Transport Minister says traffic in Cork is in a state of 'gridlock'; measures being considered to address issues

Transport Minister Eamon Ryan has described traffic in Cork as being in a state of “gridlock” and said consideration is being given to measures to address the issue.

The comments from the minister came just a day after the commencement of a reduced bus timetable in the city, estimated to have cut 800 weekly bus journeys from the schedule.

Mr Ryan said bus timetables will return to normal in Cork city within 15 weeks.

He was speaking after a meeting with Cork City Council elected members as well representatives from the National Transport Authority and Bus Éireann in City Hall on Monday.

John Maher, Labour councillor in Cork City North East, said there was a feeling of “frustration” at the meeting, explaining that projects which have been raised time and time again came up with very little new information provided, and “it was like Groundhog Day”.

During the visit, Mr Ryan outlined a vision for the introduction of a light rail system for Cork which would see a route being taken via Patrick Street and MacCurtain Street.

An upcoming consultation process is set to look at the possible routes for this.

“We need to make sure Cork is progressing and gets into planning the projects that it needs — there is a limited budget and we do need to get balanced regional development but we can’t do that if we’re not, all of us, pulling to get the project through planning and ready to rebuild,” said Mr Ryan.

He also highlighted the need to deliver the Northern Distributor Rd, which he described as “an important piece of infrastructure” for buses and local cycling and walking as well as cars.

“I’m confident that we can get that into the next stage of planning very quickly.”

Bus service difficulties

The minister acknowledged the difficulties being experienced by users of Cork’s bus service which, along with the reduced timetable, has also been plagued by concerns about its reliability.

“Our bus system has been having real difficulties, getting drivers, mechanics but also being stuck in traffic,” he said.

“We changed the timetable to take account of this but we will change it back. Bus Éireann estimates it might take 13,15 weeks.

“What I was saying to city councillors is; as well as hiring extra drivers, and Bus Éireann are doing that, and also more mechanics, can we also see if we can do quick measures that will get the buses through the city quicker, particularly the centre and also improve the enforcement,” he said, acknowledging that central Government had a role in that aspect.

Use of cameras 

Among the measures Mr Ryan cited for introduction is the experimental use of cameras to clamp down on motorists driving in bus lanes or blocking yellow boxes at traffic junctions.

One measure proposed by Joe Lynch of Sinn Féin, the Ballincollig-based Cork City South West councillor, who attended the meeting, was the introduction of shorter bus routes such as on the 220 service from Carrigaline to Ovens.

Labour councillor for Cork City South Central Peter Horgan, who is chair of the Transport and Mobility SPC, said “a big issue that came out of the meeting was the issue of funding.

“There’s no shortage of projects gone through planning already, it’s a matter of ponying up the funds to deliver them for the people,” he told The Echo.

Sinn Fein councillor for Cork City North West Michelle Gould said the meeting was “disappointing” and “felt like they were just trying to tick a box — we’ve proposed practical solutions but they’re just going round in circles”.

Green Party councillor for Cork City North East Oliver Moran said: “A lot of the meeting concentrated on the ambition of Cork to implement transport plans. I don’t believe that Cork lacks ambition.”