For the past 10 years local authorities have struggled to keep traffic moving in Dublin by narrowing main thoroughfares, creating quality bus corridors and raising parking charges. Life was made difficult for private motorists to keep them out of the city. But successive governments failed to provide an alternative and efficient bus service. As a result, more people are driving to work; journeys take longer and Dublin is choking on its traffic.
The appearance of four city and county managers before an Oireachtas committee this week was stark evidence of government failure. These senior officials from the Dublin region spoke of their frustration in dealing with Dublin Bus and of their efforts to maintain traffic flows. The fragmented nature of the exercise was obvious. It shouldn't be like that. A Dublin Transportation Authority with the power to regulate routes, fares and services in Kildare, Meath, Wicklow and Dublin was promised by government years ago. But the legislation is still awaited.
Political cowardice in the face of trade union opposition to private sector bus competition has been part of the problem. But it goes far beyond that. A legacy of poor management, inadequate planning and chronic under-funding has left us with a totally inadequate bus service. And while Dart and Luas represent valuable additions to public transport, they are simply incapable of providing the flexibility and capacity required.
The traffic situation is likely to worsen next year when construction work is due to begin on a Metro and Luas connector line in the city centre. Dublin City Council is preparing contingency plans to ensure business does not come to a standstill when that happens. Traffic flows will be rerouted and these changes will impact on private cars and on buses. Congestion charges and other restrictions may also have to be imposed, according to city manager John Tierney. His evidence caused the chairman of the Oireachtas committee on transport Frank Fahey to rule out the introduction of "congestion charges" in the short term, while accepting a need for "route charge pricing". That distinction will be lost on aggrieved motorists who have to pay an additional charge.
The population of Dublin has grown rapidly. But bus numbers remained almost static until 2007 when Dublin Bus was finally provided with money to buy an additional 100 vehicles. Quality bus corridors had been created but the buses needed to provide a frequent service were simply not available. The Government is now talking about funding an extra 350 vehicles by 2010. Given its past failures, commuters should not hold their breath.