BusConnects Dublin - Bus Network Changes Discussion

Details of the BusConnects plan here:
https://www.nationaltransport.ie/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/BusConnects_Brochure_Final.pdf

While there is more detail to come (network redesign), I have to say overall it is all very welcome. It reads like pretty much everything we want to see from a modern, efficient bus service.

The main goals are:

- building a network of “next generation†bus corridors on the
busiest bus routes to make bus journeys faster, predictable
and reliable;

- introducing Bus Rapid Transit, a higher quality of bus system,
on three of the busiest corridors;

- completely redesigning the network of bus routes to provide
a more efficient network, connecting more places and
carrying more passengers;

- developing a state-of-the-art ticketing system using credit
and debit cards or mobile phones to link with payment
accounts and making payment much more convenient;

- implementing a cashless payment system to vastly speed up
passenger boarding times;

- revamping the fare system to provide a simpler fare
structure, allowing seamless movement between different
transport services without financial penalty;

- implementing a new bus livery providing a modern look and
feel to the new bus system;

- rolling out new bus stops with better signage and
information and increasing the provision of additional bus
shelters; and

- transitioning - starting now - to a new bus fleet using low-
emission vehicle technologies.

Only the third point above is affected by the network review, which doesn't seem to include the 3 new BRT routes, nor the core 11 QBC routes:

Our objective is to develop these eleven radial bus corridors
and three orbital bus corridors so that each will have continuous
bus priority – in other words, a continuous bus lane in each
direction. This “next generation†of bus corridors will deliver a
transformation in the performance of these routes, making it
easier and quicker for you to come and go by bus, whether your
journey is related to your job, your studies, or your social life and
family life.

....

Achieving this will, in some instances, require a widening of
the road and changes to parking arrangements, but the end
result will not just be better services for bus passengers, but will
benefit all users of the corridor.

Very welcome. We have seen how the bus gate has benefited us and how widening the road at the Cat & Cage in Drumcondra was a massive success. More such projects and removal of onstreet car parking to give more space and priority to buses is highly welcome.

BTW for the planned Radial route that runs along Griffith Avenue, I don't know why they don't have it continuing along the Eastern end of Griffith Avenue.

On ticketing:

This will require a move to either a “tag-on†and “tag-off†facility,
similar to Luas and DART, or a single “flat fare†approach in
order to reduce the need to interact with the driver for fare
payments.

Haha, it feels like the authors of this report are literally reading my mind. I have to send the NTA my consultancy fee

On the new bus livery:

I do understand then need for a Neutral, non DB livery, however I have to say I hate the look of the new NTA livery as shown in this document.

On bus stops:

All operators will adopt this style and the current assortment of poles at multi-operator stops will be removed.

Very welcome.

On low emission buses:

The exact low emission technology remains to be determined.
Research is currently on-going into electric bus solutions, with
the technology evolving rapidly and several manufacturers now
bringing different vehicle options to market. Compressed natural
gas / biogas are relatively mature technologies which are now
extensively available to bus fleets.

As part of the BusConnects project, a decision on the optimum
fleet technology will be made by the end of 2017, and either
a single technology or a combination will be selected. A fleet
acquisition plan will be developed to transition the bus fleet to
low emission vehicle types, with the first vehicles under that
strategy to go into service during 2018.
By 2023 half of the bus fleet, approximately 500 buses, will
be converted to low emission vehicles. Full conversion will be
completed by 2030.

The document also mentions more RTPI screens.

Overall the whole document seems to be describing exactly what we want. I hope they can implement most or all of it.

lxflyer wrote: »

The network review is only starting now. Until we see what that suggests, we don't know if they will or will not be included. What we are promised is that the entire network is going to be redesigned.

Having just read the BusConnects document, I'd have to say that the majority of changes in it are independent of the network review.

It is clear that the 3 BRT routes and 11 core routes and the road works to improve them are pretty much set in stone with just minor adjustments. The rest of the network review is about how to design the rest of the network around BRT, Luas and these core routes.

The other improvements have nothing to do with the network redesign, contactless leap, cash fares going away, no driver interaction, new livery, low emission buses, new bus stops, etc.

Tae laidir wrote: »

So, it appears that Leap Cards, introduced on 1st November 2014, has a fatal flaw, as it doesn't allow Tag-on / Tag-off, and it will be retired.
According to news reports at the time, the project cost €55 million.
Anyone from the PAC reading?

Nowhere does this article say anything about that. tag-on /tag-off works fine on all leap card on Luas and DART and tag-on is already widely supported on DB.

The lack of tag-off on buses is more down to the single door nature of much of the fleet and perhaps the old age of the ticket machines which are much older then leap and very underpowered.

Having said that I'm pretty certain that tag-off could be introduced on even single door buses, though flat fare, tag on only would be preferable.

lxflyer wrote: »

Treat that document as an introduction to the project, rather than the final decided output, that's all I was suggesting.

I agree completely, great comment. However I think the whole document is well worth discussing, which is why I've started a new thread to discuss it overall and not just the Network Review, which is just one important element of it.

lxflyer wrote: »

The core radial routes are indeed set already, but how the bus route network that runs along them is designed isn't - bus routes could change along those corridors.

Just on this point, you are absolutely correct that the Network Review will decide what routes use these corridors, but I think people are missing a more significant point from this document. That they plan to significantly upgrade all these routes, with a fully contiguous bus lanes, road widening works, removing onstreet car parking, dedicated cycle lane off the bus lane and other bus priority measures.

These changes are VERY significant, if done well they could significantly speed up which ever routes are decided to use these corridors.

lxflyer wrote: »

Regarding the bus priority measures, again the devil will be in the detail. I still have nagging doubts that they can deliver fully segregated cycle lanes and 100% bus lanes along every corridor.

Sure, it will be though, but if it was easy we would have done it years ago.

However even small changes can have big effects, even if you don't get to quite 100%. The Cat & Cage in Drumcondra is an example of it. That change is only about 100 meters long of the length of the bus corridor, yet it easily wiped 10 to 15 minutes off the journey time. And pretty much proved such changes are well worth making.

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

Should the initiative really be called DublinConnect?

Obviously the plan is a Dublin focused one, but it is a primarily a Bus focused one and not really focused on Luas, Dart, etc. for a change, so DublinConnects wouldn't make sense.

However having said that, some of the changes should certainly apply across the country, for instance Leap accepting contactless debit cards and mobile payment. Also hopefully some of the concepts can be proven in Dublin and will eventually be implemented in the rest of the country too.

mickmmc, I'm not sure what your point is?

We all know that such upgrades will require CPO's and thus cash to make them happen.

We spent hundreds of millions on Luas and billions on Motorways, much of which was spent on CPO's. So I don't see what he issue would be with spending a couple of million on CPO's for improved bus lanes to help improve the form of transport that carries the most people in Dublin by a massive margin!

It would finally be a welcome investment and a recognition that buses need their own dedicated infrastructure and not just a line painted on a road.

I see the Cat & Cage upgrade as a test ballon for this concept. It required significant money to achieve and a CPO, but has resulted in fantastic results from what I can see.

I think it has proven the concept that it is worth CPO'ing land and remove onstreet parking space to improve bus infrastructure at least along the key corridors.

Stephen15 wrote: »

Tbh boarding and disembarking should be allowed at both the front and middle doors. In an ideal world there would be three doors with passengers getting on and off at all three doors. There should also be multiple validators inside the bus and validation should be done while the bus is in motion.

Yup pretty common throughout Europe for the past 40 or 50 years!

Before smart cards, you just bought a book of tickets from the local shop. You validated the ticket by tearing one off and the machine stamped the date and time on it. You then typically have 60 or 90 minutes to use the ticket across as many buses, trams and metros as you like.

So simple and effective!

Stephen15 wrote: »

Actually those tickets are still in use in many cities across Europe. I actually it's a better system than smarts as its allows better for multi modal journeys without paying twice.

Well smart cards can do the same as well and usually do in cities where they replace the old paper tickets.

You tag-on on the first bus and then you don't need to tag on again on the next bus. If you do tag-on the second one then you just aren't charged again.

mickmmc wrote: »

You (OP) raised the issue of the Cat and Cage bus lane upgrade and I gave the background to the upgrade.

The point I making is that the NTA should not be given full credit for the upgrade of the Cat and Cage bus lane. The government at the time gave funding for the new library to St. Pat's (a state body) and the upgrade of the bus lane then took place.

Sure, I don't think anyone claimed it was all just the NTA's doing.

I assume that it went something like the NTA being one arm of the government identified a bottleneck at the Cat & Gage and saw the opportunity to fix it by using contacts in the government to work with another arm of the government (St Pats) to do a deal to swap a little land for financing for a new library that St Pats needed. And I assume they also worked with TII, DCC and the Department of Transport and Department of Finance while doing all this.

St Pats got a new library for it's students and bus users got a faster journey into town. Sounds like a win, win all round to me and an example of how I would like to see all government departments to work together!

And in fairness I'm sure DB had long highlighted this bottleneck to the NTA too and I would hope worked with them on the justification for it's removal.