BusConnects Dublin - Bus Network Changes Discussion

Will be interesting to see the planning submission today, especially what they propose in Inchicore, an area choaked with cars. I'm also holding out hope that a better solution is found for phibsboro. Its a disgrace that Rathmines can get a nice elegent people focused solution and working class areas like Phibsboro and Inchicore just get 4 lane roads rammed through them and cyclists diverted to out of the way routes

Narrator: "The dissapointment, if expected, lay heavily."

The Preferred Route Option Report says it was changed arising from concerns about access to Kilmainham, St James Hospital and the local area.

What has it been downgraded to?

I've been hearing from people in the know that the G-Spine is to be delayed until October due to ongoing staffing issues.

I attended the meeting and, beleive it or not, a lot of people were actually fine with the changes bar the hourly frequency of Route 60 serving lower Ballyfermot (Decies, Landen and Lally roads) and whether or not the routing via Claddagh Green was appropriate given the level of parked cards there at the shops. He definitely didn't stir up as much anger as he wanted to.

I happen to agree that the routing via Claddagh green is a bit silly and maybe the frequncy should be increased, at least at pek time, to 30 minutes.

The NTA apparently agreed to review the comments and revert within 2 weeks.

The routing via Le Fanu road came up but it wasn't nearly as contentius as the frequency or Claddagh Green. I agree its senseless as the bus will get stuck in the morning and late afternoon with cars parked outside the 3 schools there; not to mention that people looking to access the shops will have to get off the bus 200/300 metres away either on Ballyfermot Road or Kylemore Road. I agree, it is a weird decision for a 'community route'.

If they change the 2 routing issues and increase the frquency to 30 minutes, even if its peak only, then it will be fine.

Claddagh Green consists of 2 roads split in the middle by a community centre and resinential units for older people. Both roads are too narrow to have buses passing both directions, particularly at the junction of Claddagh Road and Blackditch court where the bus has to make a tight turn.

So the NTA proposed the inbound bus going down the west side of Claddagh Green and the outbound bus coming up on the east side so they don't have an issue passing but the east side has a few local shops and there is always a lot on illegal parking on the double yellow lines and the gardai do nothing about it. Cars often have to let each other pass by reversing or pulling in so there is no hope of a bus managing it. There is often delivery trucks there to and they take up most of the road space.

The current 79 sometimes goes down the west side of Claddagh Green from the terminus on Spiddal Park (very bottom of the screenshot) if it has to avoid the cherry-orchard loop due to anti-social behaviour but it never travels on the East side of claddagh green due to the issue with the shops

That turn from Classagh Green onto Blackditch Court is a bit tight. It's okay for one bus but you'd not manage it with 2 passing so that is why they propose going up the other side but with the constant parked cars it really won't work

To be honest, I am not sure where the bus should run but the least-worst option would be for the 60 to continue along Blackditch Road, as it is wider, instead of turning right onto Spiddal Road and continuing on to Matthews church before turning onto the main road. They'd need to look at the massive ramps though on Blackditch Road.

The other alternative maybe would be to have the inbound go via Spiddal Road, Claddagh court but have the outbound travel via Blackditch or vice versa.

Yes, and to be fair, in the mornings and late evening it might not be an issue but mid-day it will be unworkable.

It will be interesting to see if the NTA come up with something different or not.