Future transportation needs for Galway must be planned for on a regional rather than local basis, said Labour Party president Michael D Higgins.
The Galway West TD was commenting on the publication of an independent plan for a light rail system for the western capital, which was endorsed by him as "imaginative" at a public meeting hosted by the Labour Party in Oranmore last week.
The proposal to address Galway's increasing traffic congestion involves introducing a two-line light rail network, with the first line running from Knocknacarra and Rahoon in the west of the city to Oranmore in the east. The route would take in Terryland, Mervue/Wellpark, and Ballybane/Ballybrit.
The second line would run from Eyre Square to Moycullen via Newcastle, where there would be an interchange between the two routes at NUI Galway. Total network length would be 28kms (17 miles), and there would be minimal disruption as less than 10 per cent of the track-length would be "on street".
The investment could be recouped in 15 years, said independent transport researcher Brian Guckian, who drew up the proposal as one of a series of lines for a number of urban areas which he has submitted to the Department of Transport and local authorities.
Mr Guckian said the concept is not based on the existing Luas in Dublin, but on a much lower cost and flexible model which has been developed on the Continent and in Britain. Light rail technologies can be built for as little as €1.5 million a kilometre, whereas new road schemes can cost up to €10 million a kilometre and more, he said.
Light rail will become an essential part of urban transport as commuting becomes uneconomic, due to the energy crisis, he said.
Mr Guckian agreed that the Corrib light rail proposal should be viewed as "part of a wider sustainable and innovative transportation strategy" for Galway given the area's rapid development.
A "partnership of community and public representatives" could come up with a final proposal which would be submitted to a feasibility study, he said.
Meanwhile, Mr Higgins has criticised CIÉ for giving an "absurdly short" timescale for public submissions on the €750 million redevelopment of its 14-acre site at Ceannt station in Galway city.
The company agreed to accept public submissions up until last Friday t but emphasised that the proposal was still at the pre-planning stage.
The redevelopment will include bus/rail facilities, and may also include a retail, office and residential space.
