City to get new bus shelters but former mayors still call for more
By Kernan Andrews
Galway city is about to get 21 new bus shelters but far more are needed and many more still await repairs and renovation and City Hall must address this immediately.
This is the view of councillors Brian Walsh (Fine Gael) and Terry O’Flaherty (Independent) who were speaking at Monday’s city council meeting.
At the meeting councillors were presented with a report which detailed the 21 new bus shelters that are to be erected throughout Galway city.
In the west of the city there will be two stops in the Ballymoneen area (across from Monalee Manor and Monalee Heights); two in Shangort (close to the Seacrest and Clybaun Heights area); three stops along the Clybaun Road; and four along the Rahoon Road (two near Rockfield Park, one near the cemetery, and one across from Linn Bhuí).
In the east of the city there will be two bus stops along Parkmore, five on the Doughiska Road, and two new stops along the Dublin Road.
The bus stops will be disabled access, have litter bins, and be sheltered. The Galway City Council had entered into an agreement with Clear Channel Ltd to provide the shelters. The agreement will see the shelters erected at no cost to the city council and Clear Channel will be able to recoup the money from income generated by the spaces on the shelters.
Councillors gave approval for the erection of the bus shelters to go ahead. Councillors Walsh and O’Flaherty said there were other areas of the city that needed bus shelters, such as Bóthair an Coiste and that there were many damaged shelters throughout the city.
Both asked if similar agreements to that with Clear Channel could be entered into by the council to provide further bus shelters and repair the damaged ones. City manager Joe MacGrath then gave a commitment that he will look into where repairs are needed and at other area where stops can be located.
Meanwhile Labour councillor Derek Nolan has proposed that the council establish a bus users forum to address public concerns over bus services in the city.
“A large number of people are angry and upset at what they see as a poor and unreliable bus service in Galway,” he said. “From lack of bus shelters or timetables, to late or ‘no show’ buses, the travelling public are not getting a good deal.”
Cllr Nolan is proposing that such a forum would be chaired by a council member and allow city bus users and stakeholders to put forward suggestions, ask questions about the operation and facilitation of city bus services, and provide direct feedback on passenger experiences.
Matters relevant to this council would be directed to the Galway Transportation Unit for study and subsequently report to this council. Cllr Nolan has now put the proposal before the city council for consideration.