Major upgrade planned for Dublin’s bus and cycle network

The National Transport Authority has today set out draft proposals intended to tackle bus journey times and improve cycling facilities in Dublin.

The plan, which is part of the BusConnects project announced in May of last year, would introduce 16 new bus corridors on major commuter routes around the city, and others as far out as Swords, Lucan and Bray. The NTA estimates a cut in journey times of 40-50% along these routes.

There’s also the intention to provide 200km of cycle tracks and cycle lanes along the corridors, largely segregated from bus and traffic lanes.

Image: NTA (click for larger version)

The NTA say that at the moment, bus lanes only account for around a third of the length of the main bus commuter routes. This forces buses to compete with general traffic for two-thirds of their journeys.

With Dublin’s population forecast to rise to 1.5 million by 2040 – a 25% jump on the current figure of 1.2m – pressure on the road network will only increase.

No timescale has been announced for the plans, however detailed proposals are expected to be published in October, followed by a period of public consultation.