Cork bus infrastructure get green light despite fears over loss of parking spaces

Wider bus lane to result in loss of 13 parking spaces near two city centre schools, councillors told

The new interchanges and terminus projects are earmarked for Clontarf Street, Parnell Place, outside Cork University Hospital, Riverstown, and on the Mardyke, close to St Joseph's NS and Presentation Brother's College.

Plans for new bus infrastructure to help deliver Cork city's new bus network have been approved despite concerns about the loss of on-street parking near two city centre schools.

The five new bus interchanges, parking stands and terminals are completely separate to the 11 strategic transport corridors which are still undergoing public consultation.

They are essential to help implement the city's new bus network as part of the €600m BusConnects Cork scheme to provide over 50% more bus services, with more buses serving more areas, bringing more people within walking distance of a high frequency bus service.

The buses will need this new infrastructure to allow them to turn around at the new endpoints of new and extended bus routes.

The new interchanges and terminus projects are earmarked for Clontarf Street, Parnell Place, outside Cork University Hospital, Riverstown, and on the Mardyke, close to St Joseph's NS and Presentation Brother's College.

The plans for all five came before February's meeting of Cork City Council on Monday night for approval.

Independent councillor Paudie Dineen said there were concerns about the Mardyke scheme where it is proposed to widen the bus lane near St Joseph’s NS to provide a new bus stand and bus stop, and to remove parking on the southern side of the road to accommodate a traffic lane, and he called for a vote on it.

But Fianna Fáil councillor Sean Martin said councillors should look at the bigger picture for the city, while Fine Gael councillor Shane O’Callaghan said if the cost of delivering a reliable bus service was about a dozen parking spaces, it was a price worth paying.

What's your view on this issue?

You can tell us here

Green Party councillor Dan Boyle said road space must be allocated more democratically.

The council’s director of infrastructure, Gerry O’Beirne, said the Mardyke proposals would result in the loss of 13 parking spaces at most, with 80 available on the rest of the street, but he said engineers would seek to reduce further the loss of on-street parking during the detailed design stage.

He described the new bus infrastructure as an important and critical step towards delivery of the overall BusConnects scheme, and said approval would help pave the way for the purchase of new buses and new driver recruitment.

It is planned to implement the new bus network and infrastructure in three phases during 2024 and 2025.