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BusConnects Limerick

  • 22-02-2023 12:09pm
    #1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,883 ✭✭✭


    I know this was briefly mentioned in the Limerick Improvement Projects thread but I feel it may warrant a lot of discussion so probably best to have a separate thread

    Under the proposals within the Limerick bus network redesign report, the level of bus services in Limerick city and its suburbs will increase by approximately 70%. 61% of people in Limerick city would be located within 400 metres walk of a bus stop, up from 53%. The added service levels will be enabled by the extension of bus services to new areas, more routes with frequent services, an enhanced Sunday timetable and a new 24-hour route.

    A lot of changes proposed, the most notable being the introduction of a 24hr service on proposed route 4 (current 304).


    Some areas are still seeing spare enough 30-60 minute services including St Mary's Park and Ballynanty.

    The consultation period is open and all info is available here: Limerick | Busconnects



«1

Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,717 ✭✭✭adaminho


    Just had a quick look at it and it's shocking! The 304 moved to the Dublin road leaving anyone in Linwood, Norwood, Woodlawn, old Cork Road and most of Garryowen without a route to the Crescent, UHL and the industrial estate. I'll now have to walk into town to get a bus to work.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,883 ✭✭✭Poxyshamrock


    I know they state their reason not to have an orbital route but I really feel a direct route between Raheen and Castletroy along the Childers Road should be the exception.

    I'll certainly be making a case for it.



  • Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 12,472 Mod ✭✭✭✭Cookiemunster


    Did you completely miss the 2 route?

    Old Cratloe Road - TUS Moylish - Sexton Street - Clancy’s Strand - Sarsfield Bridge - City Centre - Mulgrave Street - Childers Road - Bloodmill Road - Groody Road - Dublin Road - Milford Road - University of Limerick - University Bridge

    Every 15 mins.

    Then there's the 6 route

    Ennis Road - Sarsfield Bridge - City Centre - Cathedral Place - Garryowen Road - S Claughan Road - Claughan Fort - St Patrick’s Road - Dublin Road - Golf Links Road - School House Road - Castletroy Shopping Centre - Dublin Road - Milford Road

    Every 30 mins.

    The Old Cork Road has never had a city bus service. It will under these plans with the 3B every 30 mins.

    The areas you list above will be well served.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,717 ✭✭✭adaminho


    None of which go to the destinations I mentioned. It seems the plan is to change bus in town and then travel onwards. Its funny as the maps all show the areas as the oldest demographic, least car dependent and highest density and yet remove the main bus route. I'll be submitting my thoughts on it as well as contacting my local councillors.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 549 ✭✭✭Limerick91


    Adaminho, the fact that it is in consultation stage make your objections known



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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 26,158 ✭✭✭✭Berty


    Is there yet a tap in/tap out service like other cities/countries so that when you switch a bus you don't have to pay again?

    I still remember a passenger on the Corbally bus annoyed that the driver was not going onwards to Raheen and he'd have to get and pay for a second bus when the route he was on should be going that way.



  • Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 12,472 Mod ✭✭✭✭Cookiemunster


    A 90 minute ticket is to come in.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,333 ✭✭✭pigtown


    The Dublin and Cork BusConnects programmes have a network redesign and a physical infrastructure element. Will the NTA roll out bus lanes here too? I don't trust our councillors to do it given their recent carry on



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,585 ✭✭✭bennyl10


    The route 2 passes as close to those areas as the bus does now?

    the route 6 which will pass the top of hilcroft (same as the 305 now)


    the 6 will link with the dooradoyle

    They’ve taken the one stop that was outside the spar away in this proposal but that seem to be it?


    access for those estates to the crescent/Castletroy is the same as it is now only with greatest frequency?


    yes the direct dooradoyle route is gone, but you currently need to go to sarsfield street and wait anyway?


    this system should see a reduced journey time for that trip



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,636 ✭✭✭✭Red Silurian


    24 hour routes will be welcomed by the pubs and night clubs, I can't imagine the taxi shortage is good for their businesses

    In my mind I have a vision of buses from Castletroy and Garryowen pulling into a stop on O Connel Street at the same time, passengers switch between them to get to their final destinations and the buses pull away at the same time. Not impossible but difficult to implement with buses caught in traffic



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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,883 ✭✭✭Poxyshamrock


    Did anyone go to any of the public consultations?



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 28,230 ✭✭✭✭breezy1985


    Fek I forgot yesterday.

    I think you would not have to pay again in that situation. He should have given a transfer ticket.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 750 ✭✭✭LeoD


    I went to the South Court. Nothing to see or hear that isn't available on the website - think it might be for those who are unfamiliar with the internet.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,333 ✭✭✭pigtown


    There are two online consultation sessions: 14th and 21st at 6.30pm.

    Registration in the link

    https://busconnects.ie/limerick/



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 27 The CW


    I submitted a proposal to BusConnects Limerick as follows: I would like to propose a Route 6A. This would start at the University of Limerick going through Monaleen via Castletroy Shopping Centre, Kilmurry Road, School House Road & Golf Links Road. It would join the Dublin Road and continue to the Parkway Roundabout the same as the proposed Route 6. However instead of continuing onto the City Centre and Caherdavin via Garryowen, the Route 6A bus can turn left at the Parkway Roundabout to travel down the Childers Road past Childers Road Shopping Centre, Roxboro Shopping Centre, Roxboro, Janesboro and Ballinacurra. It would then turn left onto O'Connell Avenue and continue onwards to the Crescent Shopping Centre, University Hospital Limerick and St. Nessan's Church before looping around the Roundabout at Raheen Industrial Estate and returning back the same way. The Route 6A could also run every 30 minutes, this is an okay service provision. It would work even better if Route 6 and Route 6A timetables as proposed were offset by 15 minutes. That way people in Monaleen should have a bus arriving in either direction every 15 minutes. This would be a major improvement in terms of bus service provision for the Monaleen area while also maintaining bus service provision for the residents of Roxboro, Janesboro and Ballinacurra. It also connects several different shopping districts including cinemas and residential areas to the University of Limerick, Plassey Industrial Estate, University Hospital Limerick and Raheen Industrial Estate, allowing residents of these areas to access work and shop in a greater number of locations. This would also be the sole orbital route in Limerick. I'd appreciate any feedback on this proposal. P.S. Don't forget about the Webinar in 10 minutes, you can register at Limerick | Busconnects and click on Limerick Online Webinar Registration. Enter your Name and Email address and you should see a link for a Zoom meeting. Don't worry if you miss the one today, there will be another next week on the 21st of March also @ 6:30PM. All the best.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 27 The CW


    Having just got back from the webinar, the feedback I received from the BusConnects Limerick Team is that while they agree the service of a Route 6A would be good for either end i.e. Monaleen/Castletroy and Dooradoyle/Raheen it may not be possible to route busses along the Childers Road due to traffic constraints and few houses along its length. Instead I will make an alternative submission for Route 6A that will go from UL/Monaleen via Garryowen and the City Centre to Dooradoyle/Raheen. Hopefully this will also address some of the issues raised above with access to Crescent, UHL and Raheen from Garryowen as it is the same issue going to these areas from Monaleen.



  • Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 12,472 Mod ✭✭✭✭Cookiemunster


    Few houses along its length? Did they never hear of Ballincurra Gardens or Weston or Rathbane or Janesboro or Southill or Kennedy Park or Glasgow Park or Norwood Park or Castletroy View etc? Places where there are plenty of people wanting to go to Plassey or Raheen without going onto the city center first. The proposed routes won't get any of these people onto public transport.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 27 The CW


    I know that there's plenty of housing nearby, but that's the feedback they provided and their reasoning. I'm just a private citizen, I can't force them to route busses that way if they don't want to. Maybe if more people make submissions asking for it, they'll reconsider it. I made submissions for UL/Monaleen to Raheen/Dooradoyle going both by Childers Road or City Centre. So I'll have to wait and see which if any of them could be included in the final draft.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 28,230 ✭✭✭✭breezy1985


    A 6A ruins the 6 route if it means only half the amount. Northside connectivity is a joke as is. No bus or motorway to UL and no bus or a toll to UHL.

    Would be better to reroute a different bus like the current 304/304A does.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 27 The CW


    What I proposed is a different bus, not a branched route.



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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 28,230 ✭✭✭✭breezy1985


    Fair enough using A usually means a split.

    Would be better if they just gave it a new number then.

    I did notice a few numbers missing and was wondering is that because the green buses will keep their routes.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 27 The CW


    Well they could number it a 7 instead of a 6A, but I went with 6A as part of the route from the Parkway to UL via Monaleen is identical to the 6. Also the A in this case means Alternate/Alternative as it connects Monaleen to Dooradoyle instead of Caherdavin, a branched route would also have a 6B going in another direction from 6A linking back to 6 which I didn't propose. They also said that the prooposed bus route numbers are not final and are subject to change.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 27 The CW


    Also the other reason given for not routing busses via childers road is due to the disused rail line near greenmount avenue which could come back into use and delay busses. I personally don't think it's a big deal if the bus gets delayed by 2mins due to a train however there isn't even tracks there at present.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 750 ✭✭✭LeoD


    The current proposal has the 1, 1A, 1B, 1C, 4, 4A, 4B & 5 stopping outside UHL - that'll be 22 buses in either direction per hour. With routes 1 (15m), 1A (30min), 1B (60min), 1C (60min) & 5 (30mins) starting and stopping outside the hospital, I can imagine the place getting clogged with buses as the routes with longer interval times wait for their scheduled departure time. As that is the only entrance into the hospital, I can't see them turning the road outside it into a bus depot. This route is also meant to be a primary cycle route so is the expectation for regular folk cycling at 20kph to share a bus lane with a bus coming every 2.5 mins behind them?



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,636 ✭✭✭✭Red Silurian


    Yes, ironically enough they've made it so that it might be better to drive to UHL. You should always drive to a hospital anyway, especially if sick or visiting sick people - in case you pick a bug up on the bus



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,636 ✭✭✭✭Red Silurian


    So they don't want a route going over a disused railway line but they are happy for Route 14 to cross the active Limerick-Ennis/Galway line once an hour?

    Smells like something an adult male of the cattle species would excrete....



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,883 ✭✭✭Poxyshamrock


    Should you not go shopping or to work ahead of visiting the hospital too? In case you pick up a bug.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 28,230 ✭✭✭✭breezy1985


    That makes absolutely no sense. How are they making it harder to get a bus ?

    I suppose we should sack all the hospital staff who get the bus to work too.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,333 ✭✭✭pigtown


    Was there any talk of new bus lanes etc. as per BusConnects in other cities?



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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 27 The CW


    Yes, they talked about bus priority measures and bus lanes. They also said that it will take time as the final draft will determine where new bus lanes etc. are needed. They also mentioned that the new routes could possibly be phased. BusConnects in Dublin is currently rolling out in 11 phases, Cork is in 3 phases, they haven't decided if Limerick will be in 1,2 or 3 phases. Unsure about Galway and Waterford as they weren't mentioned with regards phases.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 27 The CW


    Yeah I'm not buying it either tbh, it's a pretty weak excuse tbf. As if a currently non existant, and likely infrequent rail service even if it gets introduced is going to be detrimental to busses using Childers Road. Also, I think he was dismissive towards the people living on or near the Childers Road with regards to my proposal as he said it would only benefit the people living in Monaleen/Castletroy and Dooradoyle/Raheen but not the other communities along the way such as Castletroy View, Roxboro, Janesboro or Ballinacurra etc. Under current proposals if they want to get to Monaleen/Castletroy or Dooradoyle/Raheen they first have to travel the opposite direction towards the City Centre before actually going the direction they need to go. My proposal would have resolved that issue. I'm going to keep onto them about it anyway, I'm not giving up. I think it is a glaring mistake and omission not to have at least one route using the length of the Childers Road. If people like the Route 6A as I originally proposed it, make a submission to them about it. We may be able to pressure them into providing that service which will link up a lot of key Employment, Educational, Shopping, Healthcare and other services like Banks and Post Offices, Credit Unions etc. along the route. We have until the 7th of April to make our voices known.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 28,230 ✭✭✭✭breezy1985


    They are probably privately thinking "shure lots of places don't have access to UL,UHL etc." but that bus service is like being on a Luas line by Limerick standards. Big difference between never having it and having it taken away.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,636 ✭✭✭✭Red Silurian


    Agreed and I love the determination you're showing and I guarantee you're not the only one, good luck with it 👍



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 27 The CW


    It's the most direct route between the two largest suburbs of Limerick, I think it's worth fighting for.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 27 The CW


    I have no choice tbf, I rely on the busses to get everywhere. I don't drive as I can't afford to. So, it's busses or bust lol ;)



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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,636 ✭✭✭✭Red Silurian


    As a car owner I like the idea of leaving the car at home from time to time. I live in Limerick but work in Cork so it's not easy but I have on more than one occasion used the bike and train to commute. Did you know busses don't allow bikes on board in this city? Completely backwards situation



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 750 ✭✭✭LeoD


    Why would you bring a bike onto a city bus service? Where is it going to fit? Bringing bikes on inter-urban transport makes sense but not for trips starting and ending within the city.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 28,230 ✭✭✭✭breezy1985


    For people who live close to but not on a bus route.

    The 10e each way charge for a bike on inter city is a fekin joke too.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 750 ✭✭✭LeoD


    Just because they do it in north America doesn't mean it's either a good idea or worth doing here. The majority of people will live within 400m of a bus stop and if you don't live that close, you'd be quicker cycling to where ever you're going rather than to a bus stop, waiting around for the bus to come, putting your bike (if not too heavy for you to lift) on the front rack of a bus (bus more than likely not capable of taking a rack), delaying everyone on the bus as you secure your bike, removing your bike at the stop nearest your destination before completing your journey by bike.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 28,230 ✭✭✭✭breezy1985


    I never said we should do it here. I was just answering the questions why ? and where would it fit ?

    No need to be so aggressive or coming up with shte about not being able to lift a bike.



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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,636 ✭✭✭✭Red Silurian


    Before the 304A route people living on the schoolhouse road in Monaleen were up to a 30 minute walk or 3 minute cycle from the nearest bus stop to Raheen. I accept that is a niche case and no longer relevant though. A more modern example is anybody living between Castleconnell and Annacotty, it's even more niche though

    As for the €10 each way charge, get a bike case and claim it isn't a bike. How it's free for trains but not for busses is madness



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 28,230 ✭✭✭✭breezy1985


    I can't understand how with all the other implemented or planned travel improvements that 10e charge still exists.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,636 ✭✭✭✭Red Silurian



    It's not like it's an added fuel usage charge... Most bikes weigh less than your average holiday suitcase... Most are lighter than the people cycling them



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 28,230 ✭✭✭✭breezy1985




  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,636 ✭✭✭✭Red Silurian


    Had a look over my lunch break... It's worse again...From the Bus Eireann Website

    Bicycles will be carried only if sufficient accommodation is available; they must be placed in the luggage compartment or other designated area of the vehicle and are subject to a charge, per single journey, of €10.00.  

    Folding bicycles which are packed and wrapped in a suitable carrier bag/protective covering will be treated as passengers’ accompanied luggage and carried free of charge in the luggage storage area.

    Folding bicycles which are NOT packed or wrapped as described above will be charged at the full cycle rate, per single journey, of €10.00.

    What's the difference between a folding bike in a bag and one not in a bag?



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,883 ✭✭✭Poxyshamrock


    Limerick Chamber - BusConnects Submission 05.04.2023.pdf

    Limerick Chamber has just published its submission to the BusConnects consultation. A few odd requests such as the suggestion of bus routes via M7/M20 and the Limerick Tunnel and their suggestion that the proposed busgate on O'Connell Street be scrapped in favour of full pedestrianisation, despite the fact that the street is all but finished with two large lanes down the middle. They cite Grafton Street as inspiration despite the fact that O'Connell Street and Grafton Street are two very different streets.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 28,230 ✭✭✭✭breezy1985


    I'm surprised the CoC are for full pedestrianisation. Whatever about people thinking it should be no cars it would be crazy to not use it as a bus route.

    Also I assume they wrongly believe that pedestrianisation includes bikes.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,333 ✭✭✭pigtown


    It's quite a detailed submission although it does talk a lot about rail transport which is entirely outside the scope of BusConnects.

    I'd be very interested to see what physical improvements are required in terms of bus lanes and junction upgrades.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 28,230 ✭✭✭✭breezy1985


    Would you need a Raheen Business Park to NTP express bus ?

    Surely very few people want to go to both on the same day.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2 Sandydave


    If your looking for a day out get Dublin bus to Tralee from Arthur's key to Tralee which takes around 1 hrs 45 min Adare bypass Rathkeale Newcastlewest Abbeyfeale bypass Castle island on to Tralee bus returning to Limerick from Princess street Tralee opposite Brandon Hotel 1 am arrive Limerick 2.45 am.Free pass accepted social welfare.



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