DUBLIN Corporation has appointed a director of traffic, with responsibility for traffic management in the city. The appointee is Mr Owen Keegan, who for 3 1/2 years has been an assistant city manager, with responsibility for planning and development in Dublin.
Before his appointment to Dublin Corporation he was an economist and director with DKM economic consultants. Previously he had worked with the Department of the Environment, the Department of Finance and the Economic and Social Research Institute.
In his new role, which he will hold for five years, Mr Keegan will be a senior member of the management team reporting directly to the city manager.
The Government recently agreed that Dublin Corporation would arrange for the appointment of a director of traffic who would have overall responsibility for traffic management in the city and who would take over responsibility from the Garda for traffic warden service, on the spot fines and the tow away service.
Mr Keegan sees his function as primarily concerned with the implementation of DIT policy on traffic in Dublin.
He described the situation as "a major challenge facing the city", involving ever increasing demand from car users. He felt that in the absence of "active management" the car tended to dominate. It is his hope, through "proactive" intervention, to make public transport in the city more efficient and attractive, while also improving the environment for pedestrians, "and the environment generally, especially in the city centre".
Welcoming Mr Keegan's appointment yesterday, the city manager, Mr John Fitzgerald, said he was looking forward to working with the director "on improving the city's traffic management and upgrading the living and working environment of Dublin".
