There is a viable case for developing a light rail system in Galway, according to a new feasibility study.
The study, which was carried out for the National Transport Authority, found there is a strong demand for a light rail corridor from Knocknacarra in the west of the city to Roscam in the east, with a potential longer-term onward connection to Parkmore via Ardaun.
The study estimated that the LRT - known locally as the Gluas, after the Luas light rail system in Dublin - would reduce car trips in the city by at least 10% and indicated that there could be an annual demand of about 7.5 million passengers per year.
The cost of building the proposed project is estimated at €1.23 billion to €1.34bn.
The proposed route across the city would also pass via Eyre Square in the city centre, close to Ceannt train station, and would also serve the University of Galway and University Hospital Galway.
The report said that "under the right conditions, there is strong potential for significant mode shift to public transport in the city".
Authors of the study also indicated that the LRT would be most effective if it was rolled out along with other sustainable transport plans for Galway, including the Cross City Link, BusConnects and CycleConnects, as well as with park and ride facilities.
The report considered park-and-ride hubs at either end of the proposed route.
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A Galway-based Green Party Senator has said the prospect of introducing the light rail system for Galway is "more than feasible".
Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, Senator Pauline O'Reilly said the new transport system would be a massive opportunity for the people of Galway.
"Without any other improvements to bus networks, it would take 10% off the traffic, and if you include into that all the other BusConnects that have planning permission, just the light rail alone would carry almost 20% of the traffic," she said.
Park-and-ride facilities would allow commuters from rural parts of the county to use the services, she added.
Senator O’Reilly said the conductors of the feasibility study viewed the early 2040s as a starting point for the project, but added that the conclusion stated that it could proceed sooner if joined with other transport methods.
"Everybody says at the start of any of these projects 'I can’t see this, let’s put in more car infrastructure’, but that’s why Galway is the way that it is, it’s people lacking vision and not prioritising us," she said.
