Galway City Council has launched its forthcoming Park and Ride campaign aimed at significantly reducing car use in the run up to the busy Christmas period in Galway. This year its newly operational Galway Transportation Unit focused on an integrated approach involving the Department of Transport, Iarnród Éireann, An Taisce Green-Schools Programme, and Bus Éireann in an effort to curb car use in Galway by offering a number of cut price, ‘hassle free’ options of travelling to and from Galway other than by private car.
Galway City Council is particularly targeting commuters and shoppers by offering all-day parking in Galway Racecourse and travel by bus for car drivers and their passengers to the new Galway Coach Station at Eyre Square – all for just €2 return.
By doing so, this highly competitive all-in fare offers real cost savings, not to mention hassle free travel, to commuters travelling to Galway on a daily basis. As with previous years, Galway City Council’s service will offer 15 minute frequency from 7.30 to 9.30 Monday to Saturday and from 11am to 7pm on Sundays. The service commences on Wednesday December 3, 2008 and will operate until Wednesday December 24, 2008.
Galway City Council has identified that this service will be particularly attractive to people travelling to work, education, or to shop in Galway City Centre via the Dublin Road (N6 ), the Tuam Road (NI7 ), or the Monivea Road. This year the route is a little bit different as it is designed to make full use of the new bus lane on the Dublin Road.
Outbound: the service will begin at Galway Racecourse, Ballybrit – Parkmore Road – Monivea Road - Bothar na dTreabh (Dual Carriageway – South East ) – Dublin Road (R921 ) – Dublin Road (R338 ) – College Road – Bothar Pairc an Aonaigh – Stop (Galway Coach Station )
Return: Bothar Pairc an Aonaigh Stop (Galway Coach Station ) – Lough Atalia Road – Ffrench Roundabout – Wellpark Road – Monivea Road – Ballybane Road – Morris Roundabout – Bothar na dTreabh – Lynch Roundabout – Monivea Road – Parkmore Road – Galway Racecourse, Ballybrit.
Speaking at the launch of the campaign, Mr Joe Tansey stated that “This year our service offers three distinct customer benefits relative to previous years; firstly the most competitive all-day parking fares in town, secondly by using Galway Coach Station, customers can avail of state of the art facilities, which offer excellent comfort for our passengers, and thirdly, we aim to maximise use of all bus lane infrastructure including newly completed sections of the Dublin Road bus lane. Combined, these changes should serve to incentivise commuters and shoppers to avail of our Park and Ride service.”
