NTA urged to undertake review of condition of Cork’s bus shelters

A Cork TD has called on the National Transport Authority (NTA) to undertake a review of bus stops and shelters in Cork city.

Sinn Fein Cork North Central TD, Thomas Gould, said a constituent had contacted him about the poor condition of their local bus shelters, saying that they are outdated, “covered with cobwebs, rusty and every time it rains the water then leaks down from them soaking passengers.”

Mr Gould raised the issue with the NTA and was told by an NTA spokesperson: “The plan for the Cork Network Redesign is for poles to be renewed, as required, in parallel with the introduction of the new bus network in Cork.

“This is currently planned to commence in late 2025 and carry on into 2026, subject to funding availability.”

The NTA added that a dedicated ‘Bus Stop Enhancement Programme’ sees €500,000 allocated to each local authority to facilitate the upgrade of existing bus stops across the country.

“The NTA is now engaged with individual local authorities in relation to the development of their programmes for 2024 and subsequent years,” the spokesperson added.

Mr Gould said communities should not have to wait until 2025 before the NTA even commences a review of bus stops.

“That is a ridiculous suggestion by the NTA. There is no clear reason why they can’t do this now.

“The aim has to be to get people out of their cars and onto public transport,” he said, adding that ensuring people had safe, clean and dry places to wait for buses was important.

“We keep being told that BusConnects is the solution to the issues with public transport in Cork city yet we are years, and tens of millions of euro, into the planning for this and services have only gotten worse.

“The NTA pointed to a very small fund operated by Cork City Council for bus stop enhancemet. The reality is that this fund will not be able to properly renovate and maintain the bus stops across Cork city that are in desperate need of maintenance,” said Mr Gould.

“Why is it going to take another 18 months before the NTA even begins to review bus stops? It beggars belief. It’s just another time when bureaucracy gets in the way of common sense.

“If they know the bus stops will still be in use on the new routes, why not just begin the process now? Whether or not BusConnects goes ahead as planned, these stops will still be in use.

“The reality is that we have unreliable bus services, bus stops in shocking condition and a bus station that is dirty and unwelcoming — where is the incentive for people to use public transport?”