Bus use doubles in Tipperary village as plans unveiled to make access safer
People in north Tipperary are being invited to have their say on the plans for an Active Travel scheme near Nenagh.
Tipperary County Council has opened a public consultation period for the planned Newtown Active Travel scheme, which would see a range of measures implemented to make walking and cycling safer.
Under the plans, the works will take place along a stretch of the R494 road through the village, and will see wider footpaths installed.
The route will go through the centre of the village where there are a number of homes, a school, a church, a soccer pitch and pubs and restaurants.
The scheme will make accessing the village’s bus stops easier, after a 100pc increase in people using the Nenagh to Limerick service.
New bus shelters would be installed along the route, as well as improved active travel connectivity to bus stops.
The council said that new bus stops are needed in the village. Locals campaigned to Bus Éireann to increase the frequency of the 323 bus from Limerick to Nenagh, which serves Newtown.
As a result of the campaign, Bus Éireann upped the route frequency from three times a day to five times, which has resulted in a 100pc growth in passenger numbers on the route.
Raised uncontrolled pedestrian crossings will be added, as well as a reduction in the width of junctions to reduce crossing times and distances for pedestrians, and a reduction in the width of roads.
The plans also include speed limit transition zones and school zones, while on-street parking, additional public lighting, and landscaping will also form part of the project.
The council says that the scheme is aimed at helping to address connectivity to bus stops in the village for pedestrians by improving access to and from the centre of the village.
The village currently has “poor connectivity” for pedestrians to the bus stops which sit at either side of the village. There are currently no bus stops in the centre of the village.
The new footpaths and safer infrastructure also help to promote walking to school or work, aiming to reduce people’s reliance on cars.
The plans are now available for people to view online, or in person at the council offices in either Clonmel or Nenagh.
Anyone who wishes to have their say on the plans can do so in writing to Brian Beck, Director of Services for Planning and Development, in the civic offices in Nenagh until September 25.