Cork traffic ‘like downtown New York’ despite investment

The traffic is so bad on some of Cork’s major roads that it is like being stuck in “downtown New York”, a Government minister has said.

Fielding questions in the Dáil, junior transport minister Jerry Buttimer said that Cork Airport has become “forgotten” in terms of the bus and rail provision.

“We have seen the various iterations of BusConnects; you know as well as I do, it needs to be fast-tracked,” he told Fianna Fáil’s Séamus McGrath.

“It’s taking far too long. It will bring a huge benefit to Cork. We see the N40 congested every day.

“I was in Carrigaline yesterday. It was like being in downtown New York.

“The volume of traffic on the N28 was just extraordinary.”

Mr McGrath raised the topic with his Cork South-Central colleague and Fine Gael TD Mr Buttimer as he called for a dedicated transportation office based in Cork to fully implement the metropolitan area transport strategy.

This strategy envisages improvements over the coming years to bus and rail networks in Cork, as well as improvements to walking and cycling infrastructure in the city, alongside the Cork Luas light rail network.

Frustrated

Mr McGrath said he was “deeply frustrated” at the pace of BusConnects so far and claimed the bus services currently serving Cork Airport were “appallingly inadequate”.

“Despite the huge amount of money that has been spent, we have seen no benefits whatsoever on the ground in terms of the service,” he said.

 “That is very frustrating for ourselves as public representatives, but of course, more so the public and the passengers who want to use the service.

“I strongly argue that these need to be managed in Cork, under the one roof.

“I am not the only person making this call; all local authorities are making it, our chamber of commerce is making it, our business association in Cork has made this call as well.”

Mr McGrath said a dedicated office that has representatives from Transport Infrastructure Ireland, the National Transport Authority, Bus Éireann, Irish Rail, and other stakeholders is the only way to progress key projects in Cork.

“It deserves an office based in the city with the relevant expertise and decision-making powers so that we can progress with meaningful intent on the key projects,” Mr McGrath said. “Cork deserves better.”

Committed

Mr Buttimer said he agreed, in particular around bus access for the airport.

He said the Government is committed to progressing the different transport projects in Cork and would be working with transport minister Darragh O’Brien to see them delivered.

“I share Deputy McGrath’s annoyance and frustration around ... the airport, and you have been articulating that for a while, to be fair to you,” Mr Buttimer said.

“It’s something that, again, I just can’t comprehend the lack of joined-up thinking.

“Where there’s a will, there’s a way and I think from the Government point of view, we have to deliver.”