Bus lanes to be doubled in Dublin
The number of bus lanes in Dublin is to be doubled, Transport Minister Seamus Brennan said today.
The minister said he hoped to increase designated corridors from nine to 18 over the next year as part of a range of congestion-cutting measures.
The decision was made after figures showed that the number of people using buses in the capital had increased by 40% since the introduction of bus corridors in 1997.
Mr Brennan spoke of “giving the city back to public transport”.
He said: “Let’s try to give it back to buses and let’s try to give it back to trains.”
The minister said the “aggressive” expansion was also planned for Galway in the west of Ireland and Cork in the south.
He has asked all the planning and transport authorities to bring forward the traffic move as a matter of urgency.
It is estimated that the expansion will cost tens of millions of euro.
Mr Brennan announced the move after launching the publication of a set of traffic management guidelines to advise planners and developers on a variety of issues including traffic planning, traffic calming and the incorporation of speed measures in new residential designs.
The guidelines will advise them to take into account vulnerable road users such as cyclists, motorcyclists and pedestrians.
Mr Brennan added: “The core principle is to optimise the use of road space.”
