More bus lanes planned for Limerick

COUNCIL bosses are considering adding more bus lanes on city centre streets.

It comes amid a push to increase the number of bus services in Limerick by 70% between now and 2027.

At present, the bus lane on O’Connell Street is the only one of its kind in the immediate city centre - although priority routes are in place on the city’s approaches.

But a spokesperson for Limerick City and County Council confirmed an analysis is being carried out to examine bringing new busways into Roches Street, William Street, Henry Streeet and Parnell Street.

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These investigations, done by a special council team will identify which, if any, streets will play host to bus lanes. All this is part of the new Limerick City Centre Transport Plan, which is in its early stages.

Part of the thinking around this strategy is to ensure there is a continual bus lane from the University of Limerick, Castletroy, through the city centre then out to Raheen and Dooradoyle.

In a presentation to members last week, council stated the reforms are designed to “provide end-to-end full bus priority on key bus routes to stop the traffic congestion impacts in Limerick.”

It remains to be seen what the reaction of traders - some of whom have spoken out against bus lanes - will be.

But whatever it is, metropolitan district leader, Cllr Kieran O’Hanlon said it’s important their voices are heard.

“I said the other day, there isn’t much point in having loads of buses coming into the city centre if there are no shops. These traders are there a long, long time and we need to support them in whatever way we can,” he said.

“It would be great to have as many buses as possible bringing people in from the suburbs to the city centre. But it has to be done in a manner which protects business in the city centre,” added Cllr O’Hanlon, who chairs a cross-party committee set up to support traders in Limerick.

Statistics presented to councillors reveal that there was a 15% uplift in ridership on Limerick city’s bus network between 2022 and 2023.

Passenger numbers grew year-on-year by 600,000 to more than four-and-a-half million.

The presentation also revealed that the bus lane in O’Connell Street, introduced following the revitalisation of the thoroughfare, has seen journey times through the city chopped from nine minutes to just three.

A survey of 621 people carried out by council last July showed 39% of these travelled to the city centre by bus.

Thirty-five percent of the respondents said they came to the centre by car.