An Bord Pleanala has approved the long-awaited City Bus Connects Plan, with permission granted for an overhaul of the city’s existing transport infrastructure.
Documents seen by The Advertiser indicate ABP has applied lenient conditions on the multi-million euro plan to upgrade Galway city’s streets for a modern bus service, but has avoided addressing the topic of Compulsory Purchase Orders for small parcels of land necessary to upgrade mainline bus routes.
The state planning authority has not yet published its decision, inspectors’ reports or 18 conditions, but has written to individuals and bodies who made submissions during the planning process to inform them that its board has made a final decision.
ABP has approved 3km of two-way bus routes, almost 4km of new street infrastructure, and 1.2km of cycle paths. The scheme includes 11 signal-controlled traffic junctions, 19 new or amended pedestrian crossings, 29 new road drainage points, nine refurbished junctions, and a reconfiguration of all 26 bus stops across the network. The permission also includes a medley of ground and landscaping works across the city, as well as road paving, lighting, signage and 18 new coach bays.
The only major change ABP has conditioned in its approval of the plan concerns traffic priorities and car parking in the vicinity of Galway Courthouse. All other conditions are concerned with the construction phase, such as noise and dust nuisance, traffic management and environmental impacts.
In correspondence seen by the Galway Advertiser, ABP said it green-lighted the radical transport plan because it is in line with European, national, regional and local planning policies, and that “it is acceptable in respect of its likely effects on the environment”. Its decision will still be open to potential judicial review.
The Bus Connects plan revolves around a city central road re-prioritisation – along almost 7 km of existing roadways – to form a central route for public transport, cyclists and pedestrians along an east-west corridor through the city from the University of Galway to the Dublin Road past Merlin Park Hospital.
It is envisaged that new infrastructure will allow selected bus routes to double their frequency, and ultimately run on a 24-hour basis.
The plan also connects a network of bus routes along Fairgreen Road, Bothar Uí Eithír, Prospect Hill, Bothan na mBan, Saint Brendan’s Avenue, Headford Road, Dyke Road, Woodquay, Daly’s Place, Merchants Road. Forthill Street, Queen Street, and Dock Road.
Starting at the junction of University and Newcastle roads, bus priority will continue over the Salmon Weir Bridge, turn on to Eglinton Street, go through Eyre Square, Forster Street, and College Road and continue along the Dublin Road. Access for deliveries is to be maintained in the city centre, but most other traffic is to be re-routed to improve public transport access to retail areas, transport hubs, hospitals, universities and the cathedral.
