BusConnects Cork - Bus services to increase by over a third under new Network plan

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https://www.nationaltransport.ie/bus-services-in-cork-to-increase-by-over-a-third-under-new-network-plan/

The National Transport Authority (NTA) has today published its Draft New Bus Network for Cork. The redesign of the bus network is one of the nine key elements of

BusConnects Cork that aims to transform the city’s bus system, making public transport more useful to more people.

Under the proposals contained in the new Draft Network Report, the level of bus services in Cork will increase by 36% with shorter waits and more direct routes for commuters within the city. 34% more people will live close to a frequent service.

The proposals will also result in more residents of the city and areas within the Cork Metropolitan Area having access to the public transport network with Little Island, Cobh, Carrigaline, Ringaskiddy, Glanmire, Ballincollig and Blarney among those areas with new routes. 

The redesigned bus network will provide a more coherently planned, higher capacity, more understandable network for those within the Cork Metropolitan Area while paving the way for the future introduction of Luas within the city.

Services will be organised around high frequency routes within the city centre with route branches extending out to our areas of the city. Additional weekend services will also be provided.

Fares will be simplified in a way that will make interchange seamless. Customers will not have to pay extra to change between bus, rail or future Luas services within that 90-minute period.

The new network report being unveiled today has been prepared by Jarrett Walker & Associates, a US based firm which specialises in designing metropolitan public transport systems, in collaboration with Bus Éireann, Cork City Council and Cork County Council.

This follows on from the publication of the Choices Report in July which set out the transport choices that could be used to structure the redesign of the bus network in Cork and the follow-on public consultation. Close to 1200 responses were received as part of the first round of consultation.

Consultation on the draft new bus network launched today will run for six weeks. The redesign will be finalised in the first quarter of 2022 with the new network being rolled out from 2023.

Eamon Ryan, Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications of Ireland, said:

“This is a milestone for the BusConnects project which will make Cork a cleaner, greener and more liveable city. BusConnects in Cork will mean increased services and frequency making it easier for everyone to choose public transport to get around – be it to school, work or anywhere else.

Delivering this project will mean that Cork will have a more efficient and frequent service that people can really rely on to cater for their transport needs.”

Anne Graham, CEO of the NTA, said:

“Cork is a growing city. This brings with it an increasing demand for public transport. Through significant investment over recent years, we’ve seen a 50% growth in public transport usage from 2013 to 2019. However, there is potential to enhance services ever future.

That’s why over the past four months, the NTA has been engaging with the people of Cork in shaping a new bus network that meets their future needs. Their responses have helped to inform the draft new bus network which we’re publishing today as part of BusConnects Cork.

The proposed network will bring vital improvements to how the bus system is organised. It will see a significant increase in bus services within the Cork Metropolitan Area as well as creating new connections to schools, jobs and public services. A simpler network and fare structure will make it easier to get around Cork using public transport.

We’re confident this new network along with the other changes being introduced through BusConnects Cork will make travelling on public transport a convenient and sustainable option for more people across the city.

We want to hear your views on the new network that has been proposed. By taking part in the online consultation process, we can ensure the final network design can support the increase in the number of people using public transport in Cork.”

Stephen Kent, CEO of the Bus Éireann, said:

“We are enthusiastic and excited about the transformation BusConnects means for everyone living, working, studying and socialising in Cork, for the Cork economy and environment. Thinking ‘bus’ instead of ‘car’ positively impacts on quality of life for everyone in Cork, with less congestion, shorter travel times and as new zero / low emission fleet also begin to arrive to fulfil our climate action commitments. Bus Éireann’s experience is that increased frequency of services in Cork quickly results in much greater passenger numbers. 

The new proposed BusConnects network will dramatically change the public transport experience in Cork and bus services can be enhanced comparatively quickly. We look forward to working with the NTA to facilitate and deliver this new future for public transport in Cork over the next two years.”

Michelle Poyourow, Jarrett Walker & Associates said:

“Over the course of the summer, we heard from the people of Cork about their priorities for bus services and how the network could be altered. The close to 1200 responses received have helped to shape the draft network being presented in today’s report.

By simplifying the network and schedules and ensuring shorter waits and more direct routes, we can connect more people across the Cork Metropolitan Area.”

BusConnects Cork is vital to realising the ambition of the Cork Metropolitan Area Transport Strategy developed in connection with Cork City Council and Cork County Council to increase the number of people using public transport in Cork fourfold by 2040.

To take part in the consultation process, visit: https://busconnects.ie/busconnects-cork/. 

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report-on-the-draft-new-network-print-quality.pdf

https://corkdraftnetwork.s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/index.html

Online Information Events

We are holding online information events over the coming weeks, these will be in the form of an information session followed by Q&A with NTA and Jarrett Walker and Associates representatives. To register to attend one of these online information events click on the relevant link below. Further information events may be added subject to demand, updates will be on our website. 

Please register in advance for the information event of your choice by clicking on the link below and providing the requested details, after registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the online information event.

Online Information Event 17 Nov @18.30 https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_3opKXorvRQOP3L1ldcRtSQ

Online Information Event 24 Nov @ 13.30 https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_vXinQOvbRpWYBCD-sjFq9g

Online Information Event 30 Nov @18.30 https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_8T04p6O2QaGsVwG3LQwauA

namloc1980

South Mall and Grand Parade have no buses on them in the new network so almost everything cross city is being funnelled down Patrick Street. They'll have to get serious with Panaban and make it an all day car ban otherwise it'll be total chaos.

The ticketing sounds good:

90 Minute Ticket:

• This fare will cover all bus and rail trips started within 90 minutes.

• You won’t have to pay extra to change between bus to another bus, or from bus to rail, including the future Luas system. 

cgcsb

This is the first time I've seen the proposed light rail referred to as 'luas' in an official document.

cgcsb

Just had a proper review of it. Pretty poor stuff altogether. The numbering system needs a professional person to review. They have the spine and branch number then letter, fine then they break this rule with route 13 for reasons unknown.

Overall the proposals are poor. Only 3 of the spines have a proposed frequency of 10 mins or less. Research shows it's close to impossible to induce modal switch away from cars with PT frequency below 10 mins.

No decent central orbital route. Outer orbitals have frequency of 30 mins to an hour, so flatly useless as a connecting service from the get go.

I don't know Cork that well but on the face of it, looks to be the same/worse than current offering. Certainly its not designed with Ireland 2040 in mind. There's nothing here to promote pt above car usage and nothing to accommodate growth.

namloc1980

Looks like BusConnects in Douglas is dead before it begins thanks to the genius councillors in City Hall sticking their oar in.

https://twitter.com/CllrDesCahil/status/1546808046327840770?t=EjZJlUtkaZz8HyUH-G2Tnw&s=19

PopePalpatine

Gotta love his follow-up:

https://twitter.com/CllrDesCahil/status/1546816580566323206

"Destroying the fabric of the city". Of course, he'll never have to explain that, and he'll get voted back in by his senile base, because naturally anyone whose commute this would improve is far more likely to be outside his constituency.