ALAN
FARRELL
TD
Bus Connects
Dear Resident, The National Transportation Authority has initiated a public consultation process on its proposals for changes to the existing bus services for Dublin and county. This is not a government initiative, but a process by which the Authority hopes to improve services across the city, while maximising the frequency of service for commuters. I know from talking to residents that many of you have concerns about some changes or may not be familiar with the full extent of the NTA proposals. I hope this information leaflet will help you understand the proposals and assist you in making your views known to NTA. The NTA is inviting the public to have their say, and have held a series of public information events across the region.
The NTA is currently requesting feedback on their proposed network plan, which is available at www.BusConnects.ie where you can outline your views on the proposed changes via the online survey or by emailing consultations@busconnects.ie. You can also use their route comparison table which illustrates the changes within this proposal, on a route by route basis. It should be highlighted that ‘X’ services are to be abolished in this proposal, which includes the 142 service. The NTA proposal also suggests that DART services will serve us every ten minutes whereas this frequency is not yet present in either Malahide or Portmarnock;
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although DART is to be extended northward in the coming years.
connectivity in order to improve frequency and options for commuters.
The more individual observations people provide them with, the more useful it will be in determining how they will proceed with the plan. I would encourage you to take every opportunity; the online survey, make a submission, go to the public information events; to have your voice heard. The NTA is obliged to listen to the views of citizens and to reflect on the feedback received.
Please feel free to contact me should you wish to discuss this matter prior to making your own observations known. Alternatively, should you wish to copy my email address on your own submission, it would be very helpful to make a case on your behalf when I am in direct discussion with the NTA.
It is my intention, as your Fine Gael TD in Dublin Fingal, to work towards ensuring that all new routes takes account of the existing services and work to cater for the best interests of all local residents. This must include increasing
I have enclosed information on the changes proposed for our local area, under the Bus Connects Programme, within this leaflet. Yours sincerely,
Alan
The proposed changes put forward by the BusConnects project are far from perfect, this is your opportunity to change them. MALAHIDE AND PORTMARNOCK The design put forward by BusConnects aims to ensure fast access to the city centre, either via direct routes or efficient DART connections, while also providing direct service to Swords from almost all of the area. Route D1 from Malahide to Crumlin would run every 30 minutes from Malahide Village to Dublin city centre via Malahide Road, continuing to Crumlin as part of the D Spine. Similar to existing Route 42, this route would provide a relatively direct path to the city centre while also providing some access to schools, jobs and shopping near the Malahide Road in north Dublin City. It is proposed however, that the D route will no longer serve Yellow Walls Road or Seabury. Route 60 from Dublin Airport toward Malahide and Portmarnock. In this area, Route 60 would provide service every 30 minutes between Dublin Airport, Swords Pavilions, Malahide Village, and Portmarnock. Route 60 also extends southward from Portmarnock via Baldoyle and Donaghmede, and ultimately to the Dublin city centre, though it would not be a logical path to the city centre for points west of Malahide but does provide connectivity to areas not currently reached directly. This service is replacing the 102 service but does not serve Yellow Walls or Seabury Route 281 from Swords to Portmarnock DART. Route 281 is a new route which would provide service every 20 minutes connecting to every DART train. Route 281 would also connect to DART at Malahide station, for better access to DART’s fast service into the city centre. The matching frequencies between 281 and DART would mean consistent timing of the connections between them. Meanwhile, Route 281 would also be the main link to Swords for the entire area served, with easy connections on Swords Main Street to all parts of Swords and points north.
SWORDS - MALAHIDE The redesign in this area attempts to replace a complex network of overlapping routes with a simpler one featuring higher frequencies. Direct service to the city centre is retained for most of Swords, but at this distance from the city, it is sometimes faster to provide local services (numbered in the 200s) connecting to a DART train or frequent bus service. This area sees a large expansion in access to inner north and north-west parts of Dublin due to the new eastwest orbitals. Trips from Swords and Malahide now have easy connections in north Dublin City to travel eastwest to destinations such as Blanchardstown and DCU.
SOUTHEAST SWORDS, FELTRIM AND KINSEALY These areas would be served by Route 280 from Portrane to Clongriffin. In this area, this route would replace existing Route 43 to Dublin city centre via the Malahide Road. However, it would operate more frequently (every 40 minutes all day) and terminate at Clongriffin DART station. Frequency would be every 20 minutes at peak hours, to match DART arrivals and departures. Route 280 would also continue northward from Swords to Donabate and Portrane.
This area also benefits significantly from two kinds of commercial services that are not included this study. Swords Express is assumed to continue to exist, providing nonstop service between Swords and the city centre via the M1 tunnel. Airport Express buses are also assumed to continue to exist, linking the airport nonstop to various parts of Dublin.
Map of the BusConnect proposals for Malahide, Portmarnock & Swords.
ALAN FARRELL TD - Working for you in Dublin Fingal AFarrell_A3BusConnectsLeaflet_Aug18.indd 1
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CENTRAL AND WESTERN SWORDS The existing routes 41 and 41c, serving the densest and largest neighbourhoods of Swords, are replaced by a branch of the A Spine and a very frequent local route connecting to it. Route A4 provides 15 minute frequency all day from Swords Manor to Dublin city centre, going through Glen Ellen, Swords Main Street and Dublin Road. The A4 bypasses the Airport terminal for a faster trip into the city, as the 41c does today. This branch of the A Spine continues south beyond the city centre to Rathmines and Rathfarnham. Route 282 covers the parts of today’s current 41/41c not served by the A4. From the north-west of Swords it extends via Rathbeale Road, Swords Main Street, River Valley and Boroimhe to end at the Airport, with service every 10 minutes all day. This arrangement raises all-day frequency on most local segments in this area. Passengers on the 282 must connect to an A4 bus to reach the city centre (either at Swords Main Street or along Dublin Road north of the Airport) but this is made easy by extremely high frequency, and the benefit is a faster ride bypassing the Airport. Both routes would be supplemented by an express service to the city centre and UCD via the N1 tunnel in the morning and afternoon peak hour, similar to existing Route 41x, in addition to the all-day commercial Swords Express service. Map of BusConnect proposals for Rush, Lusk, Donabate & Portrane.
DONABATE - PORTRANE
AIRPORT AREA
Route 280 from Portrane to Clongriffin. North of Swords, this route replaces the existing Route 33b, connecting Donabate and Portrane to Swords, and will operate on a 40 minute frequency thought the day.
The airport would be served by the A2 branch of the A spine, with service every 15-minutes south toward the city centre.
The new Route 280 would also extend southwards beyond Swords to Clongriffin DART station, along a routing similar to the current Route 43. Route 280 would operate every 20 minutes during the morning and afternoon peak hours, to match DART arrivals and departures at Clongriffin.
South of the Airport, Swords Road stops would have 7.5 minute frequency from the combination of the A2 and A4. Routes 282 and 60 would be the direct airport services northward to Swords and Malahide. Again, the various commercial airport express services (numbered in the 700s) are not covered by this BusConnects study and would presumably continue to operate.
BALBRIGGAN, SKERRIES, RUSH & LUSK Route 285 from Balbriggan to Swords. This route would replace existing Routes 33 and 33a. Unlike existing service, Route 285 would operate all day and would terminate in Swords, where passengers could connect to frequent services to the Airport (Route 282, every 10 minutes), or to Dublin (Route A4, every 15 minutes). Route 285 would operate every 30 minutes in the middle of the day, and every 15 minutes at peak between Skerries and Swords. In addition, half of the buses would start and end in Balbriggan, where frequencies would be every 60 minutes in the middle of the day and every 30 minutes at peak. Southbound buses would be scheduled to arrive at Rush and Lusk station several minutes before southbound trains between approximately 7:00 and 8:00. Similarly, northbound buses would be scheduled to arrive at Rush and Lusk station several minutes after northbound trains between approximately 17:00 and 18:00. It should be noted that the removal of express services from the North County to the city centre is a retrograde step and therefore, I would urge residents to make a submission to this effect. Map of BusConnect proposals for Balbriggan, Skerries & Loughshinny. Route A2 A4 D1 60 280 281 282 285
Frequency at peak times Every 10 - 12 minutes Every 10 - 12 minutes Every 30 minutes Every 10 minutes Every 20 –26 minutes Every 20 –26 minutes Every 10 minutes Every 15 minutes
Frequency at off-peak times Every 15 or 30 minutes Every 15 or 30 minutes Every 30 or 60 minutes Every 15 or 30 minutes Every 40 or 60 minutes Every 20 or 30 minutes Every 10 or 30 minutes Every 30 minutes
Notes 30 minute frequency applies between 5am and 6am and 11pm and 12am 30 minute frequency applies between 5am and 6am and 11pm and 12am 60 minute frequency applies between 5am and 6am and 11pm and 12am 30 minute frequency applies between 11pm and 12am 60 minute frequency applies between 7pm and 12am and commences at 6am 30 minute frequency applies between 7pm and 12am and commences at 6am 30 minute frequency applies between 5am and 6am and 11pm and 12am Commences at 6am
Importance of making a submission to the consultation process As your Fine Gael TD in Dublin Fingal, I would urge you to make your views known to the BusConnects consultation process with regard to any concerns you have on the proposed changes which may impact you and your community by emailing them to consultations@busconnects.ie. Ensuring the views of every local resident, and community are heard is of the utmost importance, and by making your views known you will be shaping the future proposals put forward regarding bus route changes in the North County. It is vital that we all work to ensure every community receives the public transport services it deserves.
As such, I believe this issue is of such importance to so many members of our local communities that it must be above politics. While I beleive some of the proposed changes will be of benefit to residents of Dublin Fingal, the loss of certain express services is a retrograde step. I am also concerned regarding residents from Balbriggan, Skerries, Rush & Lusk having to change buses in Swords and what impact this may have on the capacity of the A services to faciliate this, particularly at peak times. I would ask you to copy my email address, alan.farrell@oireachtas.ie onto your email, should you be submitting your views to the consultation process in that manner, and this will allow me to raise your concerns with the NTA directly.
YOUR LOCAL FINE GAEL TEAM WORKING WITH ALAN FARRELL TD Senator James Reilly Brian Hayes MEP Cllr Anthony Lavin Cllr Tom O’Leary Local Area Representative Okezie Emuaga (Balbriggan) Local Area Representative Bob Dowling (Donabate)
The closing date for submissions to the NTA is September 28th 2018.
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Constituency Office: 6 Townyard Lane, Malahide, Co. Dublin
01 6184008 alan.farrell@oireachtas.ie AlanFarrellTD AlanFarrell
0612
ALAN FARRELL TD
28/08/2018 11:35