[PR] Green Routes Essential For Better Public Transport In Limerick

GREEN ROUTES ESSENTIAL FOR BETTER PUBLIC TRANSPORT IN LIMERICK


Bus Éireann says progress on Green Routes is now vital to enable 3 million customers to benefit from a higher frequency, faster service, to tackle congestion, which is choking Limerick city, to meet climate change commitments & to obtain further investment in public transport

“Doing nothing is no longer an option”

Monday 10th March 2008 - Bus Éireann has re-iterated the “urgent requirement” for more progress on the development of Green Routes in Limerick, if the city’s chronic congestion is to be tackled and public transport is to be improved for more than 3.2 million customers.

The company says Green Routes are a major piece of public transport infrastructure which have the potential to dramatically transform the quality, frequency and reliability of bus services in Limerick and will be of significant benefit to the entire community.

The bus company renewed its call after an independent report on the proposed network of Green Routes was presented to Limerick City Council today. International consultants Arups were commissioned by Limerick City Council to undertake a Green Routes corridor selection study in the city. Following a detailed examination, three corridors were identified as being suitable for the development of Green Routes. These recommendations along with a number of proposed measures are contained in the report which reinforces the need for Green Routes.

Bus Éireann strongly supports the findings of the report. Miriam Flynn, Regional Manager, Bus Éireann South-west said traffic congestion in Limerick is taking an increasing toll on public transport to the detriment of more than 3 million public transport users and Green Routes are vital if it is to remain viable and improve into the future.

“Because of the lack of Green Routes in the city, buses are stuck in constant tailbacks and are operating at a crawl. The average speed of buses in Limerick is just 10kph. As a result, buses are often late and on some occasions, fail to arrive at all. Customers are left waiting, wondering and frustrated. Regrettably this experience makes them more likely to take their cars the next time, exacerbating the situation even further.”

Bus Éireann sees Green Routes as a vital part of the solution to the problem of gridlock and believes they have the potential to transform the city and its public transportation service for everyone’s benefit.

Miriam Flynn: “Bus Éireann has been campaigning for the introduction of Green Routes in Limerick for ten years now and has supported initiatives by Limerick City and County Council in this area. Green Routes will enable the provision of a more punctual, reliable and quicker service, reducing car usage. Enhanced access to the city centre will benefit traders and local business. Fewer cars on the road will mean less pollution, congestion and better road safety. Green Routes can help end the frustration we all experience with congestion and public transport. Every report and study proves this. Now is the time for action.”

What are Green Routes?

Green Routes (or Quality Bus Corridors) are a package of measures designed to make public transport more attractive and reduce car usage. They offer a direct, high frequency service on quality buses, on a clearly identified alignment with good quality stops and shelters en route with bus priority measures to ensure consistent and predictable journey times.

Why the need for Green Routes?

Growth in car use in all urban areas is causing increased traffic congestion, delays, pollution and accidents. This has highlighted the need for a viable public transport alternative for commuters. Failure to address the issue will make our cities more car-dependent and congested than at present.

Who Benefits From Green Routes? Customers benefit – Operating buses on Green Routes significantly shortens journey times and provides customers with a more punctual, regular and reliable service. Time savings of 40% have been recorded on Dublin’s QBCs.

Businesses benefit Green Routes enhance access to the city and make it easier for shoppers to come into town. Statistics show that the Stillorgan Quality Bus Corridor in Dublin led to an overall increase in the number of people entering the city centre.

Community Benefits - fewer cars on the road means reduced traffic delays, pollution and accidents. Less congestion enhances the image of the city and speeds up access for those who need to travel by car. Better transport promotes social inclusion for those without cars, (the elderly, school children and those living in socially deprived areas). (40% of Limerick households do not have access to a car.)

Pedestrians Benefit – Green Routes include improvements to the pedestrian environment along the selected corridors. The residents of the selected streets will benefit from improved facilities such as upgraded footpaths, dedicated pedestrian crossings etc.

Where are Green Routes being implemented?

Green Routes are being developed in all major Irish cities.

In Cork, 6 of the 10 Green Routes outlined in the Cork Area Strategic Plan (CASP) are fully completed. They have boosted service reliability and helped journey times and have been of significant benefit to customers.

In Dublin, 12 Quality Bus Corridors are now in operation. On average, they have increased customer numbers on QBCs by 38% and have shortened journey times by 40%.

The Stillorgan QBC: A world-wide public transport success story

QBCs have been an outstanding success in Dublin and have revolutionised public transport in the city, since their introduction in 1999.

One of most successful routes is the Stillorgan QBC, which has increased bus passenger numbers by 200% on the route and cut bus journey times to half that of cars. The feedback from customers has been excellent. People find the service very punctual, regular, reliable and fast.

Though the QBC has brought about a reduction in the numbers of cars entering the city, this has not been at the expense of the city’s economic life, as the overall number of people travelling into the city centre has increased.

The Stillorgan QBC has been such an outstanding success that transport operators from the UK, US, Europe and Australia have visited Dublin Bus to see how it’s done.

Green Routes in Limerick

Bus Éireann has welcomed the Green Routes already introduced in Raheen and Caherdavin but indicate that the real benefit of these will only be felt by passengers when they have been extended into the city.

“The Green Route extending from the Raheen roundabout to the Crescent Shopping Centre has resulted in time savings of up to 17 minutes at peak times for bus customers” said Miriam Flynn.

Green route are a vital piece of infrastructure in ensuring the efficient delivery of high frequency bus services for the people of Limerick.