Galway Active Travel scheme criticised over lack of bus priority
Cllr Shane Forde (FG) said this omission is a major weakness in the design and that he will not support the current plans as they stand.
The scheme, which is currently at the public consultation stage, would involve a major redesign of a 1.7km stretch of the Monivea Road, from the Old Ballybrit Road (East) to the Ballybane Road junction.
Plans focus on improving facilities for pedestrians and cyclists, including a new two-way cycle track along the northern side of the road, upgraded 2m footpaths on both sides, raised pedestrian crossings, and changes to junctions aimed at slowing traffic and making them safer to navigate.
The proposals would also involve narrowing road widths and improving bus stop infrastructure, but they do not include dedicated bus lanes.
Speaking after attending the first public consultation event at the Clayton Hotel, Cllr Forde said the plans appeared to repeat mistakes made in the Ballybane-Castlepark Active Travel Scheme, which faces continued opposition from residents in Galway City East.
The Monivea Road is one of the busiest routes in Galway City
He described the Monivea Road proposals as a “copy and paste” of that project and said lessons had not been learned.
“The Monivea Road is one of the busiest routes in Galway City, serving large volumes of traffic travelling to Parkmore Industrial Estate, accessing the motorway, and commuting into the city centre,” he said.
“Any redesign of the route must include dedicated bus priority measures to be effective.”
Cllr Forde said he could not support the scheme in its current form and warned that progressing without bus lanes would be a waste of public funds.
Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.