The Government has decided to allow buses approaching Dublin to use the hard shoulders of roads in order to reduce delays due to traffic congestion.
The decision, first proposed by Bus Éireann two years ago because of its difficulties in maintaining schedules, relates only to peak time services in Dublin and its environs where there is significant congestion and no existing bus lanes.
A number of issues, including which roads and sections of roads to include in the scheme, are currently being worked out between the Quality Bus Network Project Office within CIÉ, and the National Roads Authority.
A spokesman for the Minister for Transport, Mr Cullen, said last night that another issue being addressed was how fast buses would be allowed to travel along the hard shoulders.
He said further issues related to a publicity campaign to warn motorists of the change and the erection of signage. But he said legislative difficulties had been removed due to the passing of the Road Traffic Act last December and he confirmed "the Government is now in a position to move on this, it has been agreed. This will happen."
The spokesman added that a detailed announcement on the arrangements would be made within weeks.
The decision is good news for Bus Éireann which yesterday said traffic congestion leading to extra fuel and labour charges had cost the company €20 million in 2004.
The company chairman, Dr John Lynch, said additional regional bus services to and from Waterford, Dublin, Rosslare, Donegal, Knock Airport, Charlestown and Cork helped the company to push passenger numbers up to a record 46 million last year.
But he warned that the investment of €20 million in additional services, new buses and improved bus stations was matched by the €20 million loss due to traffic congestion which he said was worst in the greater Dublin area. He said the increase in passenger journeys by as much as 40 per cent in some areas bucked a European trend in declining bus usage.
In 2004, commuter and local services had provided 17.6 million passenger journeys - up 40 per cent on the 1999 figures. The regional Expressway services had provided 7.8 million passenger journeys - up 30 per cent in the same period - while city routes had seen passenger journeys grow to 20.8 million, an increase of 11 per cent.
