BusConnects is an ongoing public transport infrastructure programme, managed by the National Transport Authority (NTA), focused on the bus networks in several cities in Ireland. Described by the NTA as intended to "improve bus services across the country", [1] as of mid-2022 the programme was in "implementation" phase in Dublin, [2] "consultation" phase in Cork, [3] with the Minister for Transport projecting similar initiatives in Galway, Limerick and Waterford. [4] Aspects of the plans proved controversial with local politicians, residents, and unions in both Dublin and Cork. [5] [6] [7] [8]
A 2017 report, commissioned by the NTA and produced by US-based consulting firm Jarrett Walker + Associates (previously involved in similar projects in New Zealand), [9] set out a number of options for the redesign of Dublin's bus transport network. [10] The proposed purpose of the redesign was to improve network functionality and increase bus ridership in the Dublin area. The report noted that the existing network focused on radial routes (from the suburbs into the city centre) and had very few orbital or crossing routes (from suburb to suburb). [11] Arising from this report, an initial network proposal was released for public consultation in mid-2018. [11]
According to a press release issued by the Department of Transport in March 2022, it was noted that, while a "final budget and delivery schedule for BusConnects Dublin" had not been established, the proposed budget was then projected to be €4 billion and work speculated to "be substantially complete by 2030". [12]
The BusConnects programme in Dublin was split into phases, for which the main consultation initiatives concluded in 2020. [13] The NTA began implementing the new network in stages, starting in 2021. [13] [14] These included:
During both the implementation and consultation phases, the BusConnects projects in Dublin attracted significant controversy and criticism, including from service users, [29] residents, [30] politicians, [31] and transport unions. [32] Concerns included route coverage, total journey times, allowing for route access and changes, actual performance and "no shows", property "taking" required to implement routes, and reduction in road space for existing commuter traffic. [29] Similar sentiments have been expressed in Ballyfermot. [20] [33] [34]
The consultation phase for the proposed BusConnects project in Cork was opened in 2022. [35] The published proposals attracted significant controversy and complaint from home-owners, [36] politicians, [37] [38] transport unions, [8] and other stakeholders. [39] According to reports from mid-2022, concerns were raised in particular about the proposed demolition of old stone walls, the potential for nearly 1000 properties to lose parts of their gardens through compulsory purchase orders, [40] the loss of sections of Ballybrack Woods in Douglas, [40] and the felling of 1,400 mature trees along proposed routes. [41]
As of mid-2024, approximately €24m had been spent on proposed BusConnects initiatives in Cork, [42] including at least €2.5 on consultation efforts, [43] with planning applications due to be submitted "on a phased basis beginning in the first quarter of 2025". [42]
In February 2023, the National Transport Authority published a draft version of a new bus network for Limerick city. At that time, the network redesign was intended to be rolled out in 2025. [44]
As of March 2022, the then Minister of Transport proposed "acceleration" and a rollout of BusConnects initiatives to Galway, Limerick and Waterford. [45]
Cork Airport is the second-largest international airport in Ireland, after Dublin and ahead of Shannon. It is 6.5 km (4.0 mi) south of Cork City centre, in an area known as Farmers Cross. In 2018, Cork Airport handled 2.39 million passengers, growing by over 8% to 2.58 million in 2019. Following a decline during the COVID-19 global pandemic, which saw passenger numbers fall to 530,000 in 2020, numbers in 2022 rose to 2.24 million.
The Dublin Area Rapid Transit system is an electrified commuter rail railway network serving the coastline and city of Dublin, Ireland. The service makes up the core of Dublin's suburban railway network, stretching from Greystones, County Wicklow, in the south to Howth and Malahide in north County Dublin. The DART serves 31 stations and consists of 53 route kilometres of electrified railway, and carries in the region of 20 million passengers per year. In a similar manner to the Berlin S-Bahn, the DART blends elements of a commuter rail service and a rapid transit system.
Dublin Bus is an Irish state-owned bus operator providing services in Dublin. By far the largest bus operator in the city, it carried 145 million passengers in 2023. It is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Córas Iompair Éireann.
Bus Éireann is a state-owned bus and coach operator providing services throughout Ireland, with the exception of Dublin, where bus services are provided by sister company Dublin Bus. It is a subsidiary of Córas Iompair Éireann (CIÉ). The company's primary hub is Busáras, located in Store Street, Dublin. In 2022 it operated 229 Public Service Obligation Routes, 14 expressway routes and 8940 school transport routes.
Rail transport in Ireland is provided by Iarnród Éireann in the Republic of Ireland and by Northern Ireland Railways in Northern Ireland.
Iarnród Éireann, or Irish Rail, is the operator of the national railway network of Ireland. Established on 2 February 1987, it is a subsidiary of Córas Iompair Éireann (CIÉ). It operates all internal InterCity, Commuter, DART and freight railway services in the Republic of Ireland, and, jointly with Northern Ireland Railways, the Enterprise service between Dublin and Belfast. In 2019, IÉ carried a record peak of 50 million passengers, up from 48 million in 2018.
Luas is a tram system in Dublin, Ireland. There are two main lines: the Green Line, which began operating on 30 June 2004, and the Red Line which opened on 26 September 2004. Since then, the red line has been extended and split into different branches further out of the city and the green line has been extended north and south as a single line. Since the northern extension of the green line in 2017, the two lines intersect in the city centre. The system now has 67 stops and 42.5 kilometres (26.4 mi) of revenue track, which in 2023 carried 48.2 million passengers, an increase of 24% compared to 2022.
Quality Bus Corridors are an initiative to give dedicated road space and traffic signal priority to buses in Dublin, Ireland in order to reduce journey times and improve service consistency. The aim of the initiative is to encourage people to change from cars to buses and thus reduce traffic congestion. The strategy requires co-ordination between the local authorities, who are responsible for the road changes required, and Dublin Bus who operate the vast majority of bus services. This co-ordination is managed by the National Transport Authority.
Transport 21 was an Irish infrastructure plan, announced in November 2005. Its aims were to greatly expand Ireland's transport network. A cost estimate of €34 billion was attached to the plan at the time.
MetroLink is a proposed metro line for the city of Dublin. It replaces an earlier proposal called Metro North which was first recommended in the then Irish Government's 2005 Transport 21 transport plan.
DART Underground, also known as the Interconnector or DART+ Tunnel, is a proposed mainline-rail tunnel in Dublin, Ireland. First proposed in 1972, as of 2021 it was not funded or scheduled. While the Greater Dublin Transport Strategy 2016-2035 included the DART Underground as a proposed National Transport Authority project, the tunnel was not included in the National Development Plan published in 2018 or DART+ expansion plans published in August 2020.
The Cork Suburban Rail network serves areas in and around Cork city in Ireland.
Kilcrohane is a village in County Cork, Ireland. It is the last coastal village on the Sheep's Head Peninsula after Durrus and Ahakista. Kilcrohane lies under the 'Shadow of Seefin' and is also close to Caher Mountain. The village overlooks Dunmanus Bay.
Cork is the second largest city in Ireland, the county town of County Cork, the largest city in the province of Munster and third largest on the island of Ireland. At the 2022 census, it had a population of 224,004.
This article deals with transport in the Greater Dublin Area centred on the city of Dublin in Ireland.
The National Transport Authority or NTA is the transport authority for Greater Dublin and the public transport licensing agency for Ireland. It was established under the provisions of the Dublin Transport Authority Act (2008) and the Public Transport Regulation Act (2009), on 1 December 2009.
The Atlantic corridor or Atlantic motorway is a proposed road project in Ireland. The scheme, announced in 2005, was intended to link Waterford in the South-East to Letterkenny in the North-West via motorway or dual carriageway by 2015. However, in part due to the post-2008 Irish economic downturn, major sections of the roadway were delayed or cancelled.
Britain Quay is a street and quay in Dublin on the south bank of the River Liffey between Sir John Rogerson's Quay and the confluence of the River Liffey, River Dodder and Grand Canal.
Rena Buckley is an Irish sportswoman who played at senior level for both the Cork county ladies' football team and the Cork county camogie team. She has also represented Munster in the Gael Linn Cup and Ireland at international rules. Between 2005 and 2017 she won 18 All-Ireland winners medals - the most All-Ireland senior medals any one person has ever won - making her one of the most decorated sportspeople in Gaelic games. In 2012 she captained Cork when they won the All-Ireland Senior Ladies' Football Championship and in 2017 she captained Cork when they won the All-Ireland Senior Camogie Championship. She was the first player to captain Cork to both All-Ireland senior championships. She was also named as an All Star on eleven occasions. In 2015 Buckley and her team mate and fellow dual player, Briege Corkery, were named joint winners of the 2015 The Irish Times/ Sport Ireland Sportswoman of the Year Award.
Since the early 2000s, a number of proposals have been made by politicians and interest groups in Cork City, Ireland to introduce a light rail system in the city. As of early 2019 it was in a period of public consultation. The proposal, which has "no definitive timeline", has been compared to the Luas light rail system in Dublin.
all seven of the city's Fianna Fáil councillors, including the Taoiseach's brother, have tabled a motion for Monday's council meeting calling for the plans to be rejected