reopening of commuter rail services between Dublin and Meath at a cost of €156m, the expansion of services in Co Kildare at a cost of €400m and the building of an underground line between Heuston and Connolly Stations at a cost of €1bn.
Elsewhere, this morning’s reports said the plan envisaged the replacing of toll booths on the Westlink bridge with pay-as-you-go and billed charges.
Details of the plan are reportedly due to be announced next month if the cabinet approves the spending.
Thoughts?
I’ve already said that I think it’s right that the land in city was freed up (see my posting of yesterday above) and I never said making provision for transport would be impossibly difficult, only that it should be done. In fact I’m delighted to see Mountjoy go, as well as being an enormous dead space the facilities are atrocious (and might eventually have led to the state being litigated under the ECHR). The new location at the moment hardly seems well served by transport and it should be (by a bus from the city centre or whatever) if people are going to have to commute out there.
One point that should be kept in mind when developing the Mountjoy site is that the northern end of the prison is a burial ground for prisoners who were executed by the Irish state under the death penalty. Kevin Barry and other patriots were exhumed in 2001 but the bodies of other former prisoners are still there. I think that should be marked in some way.
Thats interesting about the Gresham, getting rid of that ticket office could only be an improvement anyway! Has anything happened recently with the street paving? It seems things ground to a mjor halt / slow down once the GPO to O’Connell bridge area (excluding the lower west part) was done! Whats the story!?
It’s just common sense planning to locate something to which a fair number of people are likely to be travelling somewhere where they can reach it with reasonable ease (even if the purpose of that journey is to visit someone in prison).
Stats from the US show rehabilitation is more effective at reducing recidvism. The present policies on crime (mainly more police, more powers, more prisons) are also hugely expensive. Crime has fallen but it could be falling faster and without having to commit the same huge amount of finances to achieve a better result. I actually think that it’s right that the land in the city was freed up, but the State has no right to cater less readily for the needs (transport of otherwise) of some members of society only because some other person in their family has committed an offence.
Aims of imprisonment include retributiuon, rehabilitation, incapacitation (to commit further crimes), just desserts and more. The govt’s policy is based on a mixture of all of the above. The design should include aspects that address the need for rehabilitation…putting people in conditions making it impossible to re-integrate back into society or re-adjust to normal living conditions on release does’nt benfit anyone..
Some more great pics there, the area really looks good in them! I hope they now sort out those parts that should be cobbles but have had tarmac poured all over them (or has this been done?) and do something with the northern end..
I agree! These American or British sounding placenames are usually really awful and inappropriate! Anyone have any suggestions for an alternative?
I’m a fan too…but am disappointed by the different materials used between the base and upper part, the fact the tip is lit too harshly and by that annoying strip of light half way up it. Other than that it looks great though!
Was’nt tile choice and the rest meant to be coming off the loopline? No progress on that front yet then i take it…
Yeah, they are great pics. Does anyone know what the plans are for the north end of the square though? Also there seems to be masses of apartment accomodation, what else is planned to balance it all out?
Not wanting to turn this into a political debate but do you not think that Carson is a figure that relates “to rather devisive and inconclusive times in Ireland’s history, who’s after effects remain to this day”?
I agree Wolfe Tone, Brian Boru or Samuel Beckett would be worthy additions.
I take your point Kefu about the many placenames etc relating to Irish historical figures, my issue is with the lack of such commemoration at the GPO. I also agree that cleaning up the street’s current statues would be worthwhile. The signatories could be remembered by a plaque, or even paving stone (like the orange order one on dawson street) or I’m sure in countless other ways without the need for more statues which, granted, the street might not need.
I dont think everyone will agree with you Timbo but I do see your point. The current trend seems to be towards non-religious or political monuments/sculptures like the Spire. I like the Spire (for all its engineering faults) but i think it’s a pity that Pearse and the other 1916 signatories are’nt represented in anyway (that I know of at least) at the GPO. Regardless of how people judge the influence of such people, I dont think you can deny they had a hugely significant influence, and it seems unfortunate that they’re architecturally airbrushed out of our history at such a significant site.
I’d be interested to hear impartially what the disadvantages of the IE plan is compared to the metro though.. there must be some? Even though overall it seems pretty clear that platform11 have by far the superior strategy. Would the IE plan mean a longer journey time form the city to the airport for example? …I realise this would still probably be a minor point compared to the integration the other plan would offer… Just trying to get the facts straight!
I think it’s a theatre and concert venue for big shows like Cats, Miss Saigon and all that kind of stuff.. I saw a picture of it but it was pretty hard to visualise how it would look from the drawing. I think there is a 5 star hotel planned for the adjoining site..it’s sort of based on a mixture of the cliffs of moher and the giants causeway..looked like an interesting design.
