transport and harbour

(1) This week's City Tribune describes ambitious plans for a new Harbour development in Galway. A major project which will result in contruction work over at least a 10 year period, but with the aim of dramatically enhancing the facilities for cargo, fishing and cruise ships whilst yielding the present harbour to yachts and pleasure boats. Of course the issue is whether it will make its way into the National development plan for 2007-2013. What the broader impact might be on quality of life for local inhabitants and the cost/benefit have not been fully spelled out so far other than through the attraction of greater leisure use of the harbour.

(2) The paper also draws attention (again) to the issue of car use, revealing that the vast majority of traffic in the city is single person occupied vehicles. Most respondents to a survey indicated their support for car pooling should such a system be established. It's disappointing that there hasn't been more spontaneous local creation of these types of schemes, but rather an expectation that it something the council should deal with. Still at least there is positive support. Whether it could be extended to increased public transport and a real push for a proper network of buses, trams and cycle lanes is another issue.

(3) The Council's submission to the NDP in May this year is now available online. It contains a wealth of interesting statistics and information about the city and surrounding region.