Significant progress towards developing a major park-and-ride facility for the Claregalway, accommodating 320 cars, will be a major boost for commuters - and the environment - in the region.
Following enquiries from Cllr John Connolly, Fianna Fáil General Election candidate for Galway West, the National Transport Authority confirmed that a park-and-ride facility is being developed on the N83 at Claregalway.
“Developing park and ride facilities is essential in encouraging people to use more public transport and as a way to combat congestion on our roads,” said Cllr Connolly. “Such facilities are a win-win situation for commuters, while also helping to lessen our carbon footprint.”
The proposed facility will be for 320 spaces and is being progressed by the NTA Park and Ride Development Office, with two possible site options identified.
Discussions are currently taking place with landowners in the area in order to acquire the site by agreement. Work is also ongoing to establish bus priority measures on the N83 to support the operation of the proposed Park and Ride site.
Once a site has been identified and acquired, the NTA will begin designing the facility and prepare planning consent documentation. Subject to planning consent and the availability of funding, construction is expected to start in late 2025/early 2026.
“The development of such a facility at Claregalway is of particular importance as a measure to relieve the significant level of traffic passing through Claregalway village,” said Cllr Connolly. “Once planning applications are lodged, it is to be hoped that the process can proceed as quickly as possible to the construction phase.”
Mixed news for Oranmore Station
Cllr Connolly’s correspondence with the NTA also revealed that while Irish Rail has lodged a planning application with Galway County Council to construct a new platform and second track at Oranmore Station, the application does not include the expansion of the car park there to facilitate additional commuters.
“The announcement of funding for the second platform and passing loop at Oranmore Railway Station was first made in December 2020,” he said. “I hope the decision to grant the planning will happen quicker than the time it took to make the application.”
Cllr Connolly is also disappointed that the application for Oranmore does not include expanding the existing car park at the station. This is because the car park is owned by Galway County Council which is currently pursuing a project for these lands.
“Separate works and plans by two different bodies to meet the needs of one railway station is very frustrating,” said Cllr Connolly, “especially as Oranmore has been identified by the NTA for enhanced parking. In a presentation to Galway City Council in October 2022, the NTA Park and Ride office informed councillors that they had three strategic park and ride sites for Galway city to be delivered in the short term: Oranmore Train Station to be one of them. I call on the bodies involved to work and liaise together on this issue of urgent importance to commuters.”
