A lack of commitment to invest in public transport is undermining Galway’s reputation as a “sustainable, attractive place to live”.
This is the view of the Social Democrats’ Galway City East councillor, Owen Hanley, who was speaking following the National Transport Agency launch of a public consultation on new county bus routes.
"Public transport infrastructure is not being delivered at the pace and scale reflective of a modern, growing, and sustainable country," Said Cllr Hanley. “Galway needs a bold vision for public transport with resources from central departments to match, with a Government 110 per cent behind seeing it delivered."
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Cllr Hanley [pictured above] said public transport in the city needs to become more dependable and efficient, and provide a greater “choice to encourage more uptake”.
“Being left in the rain with an incorrect timetable is too common an experience for bus users,” he said. “We also need additional options, such as a city night bus and buses that don't rely on travelling through Eyre Square to cross the city.”
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Cllr Hanley said the new Connecting Ireland proposals on new bus routes and services for the county, are “a welcome step forward”, but added it takes far too long to “implement bus lane infrastructure”, and he is encouraging the public to continue submitting their views until the deadline of December 10.
“However, we must remember we are starting from an unacceptable level of public bus routes for rural communities,” he said. “Only recently have we seen public routes like the 20X20 Galway to Dublin bus route being axed, and I know there are similar experiences in other rural areas."
Ceannt Station development
While Ceannt Station is due for a major upgrade, including additional platforms, Cllr Hanley said this must be seen as a “catalyst for future growth”, but also as a way to encourage more use of public transport, with the consequent environmental benefits.
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"The Urban Regeneration and Development Fund will see an upgrade to Ceannt Station, a crucial investment for Galway,” he said. “Oranmore, Athenry, and Tuam are our biggest commuter towns and they need access to fast, reliable rail infrastructure if we are to get people out of congested car traffic. Taking a portion of our daily car commuters in Galway and shifting them to rail would have positive benefits for our counties growth, emissions, and communities."
Cllr Hanley has also voiced his support for a light rail system in the city, a service that the GLUAS campaign has been calling for for close to two decades.
“Strong community advocacy on the feasibility of light rail is only bolstered by the fact that the new National Development Plan has secured plans for light rail in Limerick,” he said. “If we are to compete with other cities as a place to live and do business then light rail must be on the table when the Minister for Transport reviews the Galway Transport Strategy next year."
