Getting around Galway

what_traffic · 11-08-2023 2:20pm

Was that not for a NEW entrance opposite Galway Crystal to make a 4 way junction so that they could close existing main entrance?Hope Council do not propose a big overblown solution that will get shot down(did something similar with the Prom cycleway), no need huge works here if a simple bus gate existed. This would actually reduce the current traffic on the existing Merlin Park Lane

11-08-2023 2:25pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120965385#Comment_120965385

I think we're talking about 2 different things maybe. That new junction for Merlin Park is going ahead afaik but possibly as part of the Bus Connects Dublin Rd project

Mrs OBumble · 11-08-2023 3:15pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120964550#Comment_120964550

Merlin Lane is not wide enough for buses, and the road thru the hospital is not good enough for them either.

And besides, especially the new social housing going in near Rosshill Road, removing the 409 from that part of the Dublin Rd would be dumb. It has a bus lane, which works well.

zell12 · 11-08-2023 4:17pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120963658#Comment_120963658

Is there a prize?

Gremlinertia · 11-08-2023 7:42pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120966099#Comment_120966099

Well you win the tender if it was up to me!.

ratracer · 11-08-2023 9:38pm

Isn’t that roughly the same place that a temp bridge was put during the Volvo Ocean Race?

rustyfrog · 11-08-2023 10:13pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120967500#Comment_120967500

Oh yeah! I can remember the initial construction works for that but can't remember the finished bridge - anyone got photos?

The original plan was a longer bridge going across from the docks to Nimmo's Pier.

ratracer · 11-08-2023 10:19pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120967642#Comment_120967642

It crossed from the middle river to the fish market square side of the Sparch I think.

rustyfrog · 11-08-2023 10:22pm

Credit;

https://www.flickr.com/photos/72163146@N08/7396971350

flazio · 13-08-2023 7:09am

Quick question, are there parking enforcers in the IDA estate Mervue? So many parking spaces empty on Saturday afternoon as the factories and offices appear to close over the weekend and the 401 and 404 run buses either side I wonder if it's worth parking and riding into town from there?

ben.schlomo · 13-08-2023 7:11am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120971595#Comment_120971595

401 and 405, fyi. Never saw any parking enforcement in there.

flazio · 13-08-2023 7:18am

Nice, so taking into account the vandalism risk, which would be small but not completely absent, as with anywhere in Galway city, seems like somewhere to consider weekend P+R if the bus fare and times work out vs parking in town.

ben.schlomo · 13-08-2023 7:27am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120971608#Comment_120971608

For a 401 you'd go down to Cluain Mhuire or back up to the uncovered stop along the Monivea Rd opposite Crown Square.

If it's a 405 you'd be opposite the Trappers or uncovered opposite the yellow b&b on the Tuam Rd.

what_traffic · 14-08-2023 8:52am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120965780#Comment_120965780

Widen it so. Current 402 goes through places like Colmcille Road in Shantalla which is a narrow street.

What's the "not good enough for them" about?

Mrs OBumble · 14-08-2023 11:57am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120975126#Comment_120975126

Road surface.

Using it would remove bus services from new social housing. A really, really dumb idea.

14-08-2023 2:55pm

Calls for a rolling 5 year program of works for footpaths in older areas of the city. The example cited, Mervue, had 70 yr old footpaths redone

https://www.advertiser.ie/galway/article/136980/councillor-calls-for-five-year-plan-to-tackle-ageing-roads-and-footpaths

Fitz* · 14-08-2023 3:23pm

While it is great to have refurbishment of the footpaths, parts of Mervue currently look like a massive zebra crossing with the half white half dark grey scattered all over. Hopefully more funds are allocated to finish off the areas to have a consistent feel, and look.

xckjoo · 14-08-2023 4:25pm

That would be great. Our paths are terrible. Clamping down on all the people parking on them would help too. They aren't designed for the weight of a car

14-08-2023 8:52pm

The govt just released the National Sustainable Mobility progress report

https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/9aecf-national-sustainable-mobility-policy-year-one-progress-report/

Some interesting bits where Galway is concerned

New bus routes to be rolled out from 2025
New GTS, now called the GMATS, in work and due before the end of the year

Other items coming in at a national level which will impact on Galway. Some are completed, in works or delayed. This is just a selection, see the pdf on the link above for the full list

Demand management now has its own unit within the Transport Dept. Expect to see more test projects coming from this in the years to come. The scheme for the Greater Dublin Area is currently in progress, due Q3 2024.
The Walking & Cycling Index is to be expanded to cover multiple cities (Galway, Cork, Limerick & Waterford). See previous reports here
All transport providers are now contractually obliged to have set procedures in place to be able to deal with any passengers with mobility difficulties
Active Travel units in all local councils
Audit team established, to review completed works to ensure compliance and value for money
"Opportunities for transport led development" will feature more and more into the future as new planning applications will be assessed for increased access to PT/AT infrastructure. It will also see higher density developments at hubs/close to hubs
Roads Traffic Act update to prioritise the safety of walking & cycling
Transition of city bus fleets (Cork, Limerick, Galway, Dublin) to low/zero emission. Same for Local Link buses
Pedestrian enhancement plans being developed for the 5 cities, regional growth centres and key towns
Greater expansion of bike share schemes around the country
Currently 1,200 cycle schemes being designed/implemented around the country
Rail fleet expansion, 40+ new carriages placed into service already. 95 Dart+ carriages due 2025
Bus connects corridors progressing
Greenways to beat the band
LocalLink to be potentially expanded as a health transport service i.e. take you to and from hospital/doctor etc
Roll out/expand town bus services (Carlow, Ennis, Letterkenny, Mullingar, Portlaoise)
Hundreds of new bus shelters done and more to be done
BRUCE study ongoing looking at different road user charging options (congestion charges, tolls, etc)
Access for all - bridges/lifts at railway stations, wheelchair accessible buses and bus stations/platforms, Wheelchair Accessible Services (WAV taxi's) expanded
More equitable fares coming through the National Fares Strategy
Local Transport Plans (similar to the LSMATS, CMATS etc) are coming for nearly 20 towns around the country
Expand the likes of GoCar etc around the country, especially at transport hubs
Delayed - camera enforcement (buses, bikes & dashcams)
DMURS, National Cycle Manual, etc all getting updated to prioritise sustainable & accessible mobility
Delayed - turn left on red for cyclists, requires legislation update
Delayed - PPT's (e-bikes, scooters etc) to be legislated for
NTA to take over transport planning for the 5 cities (cue the howls of local councillors)
Delayed - Next generation ticketing

My personal favorite will be boring to most but which could potentially have the greatest impact

Review, develop and update guidelines, standards and supporting legislation to allow for a range of solutions to be developed for road space reallocation/ redesign to repurpose existing legacy car-based road design.

There's loads more in it, thats just the bits that popped out to me as I went through it

rustyfrog · 14-08-2023 10:25pm

That all sounds lovely but we still have local councilors pushing to have cycle lanes removed to add additional lanes for cars and a city council that has all their eggs in a "just one more road bro" project.

The national support and funding isn't the problem.

what_traffic · 15-08-2023 9:08am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120979015#Comment_120979015

True - but the National oversight of the funding is problematic. Will we see this come to ahead in Roscam I do wonder?

what_traffic · 15-08-2023 9:20am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120975909#Comment_120975909

Ah ok you are presuming it would alter the #409 route rather than my presumption that it would just extend the Merlin Park Route #402 that could then also service the Galway Clinic (eventually with a NEW Bus and walking & cycling Bridge over the N67 along the Merlin Lane here )which would then allow the 404 Oranmore Route to service the Doughiska Road South, Coast Road and Oranmore Train station instead of Galway Clinic.

rustyfrog · 15-08-2023 4:02pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120979819#Comment_120979819

I expect what'll happen at Roscam is the national funding will be withdrawn and the pro-motoring local council will foot the bill for the inactive travel scheme.