While there was unanimous support for a light rail system for Galway at a recent transport debate, only the Greens can be trusted to follow through and deliver on public transport for Galway, says bye-election candidate Niall Murphy.
“The Greens secured the feasibility study for a light rail system, which was the first step in making GLUAS a reality. It is great to see so many recent converts to the GLUAS project, but only the Green Party has a track record of pushing GLUAS up the political agenda. There is simply no excuse for not progressing GLUAS and a Green vote in the bye-election will force the issue on the government,” he said.
“During the last government, the Greens delivered more for public transport in Galway city and county than anyone ever before. Apart from the GLUAS feasibility study, Galway now has new train services and a refurbished train station, and dozens of new Local Link bus routes all across Conamara, and more money for footpath upgrades.”
“The next step for GLUAS would be an emerging preferred route study. The preferred route study has just been completed for Cork’s planned light rail system, so we know TII and the NTA have the expertise on hand to do this. All that is lacking is the political will,” said Mr Murphy.
He hit out at the lack of action from current Galway ministers at cabinet.
“Despite Galway having three ministers, including the minister for rail, the current government has allowed GLUAS to languish, while also slashing public transport investment across the board, This has caused commuter rail services from Athenry to be cancelled and the rollout of the city’s BusConnects to be long-fingered with no firm launch date.”
“The Government is utterly negligent to be ignoring transformative public transport projects like GLUAS at a time of both record budget surpluses and spiking fuel costs. The government has abandoned the 2:1 public transport-to-roads investment ratio, originally championed by the Green Party. I want it immediately restored.”
“A strong Green vote in the upcoming bye election would be a very clear signal that the people of Galway want GLUAS and public transport given priority to solve commuter chaos,” he concluded.
