The NTA has announced a €600 million investment in Cork transport.
54km of new cycling and walking infrastructure and 75km of new dedicated bus lanes are proposed to be created as part of a new transport plan for Cork.
The National Transport Authority (NTA) on Wednesday announced a €600 million investment in BusConnects Cork, its programme to improve bus services in the city.
As part of the latest plans, 12 new Sustainable Transport Corridors (STCs) are set to be created with the aim of reducing bus journey times and increasing the number of people walking and cycling into the city.
The new cycling and walking infrastructure, as well as the bus lanes, are proposed to be introduced across the STCs to the north, south and west of Cork city.
With this, the NTA says that bus journey times will be cut in half across most of the 12 proposed corridors.
The proposed corridors in the STC system are:
- Dunkettle to City Centre
- Mayfield to City Centre
- Blackpool to City Centre
- Hollyhill to City Centre
- Ballincollig to City Centre
- Bishopstown to City Centre
- Togher to City Centre
- Airport Road to City Centre
- Maryborough Hill to City Centre
- Mahon to City Centre
- Kinsale Road to Douglas
- Sunday’s Well to Hollyhill
The Sustainable Transport Corridors initiative is one of nine key elements of BusConnects Cork, which the NTA claims will "transform the city’s bus system", making public transport more accessible to more people.
Other planned elements include redesigning the network of bus routes in the city, transitioning to a zero-emissions bus fleet, rolling out a new bus livery and implementing a new modern ticketing system.
The NTA says a more detailed set of proposals will be published for an initial public consultation during June.
"This will include extensive public engagement and allow people to provide their feedback, insights and local knowledge regarding the proposals," the transport body said in a statement.
"A series of community forums will be established to fully engage people and groups at a local level for each corridor and surrounding areas, as plans for the project are developed, designed and progressed."
Speaking about the proposals, Transport Minister Eamon Ryan said that, as one of Europe’s fastest-growing cities, Cork has a "unique opportunity" to become a leader in sustainable transport.
"BusConnects Cork is key to making public transport and active travel a viable option for people and communities across the city," he added.
“The new sustainable transport corridors announced today, along with the planned roll-out of a zero-emission bus fleet, will make travel by bus, as well as walking and cycling, more attractive to many more individuals and families.
"By drastically reducing bus journey times and providing dedicated cycling and walking infrastructure, sustainable transport will be at the very heart of a thriving Cork City into the future.”
For more information on BusConnects Cork and the Sustainable Transport Corridors Project, visit the Bus Connects website
here.
Main image via Sam Boal / RollingNews.ie
