MTU park-and-ride praised for easing traffic congestion

A NEW park-and-ride facility from Munster Technological University (MTU) is easing congestion, according to a local election candidate.

Fianna Fáil election candidate for the Cork City South West ward, Terry Coleman, has praised the “excellent” park-and-ride facilities for MTU staff and students.

Staff are being encouraged to park in the reserved car-parking spaces at Curraheen Park Greyhound Stadium and to get the private coach operated by Jerry O’Brien directly to the MTU Bishopstown campus, where passengers disembark at the 219 bus stop on Rossa Avenue.

Buses run every 15 minutes from the greyhound stadium (T12HNP4) car park, from 8am to 10am, and every 30 minutes from 10am to 4pm, leaving the dog track on the hour and 30 minutes past the hour. The bus leaves MTU every 15 minutes after and before the hour from MTU (219 bus stop on Rossa Avenue), from 10am to 4pm, and every 15 minutes from MTU again from 4pm to 6pm.

Mr Coleman said the park-and-ride service has taken traffic off the roads and out of the local housing estates at peak times, since it was launched in mid-January.

He said that, previously, huge volumes of cars would park in the surrounding housing estates near the university.

“The park-and-ride service, in the weeks since it has been implemented, has shown itself to be a big step forward for the long-suffering local residents,” he said.

“All initiatives like this that are focused on alleviating congestion on our local roads should be applauded.”

The opening hours for the car park at the greyhound track are Monday to Friday, 7.30am to 6.30pm.