Killarney to get new shuttle buses to ease traffic gridlock
The shuttle service — three buses operating seven days a week — will become operational 'imminently", according to Kerry County Council director of roads services Frank Hartnett.
The buses will start at 6am and continue to pick up and drop off passengers until 11pm, running to the most popular locations in the area.
The service is part of a new transport programme for Killarney and is being funded by the National Transport Authority.
A management structure, overseen by the Local Link Service, is already in place.
'They are finalising routes and travel plans. It is imminent,' Mr Hartnett said.
A meeting of Kerry County Council's Killarney Municipal District heard that traffic in the town is worsening, particularly during peak commuter hours.
Local councillor Marie Moloney appealed for the shuttle service to be made available to school students while her fellow councillor Brendan Cronin bemoaned the introduction of cycle lanes, which he said left little space for dedicated bus lanes. Mr Cronin said:
Every bit of space we have is constantly going to cycle lanes. The opportunity is gone for dedicated bus lanes.
Locations for park-and-ride services are being identified so people can leave cars on the outskirts of the town to ease congestion on the main arteries into Killarney.
The shuttle bus routes will be 'flexible' and involve corner-to-corner drop offs, the council has said.
'Killarney's biggest challenge'
The meeting heard that people are deliberately avoiding Killarney because of the chronic traffic congestion which is negatively impacting business.
The local chamber of commerce said traffic chaos is now the biggest single issue for the town.
The N22 Farranfore to Killarney Road Project is overdue by more than 20 years. Many people believe the project is the ultimate solution to relieve congestion.
The 27km road project was unveiled in 2003 but shelved after the economic downturn because of lack of funding.
Now estimated to cost in excess of €200m, the project is again going through planning and design procedures.
Proposed inner relief roads for the town would bring up to 5,000 cars out of the centre of Killarney, the council meeting heard.
:: This article was funded by the Local Democracy Scheme.
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