As the Deputy is aware BusConnects is one of the flagship investments to be delivered under Project Ireland 2040 and the 10-year National Development Plan (NDP).
BusConnects Dublin is currently well underway and importantly the NDP also provides for the implementation of BusConnects programmes in the other cities over the NDP's lifetime.
BusConnects Dublin forms part of the statutory Transport Strategy for the Greater Dublin Area and, as that Strategy notes, around two-thirds of all public transport trips in Dublin are taken by bus. Bus-based public transport is a key component of the planned approach to addressing our current congestion problem and to meeting our future transport needs.
BusConnects has been developed to do just that and will see –
- The introduction of next-generation bus corridors and Bus Rapid Transit routes;
- A redesign of bus network across the city;
- A new state-of-the-art ticketing system with a cashless payments and a simpler fare structure;
- The roll-out of new bus-stops with better signage and information;
- The provision of new park and ride sites;
- Cleaner technology through ending the purchase of diesel only buses; and
- A new integrated bus livery across the network.
Each of these measures is important in their own right while collectively they have the potential to significantly improve people’s journey experience.
In relation to the Bus Corridors project, the NTA launched a public consultation process on the first 4 of the corridors on 14 November and this consultation will run until February. The 4 corridors are: Clongriffin to City Centre; Swords to City Centre; Blanchardstown to City Centre; and Lucan to City Centre.
The new bus lanes which will be developed along these corridors will improve journey times by up to 40-50% on each corridor and will greatly improve cycling infrastructure as well, through new, largely segregated, cycle lanes. The improvements will require some reallocation of existing road space and impacted property owners across these first 4 corridors have been contacted individually by the NTA and offered one-to-one meetings.
There are 16 corridors in total and it is envisaged that consultations on the next 6 will start in January and run until April, while consultations on the final 6 will start in February and run until May. Phasing the consultations in this way will allow for the appropriate level of engagement with property owners and communities along each route.
The NTA will also establish a community forum for each corridor as well as a city-wide business forum. It also plans to engage with relevant stakeholders throughout all the public consultation processes, including accessibility and disability groups, cycling groups, transport companies, business organisations and academics.
In terms of the Bus Network Redesign, we are all aware of the significant public consultation that has taken place in recent months. There was a huge response to that consultation and the NTA are currently considering all submissions received with a view to issuing a revised network design for further public consultation in 2019.
The objective of these proposals under BusConnects is to -
- improve bus journey times that will benefit many millions of passenger journeys each year,
- provide a bus service that is easier to use, understand and more attractive to customers and enable more people to travel by bus than ever before, and
- also provide a network of cycling infrastructure that will enable more people to cycle.
