LIMERICK is set to get a 24-hour bus service, as well as a 70 per cent increase on current bus services, in a major upgrade of the city and suburbs transport network.
The National Transport Authority (NTA) on Wednesday (December 13) published finalised plans for the redesign of Limerick’s bus networks, which forms part of the BusConnect system that aims to transform Limerick’s public transport offering.
As part of the plans, a new 24-hour bus service will operate between University Hospital Limerick in Dooradoyle, the city centre, and University of Limerick (UL) in Castletroy.
As well as that, bus services in the city and suburbs will increase by an estimated 70 per cent, with the extension of the bus network to new areas that haven’t previously been served, and an enhanced Sunday timetable.
The Ennis Road, Dock Road, the north campus of the University of Limerick, and Ardnacrusha will receive bus routes, as well as a simpler fares model, to make interchange between routes seamless.
Following feedback from the public as part of a public consultation in February of this year, the NTA have said that they will seek to provide new arrangements to serve UL due to concerns raised by the pubic about access impacting the grounds of Milford Hospice.
Members of the public raised concerns about new bus routes having an impact on the grounds of Milford Hospice, but the NTA have said they will take this into consideration, even if it means having to develop a new access link.
The new bus network will aim to make public transport more accessible and easier to use for everyone, resulting in increased access to a greater number of schools and workplaces across Limerick city and its suburbs.
It is hoped that by the time the network is completed, 41 per cent of residents of Limerick will live within 400 meters of a high frequency bus route (running every 15 minutes or better).
The network will be delivered on a phased basis beginning in 2025, with the possibility of changes to the published plans to ensure all services run smoothly.
Anne Graham, CEO of the NTA said that the publishing of the plan this week is an “important milestone” in improving Limerick’s bus services.
“Revising the bus network is one of the key elements of the Limerick Shannon Metropolitan Area Transport Strategy and today’s announcement is another important milestone in bringing the vision of that strategy to life,” she said.
“The revised network that we’ve finalised and published will provide the people of Limerick with enhanced frequency, greater connectivity, and longer operating hours.”
Stephen Kent, CEO of Bus Éireann, said that the national transport provider is working “in partnership with the NTA to help develop a new bus network for Limerick that will significantly increase frequency and expand bus services across the city and its suburbs.”
