FINE Gael councillor Daniel Butler has hit out at what he considers a “glaring omission” in the National Transport Authority’s (NTA) final publication of the Bus Connects plan for Limerick, due to be implemented from 2025 onwards.
This final publication follows on from a period of public consultation on the original proposals, of which this plan considered and responded to.
Cllr Daniel Butler takes the view that the process saw some clear issues of concern for the residents of Dooradoyle and Raheen in particular.
“Firstly, the removal of a direct bus service from the upper Dooradoyle and Ballycummin area to the University of Limerick. This really was a glaring omission in the plan given the volume of students from the area travelling across town to UL,” the City West representative told the Limerick Post.
“The proposed plan forces some students to walk nearly three kilometres before being able to access the service, they had to walk no more than 500 metres up until now.’ Cllr Butler claimed.
According to the former Limerick Mayor, the latest plan in response to these concerns has proposed no change despite numerous objections.
“The proposal also removes bus services from the Mulcair Road, concerns raised about this by residents were met with a response of no change but a commitment to review as services go live.”
The response to these two issues, Cllr Butler maintains, is one of huge disappointment and will have a significant impact for bus users.
“I want to, however, welcome the response I requested to support schools more with route 4B being redesigned to offer more direct bus services to Mungret schools.
“This has been an important request for me as part of addressing the huge traffic issues in the area. I also welcome the decision to extend Bus Route 11 to serve Prospect Hill, a service I hope will improve overall connectivity for the area,” he concluded.
