Bus Stop being built at Parkmore

muppetkiller

Hi all,
This is probably more of a Rant at how utterly incompetent the City Council and their workers are but how on earth can it take nearly 3 months to put in a Bus Stop !
They have Diggers , Trucks about 8 people there yet it's still not done ?
Can anyone remember when this work actually started ? I think It started late November or the first week in December.
At this rate I'd say it's nearly cost a million to put in a single Bus Stop lol.

I'm going to email/write to the City Council and see if we can actually get the cost of this..I'll let you know how I get on.

snubbleste

What is it exactly, a pole in the ground?
Have you asked the workers involved what is going on?


Sure they have put up bus stops and shelters(read advertising signs) on the SeamusQuirke even though there are no scheduled bus services on that particular stretch.

muppetkiller

snubbleste wrote: »

What is it exactly, a pole in the ground?
Have you asked the workers involved what is going on?


Sure they have put up bus stops and shelters(read advertising signs) on the SeamusQuirke even though there are no scheduled bus services on that particular stretch.

They Put in a Bus Shelter on the first week (without the roof) and then proceeded to build a bit of a wall. That was the first month and then the last two months attempting to put the path in that they dug up. Oh I don't think the Bus Shelter has a roof yet so might be another few months before it's ready.

snubbleste

Does it have glass/clear plastic yet? Advertising signs? An actual sign that says 'bus'? What about seating? Does it face south-west? A bin for smoker's pleasure?
So much information missing in the first post.

antoobrien

The problem is the esb/lamp post smack bacng in the middle of where they decided to put the bus stop. This needs to be removed so that the stop can be used safely.

Poor organisation & project management, but then this should have been done several years ago when they repaved the road.

stampydmonkey

antoobrien wrote: »

The problem is the esb/lamp post smack bacng in the middle of where they decided to put the bus stop. This needs to be removed so that the stop can be used safely.

Poor organisation & project management, but then this should have been done several years ago when they repaved the road.

I always thought the actual shelters were paid for by the advertising company that wanted to advertise in them. Still whoever it is, surely the Esb pole was clearly in the way...fools

galah

antoobrien wrote: »

The problem is the esb/lamp post smack bacng in the middle of where they decided to put the bus stop. This needs to be removed so that the stop can be used safely.

Poor organisation & project management, but then this should have been done several years ago when they repaved the road.

I hope you are being sarcastic here...if you're not, then: WTF? move it a few meters to the left, problem solved...

I remember that a bus shelter was requested to facilitate Medtronic, SAP etc when I started working in Parkmore - that's 7 years ago, and still nothing...yet they put a shelter further up, near Briarhill business park - where i've never ever seen anyone using it, ever...

Mrs OBumble

galah wrote: »

yet they put a shelter further up, near Briarhill business park - where i've never ever seen anyone using it, ever...

There is, or at least was, one lad who used it every day. (Just the one, mind )

And I walked up there a few times when I was temping out there and could see that the bus was nowhere it sight.

Still don't understand why the bus doesn't go all the way to the end of Parkmore West though, it would make like so much easier for some of the workers there, for very few extra seconds travel time.

gihj

JustMary wrote: »

There is, or at least was, one lad who used it every day. (Just the one, mind )

And I walked up there a few times when I was temping out there and could see that the bus was nowhere it sight.

Still don't understand why the bus doesn't go all the way to the end of Parkmore West though, it would make like so much easier for some of the workers there, for very few extra seconds travel time.

Haven't seen that lad in the last few months (nice chap mind).
There is the pretty blonde girl who gets on at that stop some days though.
Good idea about the service up to Parkmore west Mary (it would give me even longer to enjoy the beauty of that Gorgeous French girl).;)

lucianot

Facing south of course and I was thinking the same this morning, three months to do this.

antoobrien

galah wrote: »

I hope you are being sarcastic here...if you're not, then: WTF? move it a few meters to the left, problem solved...

Why would I be sarcastic about it? Have you taken a look at it, it's something I see fairly regularly, however the first glance was enough to decry whatever person thought this specific location was acceptable as an incompetent muppet for all eternity.

I'm not sure if it's this one or the next one they're building the shelter at. Either way they're not the easiest things in the world to move.

The real wtf is why the hell couldn't they build it between the poles, it's not as if there isn't room.

galah wrote: »

they put a shelter further up, near Briarhill business park - where i've never ever seen anyone using it, ever...

Stop giving out about my bus shelter. The amount of times, I've gotten on here and seen nobody else on the bus is scary (then again there are about 200 people living on this road, so maybe realistic).

Iwannahurl

Long past time for a bus shelter up there. Is it to be a proper one with Kassel Kerbing and all? If so, might put a stop to buses obstructing the footpath. A non-fiction timetable would be nice too. The #9 route is one of the most successful in the country, reportedly, even as a less than perfect sevice. Current users deserve a better service and new customers might be attracted with improved facilities.

antoobrien

Iwannahurl wrote: »

Current users deserve a better service and new customers might be attracted with improved facilities.

With a 15 minute interval during the day the provisioning/lack thereof of a bus shelter is a bit of a non issue here (it was never an issue in castlepark either on the #3 run) for people using this route. I'd love to know where you think the extra customers are going to come from because anybody likely to use the bus is already doing so.

Iwannahurl

Proper bus stops/shelters ought to be standard. The current level of use, or even the mere existence of the route, is reason enough to do the job properly.

In my experience the service didn't run every 15 minutes as advertised, primarily due to buses being stuck in car traffic, which is just daft. Things may have improved since. In general more people will use PT when it provides advantages equal to or greater than those of the private car, eg when buses can travel freely while motorists are stuck in traffic (bit of a tautology, I know).

antoobrien

Iwannahurl wrote: »

In my experience the service didn't run every 15 minutes as advertised, primarily due to buses being stuck in car traffic, which is just daft. Things may have improved since. In general more people will use PT when it provides advantages equal to or greater than those of the private car, eg when buses can travel freely while motorists are stuck in traffic (bit of a tautology, I know).

What experience, you don't live or work in that neck of the woods (or at least you've claimed so in the past).

You're forgetting one thing about PT - people that are disinclined to walk 500 yards to a bus stop are disinclined to ever remove themselves from the car users pool.

By the way, have you figured out how many people working in Parkmore don't live in areas that are covered by PT. Because judging by the amount heading towards Claregawlay, Carnmore & the motorway I'd guess that it's more than half.

Mrs OBumble

antoobrien wrote: »

With a 15 minute interval during the day the provisioning/lack thereof of a bus shelter is a bit of a non issue here

I'd disagree.

I did a lot of temping in Galway Technology Park, in a role that finished at 5pm. I learned never to go straight out to the bus stop, because I'd miss the 5pm and the 5:15 was almost always late. So I stayed in the warm, dry office until 5:40. However the folks who worked in other places, especially Rehab, apparently didn't have the same option or insight: there would regularly be a dozen or more standing in the rain for half an hour. Very uncool, especially given how exhaused the Rehab workers looked at the end of the day.

muppetkiller

antoobrien wrote: »

I'd love to know where you think the extra customers are going to come from because anybody likely to use the bus is already doing so.

The medical crowd (Merrick Medical I think) are opening their building soon and that is adding another 300 people I think.

antoobrien

muppetkiller wrote: »

The medical crowd (Merrick Medical I think) are opening their building soon and that is adding another 300 people I think.

that a new factory or moving the existing one (can't remember what they announced)?

Iwannahurl

JustMary wrote: »

I'd disagree.

I did a lot of temping in Galway Technology Park, in a role that finished at 5pm. I learned never to go straight out to the bus stop, because I'd miss the 5pm and the 5:15 was almost always late. So I stayed in the warm, dry office until 5:40. However the folks who worked in other places, especially Rehab, apparently didn't have the same option or insight: there would regularly be a dozen or more standing in the rain for half an hour. Very uncool, especially given how exhaused the Rehab workers looked at the end of the day.

When I worked in that neck of the woods a few years ago, I used to take the bus during very inclement weather, partly as an experiment in inter-modal commuting. I bought a folding bike, cycled to Eyre Square/JFK Park and took the #9 from there. Once or twice a driver tried to stop me getting on because BE policy is that they don't carry bikes, even though mine folded like a baby's buggy.

On the return journey the bus was often late, mostly because of traffic, and it's not pleasant to have to stand in the rain. A shelter and a seat ought to be provided as standard, IMO. Galway's PT will eventually reach 21st Century European standards I hope.

what_traffic

antoobrien wrote: »

With a 15 minute interval during the day the provisioning/lack thereof of a bus shelter is a bit of a non issue here (it was never an issue in castlepark either on the #3 run) for people using this route. I'd love to know where you think the extra customers are going to come from because anybody likely to use the bus is already doing so.

Two daft sentences.

muppetkiller

antoobrien wrote: »

that a new factory or moving the existing one (can't remember what they announced)?

It's a new Factory as far as I'm aware. Now all we need is somewhere with a bit of Quality Food to eat out here and we'll be set

Mrs OBumble

New passengers from ...


Ahh, have you read the bioware thread?

antoobrien

JustMary wrote: »

New passengers from ...


Ahh, have you read the bioware thread?

they not on stream already? (that's what I get the impression of anyways)

antoobrien

what_traffic wrote: »

Two daft sentences.

do tell

galah

antoobrien wrote: »

Why would I be sarcastic about it? Have you taken a look at it, it's something I see fairly regularly, however the first glance was enough to decry whatever person thought this specific location was acceptable as an incompetent muppet for all eternity.

I'm not sure if it's this one or the next one they're building the shelter at. Either way they're not the easiest things in the world to move.

The real wtf is why the hell couldn't they build it between the poles, it's not as if there isn't room.



Stop giving out about my bus shelter. The amount of times, I've gotten on here and seen nobody else on the bus is scary (then again there are about 200 people living on this road, so maybe realistic).

you misunderstood me -wasnt having a go at you but at the incompetence of city planners yet again - if there's a pole at the proposed bus stop location, move the bus stop, obviously, not the pole. that's what the WTF is about - are theyeriously removing the pole instead of moving the bus shelter??

antoobrien

galah wrote: »

you misunderstood me -wasnt having a go at you but at the incompetence of city planners yet again - if there's a pole at the proposed bus stop location, move the bus stop, obviously, not the pole. that's what the WTF is about - are theyeriously removing the pole instead of moving the bus shelter??

Looks that way, take a look the next time you're passing.

I'm kinda wondering wny they're bothering with a shelter tbh. Any time it's been wet when I've used the one down at the monivea rd I got totally soaked.

factual lies

antoobrien wrote: »

that a new factory or moving the existing one (can't remember what they announced)?

Merit medical already have a building in Parkmore. With extra investment in the its Galway Plant it was decided that the company would build a second building in the area as the grounds of the first building isn't big enough for the size of extension needed to meet current demands.

It's a bit like Medtronic, seeing as they have 4 buildings it that location alone, or, Creganna who have 3 buildings.

lucianot

Just saw the orange cones being removed so it's ready now! I thought Mr. President would do the honours.

Stevolende

This may be the wrong place to post this, and maybe it should get a thread of its own.
I've been wondering why the 3 bus now goes an extra useless whatever distance down to the motorway roundabout instead of getting the Parkmore part of the route added.
Reason for its recent change has been the change of the intersection facing the Ballybrit shopping centre from a roundabout to a crossroads.
This means that instead of just going around the roundabout that was there for years and back down the citybound route it instead has to go down to a roundabout that seems quite a distance down and has no stops on(being near motorway).
Would think that a practical suggestion would be to get it to go across the intersection and cover some of the area there. Or is this ruled out because it would nearly duplicate the 9 route? There must be people stranded out in that end section for ages waiting on 9s cos Doughiska road seems to have a very intermittent service at times.

Mrs OBumble

Stevolende wrote: »

I've been wondering why the 3 bus now goes an extra useless whatever distance down to the motorway roundabout instead of getting the Parkmore part of the route added.
...
Would think that a practical suggestion would be to get it to go across the intersection and cover some of the area there. Or is this ruled out because it would nearly duplicate the 9 route? There must be people stranded out in that end section for ages waiting on 9s cos Doughiska road seems to have a very intermittent service at times.

:-)

We had posts about this before, in the Lynch RAB removal thread, I think.

Seems to me that these were options to turn the bus around:

• Parkmore RAB,
• Briarhill Business park,
• the airport(or nearby),
• Coolagh RAB (ie the motorway end),
• loop around Old Ballybrit Rd).

They chose the one option that benefits no one at all, except their diseal vendor. No idea why. :rolleyes:

snubbleste

Did you ever write in to BÉ about that JustMary?

galwaycyclist

snubbleste wrote: »

Did you ever write in to BÉ about that JustMary?

Not BE's decision. As far as I know these things get decided by someone in the National Transport Authority (who are also tasked with guidance on cycling).

what_traffic

galwaycyclist wrote: »

Not BE's decision. As far as I know these things get decided by someone in the National Transport Authority (who are also tasked with guidance on cycling).

Thats true, presume BE would have to put in the request to change the route? BE would have known back in June/July 2011 that Roundabout was going.

antoobrien

JustMary wrote: »

:-)

We had posts about this before, in the Lynch RAB removal thread, I think.

Seems to me that these were options to turn the bus around:

• Parkmore RAB,
• Briarhill Business park,
• the airport(or nearby),
• Coolagh RAB (ie the motorway end),
• loop around Old Ballybrit Rd).

They chose the one option that benefits no one at all, except their diseal vendor. No idea why. :rolleyes:

Seeing as there is a bus stop at coynes shop at the top of doughiska, I'd have thought it would make most sense to revert to the original castlepark route (i.e. where it goes on the way back).

I know plenty of people that walk from the meadows down to get the #9 anyways (no #3 around as they're passing the stops).

muppetkiller

lucianot wrote: »

Just saw the orange cones being removed so it's ready now! I thought Mr. President would do the honours.

Far from ready my friend.. they've been there again all morning digging up more footpath further down. Looks like they damaged the ESB cables. Diggers and trucks are parked up on the Road. Oh and I don't think it has a roof yet either lol.

galwaycyclist

muppetkiller wrote: »

Far from ready my friend.. they've been there again all morning digging up more footpath further down. Looks like they damaged the ESB cables. Diggers and trucks are parked up on the Road. Oh and I don't think it has a roof yet either lol.

I have just twigged what the problem might be. There have been previous issues where BE drivers have refused to use new bus shelters where they are not positioned at exactly the same place as the old bus stop. (I am not joking).

Likely it was decided that it would be easier to move the ESB pole than get BE to use a bus shelter that had moved the stop 10 metres.

Loath though I am to admit it, my sympathy would be with the city council on this one.

Iwannahurl

Groan. It's enough to make you lose the will.

Anything about the bus drivers' objections in the media at the time?

what_traffic

muppetkiller wrote: »

Oh and I don't think it has a roof yet either lol.

Still no roof on it. Looks like rest of the works are finished.

Mrs OBumble

galwaycyclist wrote: »

I have just twigged what the problem might be. There have been previous issues where BE drivers have refused to use new bus shelters where they are not positioned at exactly the same place as the old bus stop. (I am not joking).

Likely it was decided that it would be easier to move the ESB pole than get BE to use a bus shelter that had moved the stop 10 metres.

In fairness, bus-stop locations have to be signed of by the garda, as part of an application for approval by the NTA.

Technically if a bus driver stops at anything other than an approval application, they are breaking the law, possibly not insured, and possibly at risk of losing their job.

Given that bus route changes were announced to be imminent in June 2010, but then delayed because the NTA was busy with Dublin Bus changes, it may well have been easier to move the pole.

antoobrien

JustMary wrote: »

Given that bus route changes were announced to be imminent in June 2010, but then delayed because the NTA was busy with Dublin Bus changes, it may well have been easier to move the pole.

If that's true then one would have to question the wisdom of centralising such decisions in Dublin.

Mrs OBumble

antoobrien wrote: »

If that's true then one would have to question the wisdom of centralising such decisions in Dublin.

In most countries, local councils have responsibility for public transport. And there are clear mechanism for citizens to request changes.

RoI isn't most countries. :rolleyes:

what_traffic

antoobrien wrote: »

If that's true then one would have to question the wisdom of centralising such decisions in Dublin.

Good point. Why should NTA (i.e the old "Dublin Transportation Office") be doing this

antoobrien

what_traffic wrote: »

muppetkiller wrote: »

Oh and I don't think it has a roof yet either lol.

Still no roof on it. Looks like rest of the works are finished.

The stop is in operation, so the buses are no longer either blocking the road or up on the footpath.

The roof is still missing from the shelter.

Doc Ruby

antoobrien wrote: »

If that's true then one would have to question the wisdom of centralising such decisions in Dublin.

Having seen the magnificent achievements the local authority has managed with the little power it has, I have to say I'm comfortable with centralised power in Dublin.

Now if we could fire them/punish them for incompetence that would be a different story.

muppetkiller

Ya I genuinely think they have forgotten about the roof lol.

kippy

A few points.
1. That job seems to have been very poorly planned. As people have pointed out, if one pole is causing the issues, surely this is something that could have been picked up at the planning phase. This should only be a two week job at most. It's not a major piece of infrastructure.
2. A shelter there is almost pointless. You'd be well soaked if you worked in the most western point of Parkmore and had to walk to the shelter anyway - or else you'd have an umbrella in which case a shelter wouldnt be of much benefit.
3. For one of the key industrial estates in the city where probably upwards of 4000 (if not more) people work, I am really surprised that it isnt better served by public transport or buses in general. I believe only one route passes through there. The route does not go into the estate itself. I can see that it could get caught up in estate traffic if it did but it kinda ends up in estate traffic anyway. There should be a route right to the end of the estate with one or two more stops.
4. I'm not sure of its status but I know the other estate (HP and Boston are in it) arent served by public buses either (although I think HP have a bus service)

There is a lot wrong with public transport in the city but the tardiness of this one bus shelter job does not bode well for any improvements. Nor does the almost total lack of route planning for estates where large amounts of people work.

what_traffic

kippy wrote: »

A few points.
1. That job seems to have been very poorly planned. As people have pointed out, if one pole is causing the issues, surely this is something that could have been picked up at the planning phase. This should only be a two week job at most. It's not a major piece of infrastructure.
2. A shelter there is almost pointless. You'd be well soaked if you worked in the most western point of Parkmore and had to walk to the shelter anyway - or else you'd have an umbrella in which case a shelter wouldnt be of much benefit.
3. For one of the key industrial estates in the city where probably upwards of 4000 (if not more) people work, I am really surprised that it isnt better served by public transport or buses in general. I believe only one route passes through there. The route does not go into the estate itself. I can see that it could get caught up in estate traffic if it did but it kinda ends up in estate traffic anyway. There should be a route right to the end of the estate with one or two more stops.
4. I'm not sure of its status but I know the other estate (HP and Boston are in it) arent served by public buses either (although I think HP have a bus service)

There is a lot wrong with public transport in the city but the tardiness of this one bus shelter job does not bode well for any improvements. Nor does the almost total lack of route planning for estates where large amounts of people work.

Very good points made here Kippy especially point 3. Could easily be done for both Parkmore West and East.

MaxFlower

kippy wrote: »

There should be a route right to the end of the estate with one or two more stops.

It must be frustrating for users of this service to see the bus parked up at the bus stop for many minutes when that time could be spent zipping in to collect passengers (especially in the weather we get).

I wouldn't mind but from what I can remember of Parkmore, it is straight forward for a bus to navigate.

what_traffic

Still no roof.

lucianot

Habemus roofus.
Since this same evening.