BusConnects Dublin - Big changes to Bus Network

Oh, I agree, but that is our system, we engage in endless public consultation, and we listen to those who shout the loudest.

Most of the inner city section of the Bray CBC scheme is reminiscent to what the quays looked like post redevelopment.

Love that they have two alternates here, pending on whether they get permission to convert Nutley Lane to on way, wasting 1000s of euro in the process.

The existing bus park in Belfield has, I think, six separate bus stops which share routes plus parking lanes and bays for about a dozen buses which would often be full around peak times IIRC. Given the four proposed stops on the slip road outside the campus are presumably for the passing routes (Aircoach, E spine, long distance coaches), there is actually not much difference in capacity for a slight increse in routes serving the campus ... but its far better laid out than the existing yoke which was a bodge job conversion of a car park.

Wonder will the old location be retained as a lay over area and/or intermediate stops for the S routes coming through the campus? I think the university is supposed to maintain the number of parking spaces on the campus so they may need to convert it back to a car park to compensate for the loss of car parking to the new interchange.

One last thing about it, the shelter structures shown in the photo montages are a triumph of ugly over function - they're not going to provide much protection from the elements.

Would the NTA need to ask for permission from UCD to retain their current bus interchange for the S routes to complement the new interchange at the flyover? If UCD have plans to allow the current bus interchange to be turned back into a car park as part of their masterplan proposals; they probably cannot really keep that interchange as normal as an overflow bus terminus for a small amount of bus routes that will serve it.

Although if say UCD still have to observe all of the buses that come in and out for the Xpresso routes at Belfield at peak times especially for the afternoon and evenings on top of all of the coach services that also come in during that time. I would say it would be a good idea to retain the current interchange to have it back as an overflow bus terminus to complement the new interchange at UCD.

How crazy, I was literally just thinking about this and was trying to remember when it was supposedly starting 😂

It's supposedly starting on the 20th, but no official word of it yet so I wouldn't hold your breath.

As far as I'm aware, and imo makes the most sense, it will copy the 46a in how that uses Parkgate Street (the small section of road behind stop 1474) to turn around and then pick up passengers at stop 7078, rather than going to Heuston. As for it to get to Heuston from Parkgate Street, the bus would have to go down the Quays and cross at the Rory O'More Bridge before heading back up to Heuston.

Unfortunate but it's a 2-3 minute walk across the Luas bridge compared to a 10 minute detour.

That's what I thought too, but you can only turn left back towards the Quays at the junction with Parkgate Street/R109 going by how it looks on Google Maps.

Now they could make changes to the junction to allow a left turn, but I doubt that will be the case, especially for a trail route.

Ah I get you now. This turnaround right?

This is what the 46As usually use these days so it can indeed fit a bus.

Yes, that is where it should turnaround.

We can even eliminate the few remaining parking spaces.

The latest internal maps I saw have the S2 buses run from James's Hospital via James's Street, Thomas Street, Bridge Street and then up the Quays to Heuston. Returning via the same route. They wont share the tracks on Steevens Lane at the moment.

Same as when they missed an opportunity to figure out a way for the 123 to turn right from top of O'Connell St via the Luas track to Parnell St eastbound.

I guess when it looks complicated, shure the people on the bus probably arent in a rush anyway, you know yourself, this roundabout way will do.

I'd be extremely surprised if congestion charges happen. Certainly not until after the next General Election

A team of health experts have said to the Government that the slow rollout of BusConnects is making a negative impact on physical activity levels.

They say people taking part in 30 minutes of moderate intense activity like walking and cycling every day is good to reduce risk of heart disease and stroke. I can't say that I disagree with that argument. It is a good selling point to improve the health of the nation overtime along with the other transport projects which are in the planning system at the moment.

If I had the new frequent busconnects routes operating in my part of Dublin; it would allow me to walk around a town or village a lot more to carry out my business. As I live in an area that has some routes available that are frequent throughout the week. The frequency of most of the other current bus routes are not great to use because I have to contend with longer waiting times for each bus route.

To give another example; if I go for a walk to get to the nearest Dart station in my part of Dublin; it takes me about 30 to 40 minutes to walk from the house each way to get to the nearest Dart station without taking a bus to get to it. It's takes about double the walking time if I tried to get the Luas as well without taking the bus. If I take a bus to get to the Dart; it will be at Blackrock. If I take bus to get the Luas; the only option for me to get it would be at Sandyford.

Has BusConnects tried to make improvements in people's physical activity among the population in Dublin with all of the phases that have been rolled out to date?

got letter from local cllr upading on E and F spine.. supposedly to start Nov 2023 and March 2024 respectively..