A major transport infrastructure scheme due to commence construction in Cork at the end of this month will have serious negative implications for private bus routes in the city, operators have warned.
The MacCurtain Street Public Transport Improvement Scheme will see several new bus and cycle lanes introduced around the MacCurtain Street area as well as an improved public realm, widened footpaths and changed traffic management priorities.
As part of the plan a new two-way cycle lane will be constructed along St Patrick’s Quay which will require the removal of several existing bus bays and car parking spaces.
Currently, St Patrick's Quay functions as an informal bus interchange and is used as a pick-up and drop-off point for private bus operators serving the city with daily services departing for Dublin, Limerick, Galway, Waterford, Kilkenny, west Cork, Cobh and Cork Airport.
When the works begin on May 23rd the private operators will be moved to new bus stops at Lower Glanmire Road, Anderson’s Quay, St. Patrick’s Quay. A temporary stop will be in place on MacCurtain Street.
According to Damien Long who operates the West Cork Connect service to Skibbereen and Bantry the move will have a significant negative impact on services.
“This will be the worst thing to happen to transport in Cork since they dismantled the railways,” he told The Irish Times.
They say it is all about connectivity and that may be true for buses in the city but for those coming from outside the city it’s a different matter.
“Right now you can catch your bus from Cobh or Skibbereen, get off at Patrick’s Quay and transfer to your Dublin Airport bus or Galway or Waterford or wherever you are going.
“With this plan you are going to have to drag your suitcase 10 or fifteen minutes across the city to make your connection. It just doesn’t make sense. There has been no proper consultation with us and they don’t realise what a mess this is going to cause.”
Cork City Council said a public information scheme, including temporary signage is being rolled out in the coming weeks so intending passengers are aware of the new locations.
They said the scheme will deliver shorter bus journey times for all bus passengers in Cork city due to an increased network of dedicated bus lanes and for the first time bus shelters in the city for private bus and coach operators and safe set-down areas for people dropping-off and picking-up passengers.
Local Green Party councillor Dan Boyle told The Irish Times moving the bus stops could not be avoided.
“This has to be done and will deliver better public transport and improved access for walking and cycling in the city centre and that has to be our priority. Plans for Bus Connects transport corridors are still not finalised and we will have to wait for that before any other possible solutions are looked at.
In Dublin there are several different locations used for private buses without any problems.”
According to Damien Long the loss of St Patrick's Quay has already led to the cancellation of an hourly route from Kinsale to Cork that he was due to begin operating in September.
“It’s just not viable now with the turnaround times we need. They’ve told us we will now have to operate from Anderson’s Quay and with the extra time involved the Kinsale service won’t work. What people in charge don’t seem to realise is that everything in Cork is set up for operations from St Patrick’s Quay.
Mr Long also said there had been insufficient engagement with transport operators. “The fact is we were not approached, we had to contact them. The only people they spoke to about it were Bus Éireann even though they don’t have any buses on that street. They did not speak to any of the private operators before we went to them when we heard about this just before Christmas; that was the first time we really engaged at all. We did have meetings but there was no changing their mind.
"Unfortunately connectivity is only for Dublin and rural Ireland is forgotten about."