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LAST UPDATE | 24 Apr 2023
BUS SERVICES IN Galway are to increase by nearly 50% under a draft new bus network published today by the National Transport Authority (NTA).
The redesign of the bus network is one of nine key elements of BusConnects Galway that aims to transform the city’s bus system.
Under the proposals within the Galway bus network redesign report, the level of bus services in Galway city, Bearna and Oranmore will increase by nearly 50%.
More routes, higher frequency and a weekend timetable with a new 24-hour route are all part of the expansion, which is set to be rolled out in 2025.
The draft proposal, which will now undergo public consultation, aims to “fundamentally transform the city’s bus system”.
The new 24-hour bus service, to be known as Route 9, would operate from Knocknacarra through the city centre to Doughiska and Parkmore. Three proposed routes would operate every 15 minutes or better.
Three other proposed routes would operate every 15 minutes “or better”, the NTA said, while some routes will begin running earlier in the mornings and go on for later in the evenings.
The network would serve the city centre, with the main point of interchange located at Eyre Square.
Cross-city commuters will not pay extra to change between urban bus services within a 90-minute period, and fares are to be simplified “in a way that will make interchange seamless”.
The routes in the draft new bus network would serve the city centre with more routes running cross-city, and the main point of interchange located at Eyre Square. This will facilitate cross-city commuting, the NTA has said.
Consultation on the draft new network launched today and will run for six weeks.
Public information events will take place from 16 to 18 May, while an online consultation process will allow members of the public to provide their feedback on the proposals.
The redesign is expected to be finalised in the coming months and the new network will be rolled out from 2025.
“Through BusConnects Galway, we want to make it easier for people to get around by reducing congestion, and to make the city more attractive for people who live, work, invest in or visit Galway,” NTA deputy CEO Hugh Creegan said.
“By giving the people of Galway a viable alternative to the car, we can encourage the shift towards more sustainable transport modes.”
If the plans are implemented, a third of residents would be close to a high-frequency bus line, up from 19 per cent today.
Some 67 per cent of residents on Upper Ballymoneen Road, the Coast Road between Galway City and Oranmore, and Oranhill would be living within 400 metres walking distance of a bus stop. This figure is currently at 62 per cent.
Brendan McGrath, CEO of Galway City Council, said in a press release that he hopes the expansion will encourage people to “make the move from car to public transport”.
The new network report published today was developed collaboratively by the NTA, Galway City and County Councils and local bus operators.
Consultation on the proposal will run for the next six weeks and will include public information events as well as online feedback.
The redesign will be finalised in the coming months, the NTA says, with implementation aimed for 2025.
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The existing busses don’t even turn up 50% of the time.
@Thom Thumb: One of the biggest irks about these new bus routes etc… is that the Govt is throwing money at these companies who in turn operate a timetable that suits the bus company and not the intending passenger.
My own area has a few more bus times, but alas, none of them would have you in work on time. So, they zip up and down the road nearing empty of passengers all day long.
A total waste of time, resources and diesel too.
Galway city centre, an old medieval city just isn’t designed for traffic. One new road built over the corrib in nearly 100 years is madness with how thw city has grown. Pedestrianise the city centre allow for public transport and cycling, and build the bloody bypass.
@Daniel Gilroy: You can only do what you’re suggesting IF you have REAL public transport. Galway doesn’t. Thus all the cars. Pushing out cars without meaningful alternatives is just.. delusional.
@Daniel Gilroy: even if the bypass got planning permission in the next year or so, it could be 10 years in the making. what do you suggest they do in the next 10 years to improve public transport and reduce car reliance?
@eoin fitzpatrick: If the raving eco fringe hadn’t blocked the plans at every turn, it would be almost built now and these plans would be much better for the city centre.
@Lone Hurler: *these bus plans
50% increase on very little is still very little
Redesigns often strip stops to increase frequency making services worse as a result.
@Pete Gilmartin: Where exactly?
Redesign in West Dublin/ North Kildare has been brilliant and I haven’t seen any stops removed.
@Gavin Tobin: Sligo for one example
Still traffic in Claregalway that never be solved
Design the routes so the buses dont have to turn right, the amount of time wasted waiting for a bus to turn right onto a busy road is ridiculous, also a shuttle train route from athenry through oranmore to the city centre would take alot of commuter traffic off the roads if it was regular enough instead of the few trains from limerick and dublin that stop at awkward times
@daveyt: should add in a park and ride at ballybrit or city north business park, but only with a good ‘bus every 10-15mins to and returning from eyre square’ route, this would definitely relieve a lot of traffic from people who are travelling in from the likes of claregalway and further afield from the north
A slip road by pass headimg south on the northern side of claregalway, plays a flyover heading north would be needed to avoid the traffic jam at the T-junction in the village centre also, the lights nor a roundabout help with through traffic
50% more of seldom is still sell them and inconsistent! Tourism in the south-east is non-existent if you don’t drive how do I get from the sea in Wexford to Kilkenny Castle when it takes me 4 1/2 hours to get to Portlaoise by public transport because I have to go into Dublin for what should be a 90 minute drive!
@Anne Marie Kearney: No joined up thinking at all, so people just drive instead.
What about people who can’t use buses? What about people with disabilities? What about people who NEED to drive?
@Alan: find alternatives. Driving is a luxury, not a necessity.
@Alan: What about them? Did they say they were taking people with disabilities’ cars while adding these buses lol?
@Niall English: This is utterly bonkers and offensive.
Rural people CAN NOT access public transport WITHOUT DRIVING.
So by your – let’s call it logic – they can’t access a bus, because that wouldn’t be a necessity.
So you think what, rural people should all just starve in their homes?
You’ve got a screw loose.
@Chris O’Brien: Niall probably doesn’t realise there is an Ireland beyond the Pale.
@Patrick Corr: and you probably don’t realise that it’s not feasible to have a bus stop at the end of every boreeen. If you choose to live remotely you can’t expect to have services at your front door.
@Chris O’Brien: You seem to think you’re entitled to have a public transport service to your front door…. Who’s going to pay for that??? …. Such a sense of entitlement is utterly offensive also. Count yourself lucky you have a car and can afford to run it. Lot’s of people in cities can’t afford that luxury but then again you make your choices and you have to live with them…..
@Alan: so if you can’t use a bus then don’t use a bus! If you need to drive then drive! I fail to see how improvements in public transport do any harm to you. If anything, improvements in public transport might result in fewer cars on the road so your driving experience might be better!
@Niall English: Some people just don’t realise and accept that its a necessity in Rural Ireland if you have a distance to travel and you don’t have Public Transport. Are we to return to the days of the Horse and Cart, Bicycle or just walk.
@Jerriko17: But I didn’t say that though, did I? They are your words not mine.
@Jerriko17: Stupid comment, no one expects a Bus Stop at the end of every road, and do you think everyone should abandon Rural Living and move to over populated towns that have no vacant properties. People have to live in Rural Ireland for numerous reasons, and do you believe they should be deprived of necessary vital transport because of their location. I might be wrong but I presume you may be a person that sufficient transport links to suffice your day to day and work requirements, and take you to the Airport for your Annual City or Beach Holiday, instead of taking the time to travel to Rural Ireland to see what Life’s really like.
@Chris O’Brien: apart from the carbon tax – which is tiny in comparison to duty etc – exactly what taxes have the Greens introduced?
@sb: to be clear, you think millionaires should pay the same rate of tax as people on social welfare?
You also think rich landlords should be given government grants to lower their energy bills, while the poor just get a few small handouts?
@Chris O’Brien: so you’re in favour of heavily taxing the super wealthy and distributing it among the poorer folk? Sounds good to me. Not sure the other parties would be interested though.
@Chris O’Brien: @Chris O’Brien: of course they shouldn’t pay the same rate of tax – and they don’t. In Ireland, low earners have an effective tax rate of 16.72%, whereas high earners have an effective rate of 36.02%.
@eoin fitzpatrick: I’m in favour of millionaires NOT targeting the poor for their social experiments. And sure, I know it’s controversial, but giving handouts to the rich, paid for at least partially by regressive taxes on the poor, seems a little unfair as well.
I know that’s not a popular opinion, but so be it.
@sb: Of course that’s not true. Carbon tax isn’t pro-rated, is it?
And we ALL know the richer you are the less likely you are to ACTUALLY pay taxes.
Anyone with access to google can find all the info they need on how much tax the wealthy ACTUALLY pay, but suffice it to say, they often pay a lot less than the poor.
One has to ask why you’d be out there in the wild shilling for millionaires while Ireland has record homelessness, record housing shortages, a failing healthcare system, failing education systems, etc.
Maybe you’ve never left your mansion.
@Chris O’Brien: not ‘shilling for millionaires’, I agreed with you. I just asked you what taxes the Greens had imposed, as per your original claim (which you seem to have deleted). Of course the super-rich have ways and means to avoid tax but that’s probably only a few hundred people – and yes, those loopholes should be addressed. And just because I ask you a question I live in a mansion!!!????!
@Chris O’Brien: completely agree with you about record housing shortages and a failing health care system. When it comes to income tax though we have a very progressive system. People on low wages pay little or no tax. People on higher wages have a marginal tax rate of over 50%. How would you feel if you lost more than half your salary in tax? (I’m not one of them by the way)
And these busses will be Electric of course?
Proposed…
have your say