BusConnects, a suite of initiatives to transform public transport in the Dublin region, has been launched by Irish Minister for Transport, Sport and Tourism, Shane Ross, and Anne Graham, CEO of the National Transport Authority.
The total cost of BusConnects is estimated to be over €1bn, some €300m of which is already committed under ‘Building on Recovery,’ the 2015 capital plan.
BusConnects proposals include:
- Next generation bus corridors;
- Bus Rapid Transit;
- Redesigning the network of bus routes;
- Updating the ticketing system;
- Cashless fare payment system;
- Simpler fare structure;
- Refreshing the bus livery;
- Rolling out new bus stops with better signage and information; and
- Cleaner technology.
Anne Graham commented: “Thanks to BusConnects, just about everybody will be able to beat the congestion by using the bus rather than a car, to get around.
“We believe that there is potential to increase bus passenger numbers by at least 50% over the lifetime of the project, which would represent a significant step-change in how people get from place to place.
“Dublin is a low density city which means very few areas n have the size and concentration of population to support rail-based public transport. For most areas, bus transport represents the best public transport solution. In any case, rail projects typically have lead-in times of 8-10 years, and with congestion continuing to worsen every month, more immediate solutions are required.
“That is why the plans we are publishing are primarily about investing in bus transport. These solutions will generally have a much shorter turn-around time, which means that we can make travel by bus an increasingly attractive option for commuters all across the network, sooner rather than later.”
