'Necklace' of Park and Ride stations proposed for city
A ‘necklace’ of park-and-ride stations on all roads leading into the city – feeding into a shuttle bus service – would go a long way towards easing Galway’s traffic problems, according to one of the region’s leading campaigners for alternative transport solutions.
Cllr Michael Connolly, Chairman of the Western Inter County Rail Committee, warned that the proposed bypass of the city would not solve ongoing traffic congestion problems without proper integrated solutions being proposed.
He said that while road improvements would be part of the solution to the city’s traffic congestion, far more investment and planning is needed for public transport.
“I suggest a necklace of park-and-ride stations on the six access routes on the Barna, Moycullen, Headford, Tuam, Monivea and Oranmore routes.
“Substantial car-parks would be required 5 to 6 miles from the city centre where buses would provide a day-long shuttle service with peak time 15-minute frequency and perhaps half-hourly off-peak between 7am and 11pm, seven days a week.
“Shuttle services would be accelerated by use of existing and new dedicated bus lanes and terminate at a single City Centre location, from which onward Citybus or Citybike services would be available,” said the Moylough county councillor.
He added that it was hard to believe that up until 10 years ago – and then only thanks to the efforts of Galway County Development Board – it wasn’t possible to arrive in Galway city by rail before 10am.
Cllr. Connolly also proposed a range of measures that should now be actively considered, including:
■ An increase in the rail route frequency from Limerick, Ennis and Gort – at present it has only one service before 9am. ■ The railway station at Oranmore should provide a new integrated bus and train park-and-ride option. ■ A double track should be provided between Galway and Oranmore for a day-long shuttle train service. ■ Better road access to the rail station at Oranmore to facilitate motorists wanting to use the service. ■ The recently introduced NTA (National Transport Authority) Commuter LEAP Card in Galway does not include commuter rail services and this needs to be changed. ■ The provision of a commuter rail zone to include Ballinasloe, Woodlawn, Attymon, Gort, Ardrahan, Craughwell, Athenry and Oranmore offering reduced fares.
“If we are serious about public transport solutions these anomalies have to be addressed and I am calling on the National Transport Authority to roll up their sleeves and become involved with the Galway Bypass Project.
“It is unacceptable that the NTA ignores the role of our railways in providing transport solutions. The Galway LEAP Card exclusion of rail is just one example of their dismissive approach,” said Cllr. Connolly.