Plans to include traffic data in Bus Connects consultations welcomed

PLANS to include traffic data in future consultations on the Bus Connects project in Cork have been welcomed by a Cork TD who said that this would further allow people to see the potential impacts of the plan and make their own judgements on it.

The National Transport Authority (NTA) recently confirmed to The Echo that the decision has been made to hold a third round of non-statutory public consultation for the 11 Sustainable Transport Corridors in Cork.

A spokesperson for the NTA said: “Preliminary traffic modelling is being undertaken in order to provide high-level insight into the potential traffic impacts of the proposals, and a preliminary modelling report will be published as part of this consultation.

“This will be a full public consultation, and like the previous two rounds will include public information events and community forums across Cork city.”

The next round of consultation is likely to take place before the end of the year.

Sinn Féin TD for Cork North Central, Thomas Gould, welcomed the inclusion of traffic data in any future consultation for Bus Connects in Cork.

“I believe that public consultation should be about empowering communities, and this means providing them with as much data and information as possible to make informed submissions,” he said.

“We have seen that communities across Cork City have engaged constructively and passionately with the NTA.

“They want Bus Connects to work for their own areas and for the broader city.

“Allowing people access to data allows them to see the potential impacts of the plan and make their own judgements.

“Sinn Féin will continue to engage constructively with Bus Connects and develop a plan that represents the best deal for Cork.

“We believe that this means compromise and communication with communities,” he added.

Further details on public information events and community forums around Sustainable Transport Corridors are available by visiting https://tinyurl.com/237smdaw.