Local priority urged in bus plan

A NORTHSIDE TD is calling on the National Transport Authority (NTA) to ensure that the travelling public in Fingal are prioritised in the planning and rolling out of proposed new bus routes under the BusConnects plan.

Speaking after details of the plan were announced last week, Dublin Fingal TD Louise O’Reilly (SF) said people who are affected across the capital, either by route changes, building works or property acquisition need to be kept informed of all proposed changes. 

"I am calling on them (NTA) to ensure that they engage fully with local communities in the planning of this project,” she said. 

“Dublin’s public transport services do require modernisation, and the city clearly requires increased bus services and new routes.

“However, this needs to be done in a way that is convenient for passengers first and foremost. With the largest commuter travel reliant on Bus & Rail in north county Dublin, it is vital that local communities are involved through the process.

“Under these new proposals the new bus network has no 33, no 33x, only a 33a to Swords, and no bus at all from Skerries, Rush or Lusk to Dublin city.”

Deputy O’Reilly said that as Fingal is the fastest growing area in the State, with one of the largest populations of young families, a sustainable transport infrastructure is vital to the continuing growth of the local economy. 

“According to Census 2016, 58 percent of commuters rely on the car to access to and from work,” she said. 

“This heavy reliance is due to any real progressing of Metrolink or the DART to Balbriggan. 

“It is not realistic that the North Fingal region which has increased in population by 79.4 percent in 20 years would have its bus services reduced by a plan to improve bus services.” 

A spokesperson for the National Transport Authority said BusConnects is about enabling the fastest possible trip on public transport, and in some instances, that means rail rather than bus.

“For that area of Fingal, what we have designed is a service that seeks to do two things: allow direct travel to the nearest major commercial centre in Swords, and for travel to city centre, provide good connections to rail services,” the spokesperson told Northside People.

“We welcome Deputy O’Reilly’s acknowledgement that the network requires modernisation.

“The report was published on Monday (July 2), and the process of public consultation will get underway on July 16. 

“We look forward to the participation of Deputy O’Reilly and her constituents in that process.

“As one element of the consultation, members of the public will be asked to share their views with us by participating in an online survey.”

Meanwhile, Dublin Bay North TD Tommy Broughan (Ind) is urging everyone to study the report and maps in detail, to educate themselves about the proposed changes and to partake in the public consultation, designed to give them a say on the matter.  

“I, of course, will be doing the same and will be submitting my own observations during the summer,” said Deputy Broughan. Business group Dublin Chamber said it was confident that the proposed ‘re-wiring’ of routes would help to speed up bus journeys in the city and encourage more people to take the bus.