A transport assessment for Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council shows the proposed line would run via UCD and Sandyford, creating a direct link between key residential, employment, and commercial hubs
Luas tram (Image: Getty Images)
A proposed new Luas line connecting Dublin city centre to Bray has emerged as the preferred option for the Dublin Eastern Bypass corridor.
The development comes from a recent transport assessment commissioned by Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, which marks a major departure from previous motorway proposals for south Dublin. Planners are now focusing on a public transport approach, with a Luas extension emerging as the favoured option.
The planned route would pass through University College Dublin (UCD) and Sandyford, establishing a direct connection between important residential, employment and commercial areas. Research from the assessment indicates that a Luas link via UCD could slash commuter journey times by over 50 per cent.
Cllr Conor Dowling, the Green Party representative for Blackrock, said: “For years, this corridor was tied to plans for a motorway into Dublin Bay, a proposal that simply doesn’t stand up in a climate crisis, and it wouldn’t solve the congestion it was designed to address. This study shows a Luas via UCD could cut journey times by up to 52%. With the land already protected, this is a project we can actually deliver.”
The results represent a decisive break from plans for previous motorway schemes through south Dublin, which included tunnelling under Booterstown Marsh. Instead, the assessment determines the corridor is most suitable for high-capacity public transport, with light rail showing the strongest results for journey times, accessibility and network capacity.
Green Party transport spokesperson Cllr Feljin Jose said the findings emphasise the importance of prioritising public transport over extra road capacity. He said: “You can’t solve congestion by building more roads.
“The evidence here is clear expanding road space does not resolve congestion in the long term. You solve it by giving people a fast, reliable alternative and that’s exactly what this Luas line will deliver.”
The preferred option would involve a Luas line running from the city centre along the N11 corridor to UCD, before joining the Bypass lands and continuing to Sandyford and on to Bray. “A Luas line serving UCD, Sandyford and Bray would provide the level of capacity and reliability needed for a growing city,” Cllr Dowling added.
“The priority now is to move this forward.” The study also highlights the potential for parallel walking and cycling infrastructure along the corridor.
Want to see more of the stories you love from Dublin Live? Making us your preferred source on Google means you’ll get more of our exclusives, top stories and must-read content straight away. To add Dublin Live as a preferred source, simply click here.