What is BusConnects?

BusConnects is a programme of public transport investment in Ireland’s major urban centres. It is developed and managed by the National Transport Authority (NTA), and funded by Project Ireland 2040.

Rejection of Infinity Woodlands Bus Route

The National Transport Authority (NTA) has published its draft new bus network for Limerick on February 22nd 2023. This is a very positive initiative as a whole and may be a useful measure in helping with parking issues in the area.
There was however much concern expressed at the Plassey Residents Association Meeting of February 22nd 2023 about an aspect of the new proposed route that includes a two lane bus route through the private Land between Milford Hospice and the Plassey credit union on the Plassey Road (See image below).

The concerns included.

• Potential invocation of a compulsory order that will lead to the desecration of the Infinity Woodland. (Listed as Native Irish Woodland). This was established by the Little Company of Mary in 2021 and included the planting of 5000 new trees.
• Impact on Milford Care Centre.
• Impact on locals and commuters in getting to from Credit Union, Milford National School and Milford Church.
• The potential lack of impact/gain for the Bus customer in using the proposed new Bus lane over existing entry/exit gates. Has any evidence been gathered to support the notion that this route will improve the service significantly?

The formation of a sub-committee of the association to be lead by John Stapleton and include Tom O’Brien and Sharon Le Gear was agreed to deal specifically with representing the PRA on this issue. John urged the Association to allow the subcommittee to work in the background key local stakeholders.

This also included follow up from PRA and local residents representation at a UL CLC meeting of March 2nd.

This resulted in a meeting with senior representatives of the National Transport Authority, who agreed verbally that “this proposed route was no longer viable as it would go through is now a forest licenced with the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and the Marine.” (Source UL CLC meeting Minutes May 4th 2023)

UL East Gate Car Park Solution

Following the presentation by Robert Reidy Director of B&E on Smart Travel at UL it was indicated that the Milford Proposal which “was no longer UL’s preferred solution” (UL CLC Meeting May 4th 2023) for a new Bus Route through UL. The alternative presented using car parking on UL land near the East Gate was discussed at Plassey Residents Association meeting of May 31st 2023 the based on viewing the map of the proposal on the final page of the Smart Travel Brief Note.

Concerns around the implications for local residents around East Gate Car Park proposal

• Significant increase of bus traffic along Plassey Park Road.
• Busier and more difficult road crossing for school children of Milford National School. The current wait times for crossing at the primary school are far longer than those for the pedestrians at UL at both the front and rear gates.
• The proposal will reduce the UL car parking spaces by 78 and it is likely that the Church/School/Credit Union Car Parks will be used as pick up and drop off points for passengers transferring from a car to a bus as they will be more convenient to access than the car parks on UL Grounds.

Publication of Final New Network

In December 2023 The Limerick Bus Network Redesign Volume II: Final New Network was released. The document mentioned that the consultation that took place from the 22nd February to the 7th April 2023 that 22% of the 663 submissions were related to impacts on the Milford Care Centre from a proposed facility serving the University of Limerick. (Page 34). The response to this concern indicated that “The NTA will seek to

provide new arrangements to serve UL which will avoid directly impacting the grounds of Milford Care Centre. The development of a new link access, should it proceed, will be subject to detailed design and planning.” (Page 36)

The map of the proposed service at UL (Page 53) pointed to a key change with “A new bus facility located off the Plassey Park Road as the main campus bus stop….The exact location of this facility will be determined in coordination with the University of Limerick and Limerick City Council”.

Transport Sub-Committee Meet With Limerick City and County Council

Members of the Transport Subcommittee of the Plassey Residents Association met with
Hugh McGrath (Senior Engineer Travel & Transport Strategy) and Ciara Power (Executive
Engineer) from Limerick City and County Council on Septermber 12th 2024.

The main takeaway points form the meeting were;

1) No plans (at the time) were in place for phase two on Plassey Park road.
2) No Consultancy Team appointed as yet by UL regarding the bus depot and overflow
from car park.
3) Garraun Road: Not a runner unless taken as part of Northern Ring Road.
4) Park and Ride from Mackey roundabout being actively planned.
5) Timescale for bus routes etc. will be around 2026.