Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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40. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he is satisfied with the approach taken on the BusConnects proposals which have caused consternation across Dublin during the summer. [37717/18]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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Recent reports show that approximately 70% of people travelling into Dublin city each morning do so by sustainable transport. Well over half of all the public transport trips are by bus; some 136 million passenger journeys annually.  It is no surprise then that Bus is the main component of the planned approach to addressing our current congestion problem and to meeting our future transport needs.

As those numbers grow, and as congestion worsens, it is becoming increasingly difficult to operate a reliable bus system with sufficient capacity to cater for the needs of the region. On the busiest bus routes, bus lanes are only in place for less than one third of the corridor.  This means that for most of the journey, buses are competing for space with general traffic and so are also affected by the increasing levels of congestion.

Against this context, the NTA are progressing the roll-out of BusConnects commencing in Dublin. BusConnects Dublin provides the foundation to this overall transport system, with the revised bus system projected to carry the majority of passengers across the region and provide key linkages to serve the needs of Dublin into the future.

BusConnects Dublin aims to overhaul the current bus system in the Dublin region by:

- building a network of new bus corridors on the busiest bus routes to make bus journeys for passengers faster, predictable and reliable;

- completely redesigning the network of bus routes to provide passengers with a more efficient network, connecting more places and carrying more people;

- developing a state-of-the-art ticketing system using credit and debit cards or mobile phones to link with payment accounts and making payment much more convenient for the travelling public;

- implementing a cashless payment system to vastly speed up passenger boarding times;

- revamping the fare system to provide a simpler fare structure;

- allowing seamless movement for passengers between different public transport services, without financial penalty;

- implementing a new bus livery providing a modern look and feel to the new bus system;

- rolling out new bus stops with better signage and passenger information and increasing the provision of additional bus shelters; and

- transitioning - starting now - to a new bus fleet using low-emission vehicle technologies.

As well as providing many benefits to exisiting and future bus customers, BusConnects Dublin is calculated to also provide over 200km of cycle lanes as an integral element of the scheme.

 In July the National Transport Authority (NTA) published the “Dublin Area Bus Network Redesign Public Consultation Report”. This report notes that the existing bus network in Dublin is very complex, is designed primarily around overlapping and long radial routes taking people into the city centre, but with very few orbital routes. Recent improvements to the rail and tram networks require changes to the bus services to exploit their full potential. Finally the city is growing and changing as are the bus journeys people are taking.

The report identifies 4 key strategies to address the issues with the current network: standardise service categories; simplify radial services; build frequent orbitals and grow suburban feeder networks.

As the Deputy is aware, the NTA supported by Dublin Bus have embarked on a process of full public consultation  on these bus proposals involving local brochures, local face to face events organised at various locations around the city, digital imaging of the network, on-line surveys and consultation with user groups. They are both  listening to people who have suggestions as to how these plans can be made even better.  The public consultation process will run until 28th September and presents a great opportunity for people to have their say before the plans are finalised by the NTA. The NTA expect to publish the finding from the public consultation phase before the year end.

As part of the consultation process, I am advised that the NTA has also engaged with disability groups, facilitated by the National Disability Authority, with regard to the BusConnects proposals. The NTA understand that the issue of interchange is more difficult for elderly people and people with disabilities.  Accordingly, it intends to make changes between services as seamless as possible.  NTA are planning that each key interchange location will have a bus shelter, seating, lighting and passenger information.  Where bus routes intersect at a junction, the bus stops will be moved as close as possible to the junction to minimise any walking required during the bus interchange, and pedestrian crossings will be added where necessary.

 I understand an overall increase in services of 27% is expected, which as far as customers are concerned, can only be a good thing.  The NTA estimate that, of people who currently have a direct service to the city centre, 92% will continue to have such a service under the new proposals. 

I am well aware of concerns raised by people at the Information roadshows and at local meetings. Area specific issues raised at public consultation will be looked at again by both the NTA and Dublin Bus when the consultation period is over. While the proposed network is a significant opportunity to continue the growth of bus services, it will be a huge change for everyone in the city. However, the objective of the proposals is to provide a bus service that is easier to use, understand and more attractive to customers and to potential customers - to make the network more efficient, with frequent services and access to more places.

To conclude, BusConnects is an innovative proposal that is getting people to think about how they travel. I am satisfied  that BusConnects will deliver a bus system that will enable more people to travel by bus than ever before, and allow bus commuting to become a viable and attractive choice for employees, students, shoppers and visitors.