Dublin Bus routes 3 / 16a

markpb

After sitting in glorious Beaumont for half an hour today trying to get through one junction and having a gent in DCC traffic telling me conditions were 'light' at weekends, it occurred to me that Beaumont could be better handled by the #3 bus.

If DB ran the #3 from Larkhill, across the Swords road on Collins Avenue, around a counter-clockwise loop of Beaumont and then back down the Shantalla slip onto the Swords road it wouldn't get stuck in the same traffic the 16s do at the moment. It would also leave the 16/16A to have a relatively straight run from the airport/Santry into the city centre. There's no point pretending this is a local bus service - my 16A was so packed this morning (on a Saturday) that no-one in Beaumont could get on anyway.

Any thoughts?

Heart

Sounds good, why not send it in to DB as a suggestion... nothing to lose...

H

John R

markpb wrote: »

After sitting in glorious Beaumont for half an hour today trying to get through one junction and having a gent in DCC traffic telling me conditions were 'light' at weekends, it occurred to me that Beaumont could be better handled by the #3 bus.

If DB ran the #3 from Larkhill, across the Swords road on Collins Avenue, around a counter-clockwise loop of Beaumont and then back down the Shantalla slip onto the Swords road it wouldn't get stuck in the same traffic the 16s do at the moment. It would also leave the 16/16A to have a relatively straight run from the airport/Santry into the city centre. There's no point pretending this is a local bus service - my 16A was so packed this morning (on a Saturday) that no-one in Beaumont could get on anyway.

Any thoughts?

Surely it would get stuck in the opposite direction same as the city bound 16/A does.

Perhaps eliminate the right turn from Beaumont Rd to Collins Ave.

Run all the 16 group to Dublin Airport avoiding the Beaumont loop and put on a decent frequency to the 51A to serve the Beaumont area, diverting it to the current 16 terminus. 51A is currently a ghost service but it does serve several roads that nothing else does, there must be potential for traffic on them with a decent service particularly if it is combined with other areas that generate decent passenger numbers.


Of course if the damn DOT would give the licence for the 141 there would be less crowding on the 16/A and far less people would have to put up with the Beaumont traffic.

markpb

John R wrote: »

Surely it would get stuck in the opposite direction same as the city bound 16/A does.

The opposite direction seems to be much better flowing which is why the 16As go that way in the morning between 7 and 9. The only problem is that the turn from Swords road to Collins ave can be quite bad in the evening but in that case the outbound buses could run up the swords road, clockwise around Beaumont and across to Larkhill.

Run all the 16 group to Dublin Airport avoiding the Beaumont loop and put on a decent frequency to the 51A to serve the Beaumont area, diverting it to the current 16 terminus. 51A is currently a ghost service but it does serve several roads that nothing else does, there must be potential for traffic on them with a decent service particularly if it is combined with other areas that generate decent passenger numbers.

That does seem to be a much better solution but only if it can run counter clockwise so it avoids the same Beaumont/Collins junction that holds the 16s. I'm not sure what Gracepark road is like in the mornings though, it could be problematic.

Of course if the damn DOT would give the licence for the 141 there would be less crowding on the 16/A and far less people would have to put up with the Beaumont traffic.

It might help a little but a lot could be done with what's available at the moment. I wonder would DB consider applying for a license for the 141 from near the airport instead of from Swords and, later on, ask for an extension to Swords?

trellheim

didn't the 20b use to serve Beaumount to SSG ?

markpb

It terminates SSG in the morning and Eden Quay after that. The problem is that it gets badly held up both at Beaumont/Collins and again at Collins/Malahide so the 16A can be quickly getting into town, especially because it runs counter-clockwise in the mornings.

clongriffin128

A few ideas here, see what people think of them:

16/A: Skip Beaumont Loop, both to and from the Airport. Every 8mins (or greater all day)

20A: Town (or Heuston possibly), Fairview, Donnycarney, Collins Avenue, Beaumont Road, Shantalla Road, Swords Road, Santy (16 Terminus). (Every20mins)

20B: Town, Fairview, Donnycarney, Kilmore Road, Skelly's Lane, Beaumont Hospital, Kilbarron Road, Castletimon. (Every 20mins)

27B: Not via Beaumont Hospital or Castletimon

Could also run 20B down Ardlea Road, Kilmore Road, Skelly's Lane etc... and run the 27B via Oscar Traynor Road, then Kilbarron Road etc...

41: Not via Airport.

230/102: 20/30 mins service. Possibly could have one service as present via rivervalley and a 231 via Naul Road, Leas Cross, Swords Manor, Glen Ellan, Pavillions, then as 230.

Could also possibly think of running the 41 via the M1 until the airport leaving the 41C serving Swords Road. Or why not run both of them down M1 and have an extended 230/102 serving Airport and then terminating at Omni Park, serving a complete loop of Swords. (every 30mins)

Noopti

Beaumont Hospital has a bad enough service as it is without taking the 27b off the route.

clongriffin128

But a rerouted 20B would be a more direct service to Beaumont Hospital.

Noopti

That is true, sorry, missed that suggestion in your post.

If they had a 20b running through the hospital every 20 mins, then that would certainly make up for a lack of the 27b.

markpb

If I had my way, there'd be no buses through that hospital till they sort their roads and stops out. There's a litany of problems including roads that are barely wide enough for two buses to meet, 90 degree bends so buses can't make it round without crossing the centre line, parking of taxies at the bus stop forcing drivers to drive on the grass median, chaotic parking on Trim road making it awkward for buses to turn. DB know about all those problems but can't do anything and Beaumont don't care because they get their bus service anyway.

Dub13

clongriffin128 wrote: »

41: Not via Airport.

Thats crazy...the amount of people who use the 41 to go into the airport.

bk

John R wrote: »

Run all the 16 group to Dublin Airport avoiding the Beaumont loop and put on a decent frequency to the 51A to serve the Beaumont area, diverting it to the current 16 terminus. 51A is currently a ghost service but it does serve several roads that nothing else does, there must be potential for traffic on them with a decent service particularly if it is combined with other areas that generate decent passenger numbers.

Yes the situation with the 51A is crazy.

I live along Gracepark Road, it is an area with many housing estates and recently an awful lot of apartments have been built or about to be built. It has a very high catchement and density, yet basically no bus service on it. Everyone just makes the long trek over to the Drumcondra/Swords Rd to get a bus.

I can't understand why the 3 has a proper service when for the most part it serves a unique area smaller then Gracepark Road and Beaumont.

With a small bit of re-routing and way more timetabled services, it could be a very successful route serving a completely unserviced area of the city.

Dub13

Is Gracepark Road not a big traffic jam at rush hour...?certinaly no room for a even a cycle lane never mind a bus lane.

bk

Dub13 wrote: »

Is Gracepark Road not a big traffic jam at rush hour...?certinaly no room for a even a cycle lane never mind a bus lane.

Yes, but not particularly worse then anywhere else and no excuse for not running a bus service. Also it is fine off peak, ironically the 51a actually only runs at rush hour :rolleyes:

KC61

I think that the whole Airport routes needs to be reviewed. Personally I would do the following:

1) Remove the 41 from the Airport altogether - route direct to/from Swords Manor

2) Remove the 16/16A from Beaumont, routing direct along Swords Road and remove the 16 from Santry estate to extend to the Airport and re-route it to the Airport, and extend the 16A at the southern end to Dundrum LUAS Stop.

The combined frequency of 10 minutes off-peak and 5 minutes peak. Operate the route 24 hours a day (hourly at night - circular route at southern end).

3) Operate the 746 24 hours a day (hourly at night) - gives 30 minute service between the city and Airport through the night.

4) Operate the 747 Airlink until 0130 and from 0430.

5) Merge the 230/102 and re-route via Pinnock Hill and Swords Village - avoiding River Valley - increase to 20 minute frequency

5) Create new route linking Dublin Airport with Swords Manor via River Valley and Glen Ellan - 20 minute frequency

6) Upgrade the 51A to full service and re-route to terminate at Shanard Road

7) Introduce 20A from City Centre via route 20B to Beaumont and then to Dublin Airport at a 30 minute frequency - maintains a link between Beaumont and the Airport.

8) Extend 33A and 33B to Dublin Airport and provide a 30 minute frequency on both linking the Airport with North County Dublin.

9) Introduce the 141 linking Swords with the South City Centre along the old Swords Road, Drumcondra and Gardiner Street.

This then means:
All Swords/City services operate direct along the old Airport Road by-passing the Airport;

The 16/16a become routes of equal length (improving gaps in service) and the primary stopping route to/from the Airport;

Dedicated separate local services from the Airport to Swords, to Malahide/Portmarnock/Sutton and Howth, and to North County Dublin;

24 bus services to/from the Airport;

Adequate services in the Santry and Beaumont areas