Cork Luas plan derails Bishopstown bus route

A large section of the planned BusConnects project for the Bishopstown area has been scrapped after the publication of the Cork Luas route last week.

In an email to public representatives, seen by The Echo, a National Transport Authority (NTA) spokesperson said that a large section of the sustainable transport corridors scheme (STC), the 'Bishopstown to City' section, is not going to be progressed.

BusConnects Cork is set to transform Cork’s bus system into a higher frequency and more reliable network, with 11 transport corridors, and over 90km of bus lanes as well as cycle infrastructure, along with a new electric bus fleet.

The NTA is not planning an alternative STC route, meaning bus services along that corridor will no longer be part of BusConnects.

The spokesperson said: “The BusConnects Cork team has been coordinating with the Luas Cork team in recent months, with regards to the level of route alignment interactions between Luas Cork and the BusConnects Cork City south west sustainable transport corridors scheme.

The spokesperson added that, following the publication of Luas Cork’s preferred route on April 17, BusConnects Cork now has a “clearer picture”of what Luas Cork will entail and its implications for the BusConnects scheme, specifically for the Bishopstown to city section.

They continued that the National Transport Authority is no longer intending to progress the part of that section, which was to run from the junction of Melbourn Rd/Curraheen Rd through to the Western Rd/Mardyke Walk junction, as part of the BusConnects Cork City South West Sustainable Transport Corridors Scheme.

They added: “It is important to note that this remains subject to change up until the point that the BusConnects Cork city south west sustainable transport corridors scheme application is lodged with An Coimisiún Pleanála.

“We expect that to happen later this year."

The Bishopstown to city sustainable transport corridor, as per the latest public consultation, would commence at the junction of Melbourn Road/Curraheen Rd and proceed along Curraheen Rd and on to Bishopstown Rd.

The corridor would then pass Cork University Hospital and at the existing Wilton roundabout turn north on to Wilton Rd and continue to Dennehy’s Cross. From there, it would proceed north along Victoria Cross Rd and onto Western Rd.

The corridor would then continue along the remainder of Lancaster Quay and Washington St before terminating at the junction of Washington St/Grand Parade.

UPDATE

The latest update from the NTA suggests that only this part of the route will now be implemented.

It was also proposed to provide dedicated cycle infrastructure in both directions and to upgrade the Wilton roundabout to a signalised junction as part of the plans.

Ciara O’Connor, a Labour councillor for the region, said: “This is a significant change to a key public transport corridor serving the south west of the city, and it’s essential that we have clear answers on what happens next.

“While I fully support the development of Luas Cork, it cannot come at the expense of existing or planned bus infrastructure.

“We need a co-ordinated, integrated public transport system, not uncertainty.”