The basis for Dublin's transportation policy beyond 2000

This paper examines the conclusions of the 1995 Dublin Transport Initiative Final Report and asks whether the themes/options that performed best in the multi-criteria analysis (MCA) undertaken within the report subsequently formed a substantial part of the chosen core strategy of transport projects. The author states that the link between the MCA and the chosen strategy is diminished as a result of a lack of rationality in the decision-making process leading to the formation of the strategy. In particular, the paper highlights the post-MCA exclusion of the two best performing themes, heavy rail and extensive road development, together with the failure to separate out two of the major public transport options, light rail and bus, into separate themes to allow their relative evaluation. The author demonstrates that the core strategy is given a level of performance by the Dublin Transport Initiative (DTI) that is inconsistent with the actual performance of its constituent themes in the MCA. The direct comparison of light rail and heavy rail using cost–benefit analysis also leaves a number of questions unanswered, with the two being viewed as mutually exclusive rather than complementary to each other. The lack of alternative solutions put forward during the public consultation phase also gives rise for concern. The 1999 DTI update continues to emphasize the importance of light rail, with limited reference to the examination of the heavy rail option. Given the present economic prosperity, and the delay in the actual implementation of a light rail system, an opportunity still exists to explore in detail which option or combination of options would constitute the most appropriate rail-based public transport system for Dublin.