BusConnects Dublin - Bus Network Changes Discussion

p_haugh

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120265874#Comment_120265874

Yep that makes sense, upon looking at the map again I can see that now. The "existing network" bus connects map treats the 65 the same as peak/expresso services so only shows the route as far as Tallaght before saying "65 - to City Center".

AngryLips

I think the Liffey Valley bus station was meant to be the first of many - where's next and what's the status on those? Will there be one for the much-needed city centre?

mikeybhoy

That Liffey Valley plaza looks really good. I wonder are the driver facilities provided there shared for both GAI and DB drivers to use?

d51984

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120267182#Comment_120267182

I would say so as its a NTA project no?

mikeybhoy

Video of the plaza in action https://youtu.be/hBUoLWoDKw4

mikeybhoy

Deleted

LXFlyer

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120267107#Comment_120267107

There are similar interchanges planned for Blanchardstown SC, The Square in Tallaght and UCD.

Beyond that we will have to wait and see, as space will dictate what’s possible, but I’ve seen no plans for other locations as yet.

Nothing is planned for the city centre - people will interchange between spines at the existing stops around O’Connell Bridge.

mikeybhoy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120267396#Comment_120267396

Plenty of space for one in Dun Laoghaire in the old ferry terminal

bk

I remember the BRT Swiftway plan included a sort of similar bus interchange on Westmoreland St and D’olier. A pity it never happened, I’m pretty certain they will be dusting that plan off over the next 10 years!

This looks fantastic, great to see real change starting happen. I know there is so much more to do, but I hope the first steps like this can show the real change that will come to most of Dublin with BusConnects.

dfx-

I travelled through it this evening. Good for drivers to have facilities but also found it sorely lacking in provisions for waiting passengers.

Hopefully latter versions improve on that count.

BlueSkyDreams

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120267570#Comment_120267570

Hopefully they will do something a little more cutting edge with the terminal than create a bus garage.

I liked the tech centre idea, but I think that never really got off the ground sadly.

p_haugh

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120268142#Comment_120268142

There should be an electronic departure screen at either end showing departures for all stands, similar to those found in DCU and UCD. And a map of the bus stops that each service departs from.

Maybe even have the N4 services on these screens?

p_haugh

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120267107#Comment_120267107

Not officially bus connects, but I believe DLR and the NTA are looking into how to upgrade the current Dundrum Luas terminus, as part of a bigger dundrum/balinteer scheme in the near future.

As of now, there is a newly built layby on the bypass for the L25/74 to terminate

https://twitter.com/OConnorOisin/status/1627742449647976453?t=aS0yEQ2FTT-LxGIPAcziew&s=19

LXFlyer

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120268232#Comment_120268232

Well let's be honest, I don't think that space is going to allow for anything like a Liffey Valley style bus terminus at Dundrum LUAS. It's exceptionally cramped, and poor sight lines make getting out of the existing terminus onto Taney Road directly impossible without a signalised junction.

That's before you deal with the general traffic in the area and the nonsenical loop that departing route 14 buses have to take due to the Main Street being one way.

I am skeptical to say the least about this.

In fact there will now be two separate termini, 150m apart, and separated by the Main Street, due to the volume of buses involved.

LXFlyer

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120268142#Comment_120268142

Out of curiousity, what do you think it's lacking?

LXFlyer

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120268164#Comment_120268164

Isn't the ferry terminal due to be converted to co-working space?

It's been pushed back to this year apparently.

https://afloat.ie/port-news/dun-laoghaire-news/item/54963-green-light-for-dun-laoghaire-s-old-ferry-terminal-as-quarterdeck-co-worker-space-to-open-later-this-year

Bsharp

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120265477#Comment_120265477

Different clients I reckon.

Its an out of town shopping centre where the vast amount of money spent is by car visitors. Your example is this being played out in design terms.

The car park entrances still have roundabouts with priority given to motorists; no raised tables with zebra crossings means cars can enter and exit more easily. That's not an NTA driven approach.

Priority has ended up bus, car, pedestrian then cyclist from what I gather. Its not NIIFTI, but wouldn't fancy CPOing a shopping centre car park.

Better than it was for all modes at Liffey Valley but shows we've a long way to go.

Bsharp

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120268406#Comment_120268406

Agreed, there definitely isn' the space in Dundrum. There's also a need to overcome a high volume of pedestrians and cyclists in the area so their desire lines need to be maintained somehow. A few thousand more apartments proposed for the area with low parking provision too.

Reckon the bus stop provision will be disaggregated, as shown by the latest work, as alot of the routes overlap before dundrum. Balancing ped/cycle priority with the need to keep buses moving will be a challenge.

cgcsb

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120268434#Comment_120268434

Our planning system in theory applies across all development, private or not. I'm more highlighting the absurdity of the fully signalled crossing for a one way cycle lane

LXFlyer

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120268526#Comment_120268526

Just to make things even worse, I gather that those bus stops where those traffic lights are, aren’t for public use, but are bus stands for buses to lay over at between journeys rather than at the bus plaza.

The only people using them will be bus drivers.

It beggars belief.

john boye

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120267107#Comment_120267107

I thought college Green could have been useful for a bus interchange instead of the plaza proposal. Obviously you'd still need to direct some routes away from it as there wouldn't be enough space for everything.

d51984

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120268142#Comment_120268142

What would you like to see added? Im hearing there's a company going to be putting a few vending machines in.

p_haugh

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120268406#Comment_120268406

Yes 100%, it's quite a constrained site overall

thomasj

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120268415#Comment_120268415

Could do with a telephone box like some of the old Cityswift bus shelters! lol!

Seriously though, anything that could help cut down the dwell time with people queueing to pay using coins etc and interacting with drivers etc.

A vending machine, that users can check balance and topup their leap cards with. a far fetched one but maybe the option to buy prepaid tickets for specific locations. all of this to get people to change habits from coins to account and prepaid tickets

Bsharp

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120268981#Comment_120268981

That's not the case. The design intention was for drop off, to facilitate passengers changing between orbital services in the morning onto the C spine services which would make sense when changing from to a more frequent service and in a rush.

I can't see that traffic light on the cycle path lasting. The other two were taking down. It's a good lesson before they're rolled out CBC wide. Can't imagine local authorities fancy maintaining them all and costs will balloon as they try to connect all the additional poles in urban streets full of existing services. BusConnects would need an enabling services contract at that rate.

noelfirl

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120269664#Comment_120269664

But presuming that intention would only apply for the interim phase while the existing bus stops/bridge are in use? Does anyone know if they've been used in that intention yet?

LXFlyer

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120269664#Comment_120269664

Fair enough, which would make a lot of sense, but is that actually happening?

As I understand it stop 8029 is being used as the set down stop at the plaza, and then buses are then proceeding to the stand where the traffic lights are across the cycle lane (via the first roundabout) to lay over until just before their departure time, when they then go around the next roundabout and return to the plaza to their designated stop to pick up and start their next journey.

Thanks for posting that!

bk

LOL, I've an image in my head of blind bus drivers crossing the bike path! :D

The location could do with a Leap card TVM, like they have at the Irish Rail and Luas stops.

BTW Mahon Point Shopping Center in Cork, which has a smaller scale version of something like this, has a Leap card machine that just lets you check balance, receive topups, etc. but doesn't sell actual leap cards. Unfortunately the machine appaears to be broken or switched off most of the time I pass it!

And as others have mentioned, perhaps some food/drink vending machines, a pay phone (and free wifi) and of course an NTA infoamrtion screen showing the different routes in the area and which stand you should go to (this could also double as a ticket less Leap card balance check/topup machine).

In future it might be an idea to integrate the space for a little coffee shop, you know ones that are just a counter, like you get in some rail stations. Could have a toilet or two in the back for passengers. They could perhaps put one of those horse cart coffee shops on site, but it would be nicer to integrate it from the start.

Could help improve security at the site and facility at the site for passengers, while earning a little money.

thomasj

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120267107#Comment_120267107

i loled when i read this in the TFI article on the new liffey valley interchange

https://www.transportforireland.ie/news/new-e20m-busconnects-bus-plaza-opens-at-liffey-valley-shopping-centre/

"The bus plaza facilitates accessibility through proximity and free plaza with the TFI 90 Minute Fare and links to existing bus services in Blanchardstown."

dfx-

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120268415#Comment_120268415

As others have said, a vending machine or two, a toilet or two, maps of routes, stands and directions to the C-Spine and its connections and of the interchange itself. Cold metal seats are fine in Summer but winter...

Last night was calm but on a wet and windy night it could do with more protection from the elements. Fully enclosed waiting areas would be good.