Madam, - I have just received a glossy document paid for, I assume, by taxpayers and signed by Minister for Transport Martin Cullen. In it he assures all of us that "we're working together to keep Dublin moving this Christmas". In addition he offers "the travelling public additional travelling options and a more streamlined approach to traffic management during the festive season".
Even if you believe this, the question is why we have to endure less streamlined traffic management with fewer options during the rest of the year. I'm afraid Mr Cullen's assurances on keeping traffic moving are about as believable and reliable as his assurances that the proposed e-voting system was safe and going to work successfully.
All Mr Cullen has done so far is to announce with a big PR fanfare expensive, long-term plans for Dublin traffic management and to promise 100 extra buses. This might be helpful in creating a favourable pre-election atmosphere but will not solve the present traffic problems.
Given that a few workers digging a hole can cause traffic gridlock over a wide area of Dublin in one afternoon, long-term plans are just a laugh. In addition, given that 60 per cent of car drivers surveyed said that more frequent bus services were needed, 100 extra new buses are only a drop in the ocean.
What we need urgently is a major increase in the number of new buses and new bus lanes. On top of that, given that half of all car users say they would not use buses under any circumstances, a hefty congestion charge on all cars will be necessary. Unless and until Minister Cullen is prepared to introduce these simple, straightforward and inexpensive measures, all announcements on long-term plans and all glossy brochures will be seen for what they are: PR exercises at taxpayers' expense. - Yours, etc,
A. LEAVY, Shielmartin Drive, Dublin 13.