Dublin City Council is to call on the National Roads Authority (NRA) to reduce the proposed toll for cars and small commercial vehicles using the port tunnel at certain off-peak hours.
The NRA last month published proposed charges of €12 for cars travelling into the city at morning rush hour, 6am to 10am, and out of the city at the evening peak time, 4pm to 7pm, Monday to Friday. At all other times, and when travelling against the flow of rush hour traffic, cars and commercial vehicles under 3,500kg would pay €6.
The charges would apply only to cars and light vans. Trucks over 3,500kg would go free, as would emergency vehicles, public buses for over 25 passengers, on-duty Garda or Army vehicles, on-duty council vehicles, on-duty port tunnel contractors, and vehicles adapted for disabled people.
The city council's transport and traffic committee yesterday agreed that the €6 toll was too high for vehicles using the tunnel during off-peak hours. Calling for a reduced toll was recommended to the committee by the council's traffic department.
"We would agree with the basic principle of a high charge for cars at peak times, but the idea of a €6 toll off-peak seems somewhat excessive. We would suggest making a third, much lower tariff probably from 8pm to 6am," executive manager at the traffic department Tim O'Sullivan told councillors.
Fine Gael councillor Naoise Ó Muirí said he supported the principle of a reduced off-peak fare.
Fianna Fáil's Deirdre Heney questioned the need for a €6 toll on Saturdays and Sundays. Committee chairman Sean Kenny (Lab) also supported the call for a reduced off-peak charge. Sinn Féin councillors said they were opposed to any tolls.
The council has until October 11th to make a full NRA submission. Its views will be considered along with public submissions.
