'Magic button' for bus drivers to turn traffic lights green
Bus Éireann is in talks with Galway City Council to introduce technology which will allow drivers turn traffic lights green at the push of a button.
And it has introduced five brand new double-decker buses on its routes for Galway City as part of an investment estimated at €1.5 million.
The buses already feature ‘Automatic Vehicle Location and Control’ (AVLC) systems which have the capability to be linked to the city’s traffic light network to provide priority to buses at junctions.
In effect, a bus driver can ‘trigger’ a signal as they approach a red light to change it to green.
The system is already used to feed information to the ‘real time’ passenger information signage at Eyre Square another other parts of the city for expected bus arrival times.
Importantly, it also allows supervisors identify delays and problems on city services – including increased demand at particular times of day or during good weather – and add extra buses as needed.
Regional Manager Brian Connolly told the Galway City Tribune: “There are a number of measures we are looking at to increase efficiency in the city, including traffic light sequencing. The buses are fitted with AVLC systems. The technology is there, and it would be a matter of reaching an agreement with the City Council.”
He said Bus Éireann are considering increasing frequency on the hugely-successful 409 route – from Parkmore to Eyre Square – to every 10 minutes.
The route carries more than one million passengers per annum.
Discussions are ongoing with the Council for a solution to the regular bottleneck at the top of the Doughiska Road.
“It causes significant delays, and as it stands, there would be no benefit to increasing frequency. There is plenty of space [on that road] to run a bus lane and include a yellow box there,” said Mr Connolly.
Meanwhile, the bus depot in the city took delivery of the five ‘151 G’ buses in recent weeks, as well as two slightly older double-deckers.
Each of the 2015 buses cost in the region of €250,000, and four are dedicated to the 409 route.
Mr Connolly said the new additions to the fleet will be used to address ‘capacity issues’ on routes - one will be for the 407 Bothar an Chóiste route.
They will also be used for peak demand such as the 401 to Salthill during warm weather.