Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

The NTA has long recognised the importance of high-capacity park-and-ride facilities at designated public transport interchanges and has been providing these facilities as part of the ongoing investment in public transport. To support the timely delivery of park-and-ride sites and a cohesive overall programme, the NTA established the park and ride development office, PRDO, in February 2020. The office provides design services to assist in the delivery of park-and-ride projects across the State.

Regarding Galway, the PRDO has undertaken site option analyses and feasibility studies and is currently preparing a park-and-ride strategy for the Galway metropolitan area. The PRDO engaged with Galway city and county councils to discuss potential park-and-ride sites. A draft strategy was presented to Galway City Council on 10 October and a similar presentation will be made to Galway County Council this December. The draft strategy includes proposals for three bus-based strategic park-and-ride sites, the upgrade and expansion of the rail-based park-and-ride site at Oranmore, and two further possible future park-and-ride sites.

The PRDO is continuing detailed site option analyses and feasibility studies of each of the zones identified and these are expected to be completed in the coming months, taking into account the outcome of the strategy consultation with stakeholders. It should be noted that the development of particular sites will be aligned with the delivery of other supporting infrastructure, in particular bus corridor infrastructure. The NTA expects that the planning consent processes will commence in mid-2023.

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