Limerick and Public Transport (not a joke..honest!)

Transport21 Fan

Contray to the allocation of non-Dublin projects in Transport 21, Ireland's 3rd largest city really does exsist after all.

Of course, its genuine and valid public transport needs must come second to Claremorris being turned into the Clapham Junction of the Irish rail network. But apparently the city of 100,000 seems to think it needs public transport as well. Amazing really!

Thu, 09/02/06


City transportation plan gets kick-start

By Marie Hobbins
A WIDENING of Childers Road, the setting up of an inner orbital route and the formulation of a city centre delivery strategy are just some of the measures that will soon be rolled out as part of a new comprehensive transport plan for the city.

At a specially convened seminar, hosted by Limerick City Council’s Transportation Strategic Policy Committee on Tuesday, key issues were identified and the way paved for a programme that will set in motion radical new initiatives to accommodate the increased traffic that will arise from a doubling of the city’s commercial usage.

With major new inner city development due to come on stream next year, there is an urgency in upgrading the city’s traffic management and transport infrastructure.

Tuesday’s meeting identified key issues and will lead on to the establishment of a Transport Forum that will involve the Garda Siochana, Limerick City and County Councils, Bus Eireann and Iarnrod Eireann as well as representation from the Limerick Taxi Drivers Association.

With a pathway and cycle lane currently being established on Childers Road, it was considered opportune to also widen the road in view of the substantially increased traffic volume due to the recent opening of a number of major retail outlets in the area.

"We will formulate a city centre delivery strategy, with no deliveries allowed after 11am and may kick-start this on William Street and Parnell Street and with increased pedestrianisation of the city - William Street, Upper Thomas Street and O’Connell Street will follow, we have to direct traffic elsewhere, which calls for the establishment of an inner orbital route,” Cllr Leddin told the Limerick Post.

It is understood that the first of perhaps two orbital routes will run though Henry Street and on to Arthur’s Quay, to Charlotte Quay up to Gerard Griffin Street, down Parnell Street and on to Mallow Street.

Newly appointed director of services with Limerick City Council, Pat Drummy said he is optimistic that inner orbital routes can be established this year and that with the public consultation process now completed, the green routes are ready to be rolled out.

However the provision of a light rail system, opposition to the tolling of the new tunnel crossing, a dedicated Shannon-Limerick transport service, an increase in the strength of the garda traffic corps, more roundabouts, improved timing of traffic lights and an electronic parking system are other live issues on the immediate agenda.

Cllr Kieran O’Hanlon recommended a northern relief road from Annacotty to Knockalisheen, exiting at the Radisson SAS Hotel.

"The Government plans to build a motorway from Dublin to Annacotty but unless we have another relief road the articulated trucks travelling to Shannon and Clare will use the Dublin Road and Clare Street and proceed through Thomondgate,” he warned.

The councillor also called for the replacement of traffic lights at St Mary’s Church with a roundabout and also at the Childers road junction with Ballinacurra.

"I recommended at the seminar that the National Roads Authority be invited down to hear our concerns and plans when the Forum is set up,” he said.

Satisfied that the Council’s director of services now has a clear idea of how the Transportation Committee would like to progress their plans, Cllr Leddin said: "Mr Drummy will now work on putting a time frame on each of the projects and at our next meeting will put more meat on the bones.”

It is also envisaged to prepare and present a case for a more equitable share for Limerick of Transport Minister, Martin Cullen’s 31 billion euro Transport 21 programme.

Too bloody right. Limerick city and region was absolutely screwed in Transport 21 by the whole Western Rail Corridor crackpot agenda. Two more rail lines for Claremorris, but no station on the Ennis line at Sixmilebridge, no rail service to Raheen...gimmie a break.

John R

There was a proposal in front of the council last month to put in three bus lanes on major commuter routes in the city. It was postponed for a month but several objections from the usual NIMBY brigade and a councillor claiming it would destroy the character of the areas don't bode well for the proposal being passed.

I can only assume that in Limerick nose to tail traffic jams are considered character.

Spengman

In fairness though the plan for a bus lane from raheen to the city centre is an absolute joke, as raheen is outside the city boundary limerick county council decided to incorporate a bus lane into the road improvement works in that area. Unfortunately they didnt tell anyone so the city council has no immediate plans to extend the bus lane from the boundary(near the crescent sc) to the city centre so we're left with a half-arsed job!, anyway o connell avenue is a residental area with lots of on street parking,the road isnt really wide enough to incorporate a bus lane without removing the on street parking and you can be sure the residents wont take kindly to that!, a real shambles of a situation and yet more proof(if it was needed) that 2 authorities governing a small city just dosent work!

Transport21 Fan

The sheer lack of ambition and foresight in Limerick when it comes to public transport development is pretty depressing. In the Irish Times last year the city manager said that none of the rail lines in and around Limerick have any potential for commuter rail services except the Western Rail Corridor up towards Mayo. You really have to wonder with a mentality like that.

Limerick politicians remind me so much of the Dublin politicans of the 1980's when it came to public transport back then..."mosherways and houses everywhere!". I guess it'll take another 20 years for Limerick politicians to wake up.

This article paints a bleak picture of Limerick getting light rail in "50 years time"...and this is An Tasice talking

http://www.limerickpost.ie/dailynews.elive?id=7091&category=Daily-Fri

spacetweek

Transport21 Fan wrote:

The sheer lack of ambition and foresight in Limerick when it comes to public transport development is pretty depressing.

I just checked out Google Maps to look at the rail lines in and around Limerick. God almighty! Other Irish cities would kill for all that. Get commuter services running on those, with a bit of light rail out in the LU direction.

Transport21 Fan wrote:

This article paints a bleak picture of Limerick getting light rail in "50 years time"

In fairness he says that he hopes it won't take that long.

Aim2Please

exactly, Limerick city and its suburbs (which actually extend in to County Limerick and Co. Clare, due to a small city boundary) has now a population of over 100,000. This makes it almost twice the size of Galway city and nearly two thirds the size of Cork City. It badly needs this infrastructure in place now. Build it and they will most certainly come. The Shannon/Limerick region was considered the alternative location for work than the Dublin area in the past and is ideally located to do so again. Shannon airport, the sea port and University of Limerick are either major or potentially major assets to spur job creation.

1huge1

have to agree with ya lads
limerick has well over 100,000 people and we got a bad deal out of transport 21
hopefully all this will do a good job
although i dont think we should blame the raheen bus thing on the county council entirely, im all for the boundry increase
didnt they say it would be a matter of weeks in the limerick leader the other day

DerekP11

Within the next few weeks Platform 11 will be relaunching its proposals for Limerick under the banner of "Commuter West". We are aware of how Limerick was omitted in Transport 21, but this is actually due to a complete lack of interest from those that matter etc. We intend sending it to Limerick City Councils' "Transortation Strategic Policy Committee", which appears to be a bit too late on the scene. However its best to educate and inform them from the outset. The proposal takes account of the fact that the WRC offers virtually nothing to potential commuters in the Limerick area. It also focuses on the fact that the Ennis service has not been exploited to its full potential. It needs a better journey time and additional stops.

More details on this will be forthcoming.

corktina

a better journey time AND more stops?

DerekP11

Track speeds on the Ennis line are abysmal. We are currently examining the engineering spec and TSRs. Most will know that it was relayed. Additional stops in the Limerick city environs are being looked at in tandem with an improvement in journey time.

So yes Corktina, if we can prove it, we'll promote it.