'We need to think outside the box' to solve traffic congestion in Carrigaline

Transport minister Darragh O’Brien is to be urged to provide an orbital bus service in the biggest town in Co Cork, primarily to take school traffic off its roads, which is causing almost daily mayhem.

Ever-increasing population growth in Carrigaline is leading to serious gridlock at peak times, especially around its schools as parents pick up and drop off their children.

Residents in nearby estates are getting increasingly frustrated as parents park outside their homes when they’re doing the children’s drop-offs/pick-ups and clogging up traffic as homeowners commute to work.

Fianna Fáil councillor Patrick Donovan highlighted the issue at a Carrigaline Municipal District Council meeting and received unanimous cross-party support from fellow councillors for his call for Government to fund a pilot orbital route in the town.

"Every morning roads are choked with traffic. While a lot is going to either Cork City or Ringaskiddy, particular roads leading to our schools are under pressure with long tail backs. I’m requesting a pilot orbital bus route to be established around Carrigaline town taking kids to school. We've good connectivity from estates all over Carrigaline and the eastern and western relief roads,” Mr Donovan said.

“If we got the go-ahead for a pilot scheme it would take cars off the roads and free our town from traffic congestion. From a climate change perspective, it'd be a very positive step forward."

Mr Donovan said there's scope to get buy-in from schoolchildren, parents, and school authorities.

“In solving an issue like traffic congestion in Carrigaline, we need to think outside the box. Cork County Council continue to invest in active travel and footpaths which is really welcome. But we must do more if we're too free up our towns from traffic."

Mr Donovan said such a new initiative could serve as a blueprint for other traffic-congested towns.

“Even on the first day of midterm in Carrigaline, we can see traffic is flowing much better around the town. This is because some of our schools are closed for midterm. 

"If we'd a number of buses replacing multiples of cars, our town becomes less congested with traffic, reducing bad air quality and it becomes safer at our schools for kids to enter them without a constant flow of traffic near the front door of the school,” he said.

Fianna Fáil councillor Audrey Buckley said a town bus service would be a great idea as traffic is only going to get worse with the number of new houses being built there.

She said councillors will write to the Department of Transport on the proposed initiative. Mr Donovan said he will also personally speak to Mr O’Brien.