Luas for Cork should be developed now, says Cork City Council chief Ann Doherty
Guest speaker Ann Doherty, Chief Executive, Cork City Council, at the Cork Chamber Business Breakfast at Cork International Hotel on Thursday. Picture: Larry Cummins
A light rail Luas system for Cork should be built immediately to encourage development along its route rather than waiting for population densities to increase first, the city’s chief executive has said.
A tram system has long been mooted for Cork and work is ongoing to select a preferred route between Ballincollig and Mahon, connecting Cork’s universities, hospital, city centre and emerging Docklands. The 17km route will include 25 stops and will have a 45-minute journey time along its full length.
It is likely population densities along the route will be key to whether the project will be ultimately be viable and whether it can proceed.
However, speaking on Thursday morning at Cork Chamber’s Business Breakfast, Cork City Council chief executive Ann Doherty said the project should proceed in the short term and a Luas system would encourage rapid development along its route.
“TII [Transport Infrastructure Ireland] are doing a non-statutory consultation on the emerging preferred route, hopefully by the end of this year, if not early next year at the latest. It has been delayed and delayed intentionally, and I make no apologies for that, because we want to make sure that every element is stress tested,” she said.
“My ask is why can’t we build it now, rather than wait until we have the population. It is something we should all reflect upon because if we put it in early, then development will happen around it."
Giving an overview of developments in the city including the ongoing MacCurtain Street transportation and public realm changes, Mc Doherty said work would commence shortly on a major rehabilitation project of Cork’s historic core.
“This is going to see a huge transformation of Proby’s Quay, Crosses’ Green, Tuckey Street and South Main Street. This project isn’t just a dream at the moment. This project is at tender, due to commence early next year and part of this also is the development of Bishop Lucey Park which we will close to the public before Christmas with the enabling works commencing.
She said the redeveloped Bishop Lucey Park would create a permeable space between the South Main Street and the city centre.
“It's going to very disruptive but we are not any apologising for it. If you understand the context of why we are doing it, then hopefully you will bear with us while we try to improve things,” she said.
Ms Doherty said talks were ongoing in relation to the long-running events centre project in the same area with talks centred on the price inflation for construction developments which has occurred in recent months.
However, she said she was hopeful the project would be developed and operational within three years and said work would start shortly on installing two new pedestrian bridges onto the site.
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