THE new phase of BusConnects, an ongoing public transport infrastructure programme, managed by the National Transport Authority (NTA), has left the Castelconnell/Montpelier catchment area without an hourly service into Castletroy.
That’s according to frustrated Independent councillor for City East, Ursula Gavan, who told the Limerick Post that Castleconnell/Montpelier isn’t even on the map.
“We need an hourly bus service to and from the city. The present timetable has huge gaps and leaves a reality of many workers and students resorting to travel by car, adding to the logjam around the Mackey roundabout every morning and evening,” she claimed.
Gavan is also frustrated with the lack of a bus service to and from Annacotty with the 310 bus and Annacotty Industrial Estate.
“There are approximately 3,500 people currently working in the business park with no option of a bus service. I am also calling for a rail stop feasibility to be conducted to help service this vital business park grow in the future and remove cars from an already gridlocked road network in Annacotty.”
Cllr Gavan, who represents the growing village, is calling on the NTA to increase bus services. She, together with fellow local councillors, recently called for the NTA to attend a Metropolitan District area Council meeting to address service issues directly to councillors including the level of “ghost” buses on the route i.e. scheduled services that do not show up.
There was no response from the National Transport Authority at the time of going to print.
