A Waterford TD has suggested moving the county's toll bridge to ease traffic congestion on the Quays.
Green TD Marc O'Cathasaigh spoke to WLR in response to comments from Minister of Transport Eamon Ryan on rolling out commuter rail services in Waterford.
Deputy O'Cathasaigh says we need to utilise our existing infrastructure, and there are ways of combatting the economic and environmental issues that exist on our roads.
"I've spoken to Eamon Ryan before about the fact, in my view, the toll is in the wrong place. The toll on the new bridge - if that was actually at the start of the motorway, that would enable people who wanted to access the Outer Ring Road, maybe they're heading towards the hospital or wherever it is that they're going to, or maybe they're bypassing Waterford altogether. We know the toll on that bridge is a powerful disincentive for people. I do it myself.
"If we remove that toll, I think in the long term that will actually do a lot to ease congestion along the quays. When you consider all of the very good work that's been done in terms of pedestrianising the centre of Waterford City, which makes it a very attractive place to be - it has had the effect, however, of pushing a lot of that traffic onto the quays. There are times that it's a standstill there."
"That's not just a congestion issue. People know that's a health services issue as well. We've all seen the emergency vehicles, be it ambulance or fire services, trying to navigate their way down the quays. That's not a situation we want to be standing over. I hope that the new sustainable transport bridge will go some way towards relieving that. I think is an important part of that solution as well."
"It's not just an environmental issue, it's also an economic issue. We have to be able to get people in and out of our city's core efficiently. That will drive footfall within Waterford City centre. It'll open up more possibilities for businesses within the city. So this is all part of the same thing. It's not just an environmental solution, but it's an economic solution. It's getting people in and out of our city in a way that's safe and efficient."
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