The public bus network in Cork will soon be experiencing a change in their network. The National Transport Authority has recently published a tender document of a new €3.5bn transport plan.
Within the tender, the NTA is looking for expressions of interest from professionals to assess the city’s current system and to renovate it.
The new plan will result in the change of certain bus routes and the implementation of new one.
Last year, the NTA’s €3.5bn Cork Metropolitan Area Transport Strategy (CMATS) was launched. This renovation works is the latest stage of this project.
The project is a €1bn suburban light rail system and it also encompasses €545m package for increasing the bus lanes as well. The package holds the capacity to deliver a 700% hike in bus lanes by extending 14km to 100km.
Aspiration Blueprint provides a detailed framework for planning and delivering transportation infrastructure and services in the Cork metropolitan area over the next two decades.
Commuter rail, bus corridors, light rail, park, and rides, walking and cycling infrastructure are all included in the package and with the implementation of this, the transport network of Cork will experience a great change.
CMATS describes the city’s bus network as the workhorse of the city’s future transport system.
With the new project coming into reality, it will take only 20 minutes from Mahon to Blarney, 20 minutes from Ballincollig to Glanmire, 15 minutes from Dublin Hill to Togher, and Ringaskiddy to Cork Airport in 30 minutes.
For the overall smooth function of the public transport network, this would also require a renovation in the bus network as well. For that the NTA is seeking expert advise regarding the existing network of PSO bus services in the Cork Metropolitan area and to design a new network as a part of the new project.
the NTA said that the latest network plan will be designed to pull a greater number of passengers to use PSO services.
They expect the work to start in January 2021 and requires around 15-months to finish it.