National Transport Authority (NTA) has today launched the Dublin Area Bus Network Redesign Choices Report. The report has been prepared by Jarrett Walker & Associates, a US based firm which specialises in designing metropolitan public transport systems. The Choices Report reviews the patterns of transport demand across the Dublin region and the structure of the existing bus network.  It identifies certain issues with the current bus system and proposes possible strategies that could address those deficiencies.

The NTA is seeking the public’s views on the issues raised in the Choices Report and, in particular, on the possible strategies that could be implemented in the redesign of the bus network – these are set out in Chapter 5 (Strategies for a Redesigned Bus Network) of the report.

The Choices Report can be downloaded by clicking the following link: Choices Report [PDF, 13.9Mb]

An online web survey is available at www.BusConnects.ie or at this link https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/X8K2RB6 from today.  The responses to the survey will be used to inform the network redesign process which will produce a detailed Network Review Report that will published later this year. That report will itself be open to a further process of public consultation in early 2018 before any recommendations are implemented. The Network Review is one element of BusConnects, NTA’s plan to radically transform public transport in the Dublin region, which was published last week. 

NTA Chief Executive Anne Graham said: “The current system of bus routes and services in Dublin is complex. With about 130 different bus routes forming the Dublin Bus network, very few people would be able to describe the routes of more than a handful of those services and most users limit themselves to a few familiar routes. The bus network in Dublin is very radially focused, with most routes emanating outwards from the City Centre. Orbital bus services – routes that skirt the city – are few and far between. As a result, many bus journeys can only be made by firstly traveling into the City Centre on one radial route, and then taking another radial bus service out. We believe that a system with greater scope for interconnection between routes, and where connecting passengers don’t necessarily have to travel to the city centre, is one that would be far more attractive and convenient. We want to move towards a system that minimises the overall period of time needed for most journeys and focusses transfers onto high frequency routes, cutting down waiting and journey times. While much has already been achieved by Dublin Bus in making the network more efficient, the bus system across the Dublin region has the potential to operate much more effectively than it currently does.

“This will require a fundamental reconfiguration of routes and services. The document we are publishing today lays out the choices that we face when it comes to redesigning the bus network in Dublin and asks questions such as: 

  • Can we standardise patterns of frequency and span?
  • Can we simplify radial services to form very frequent spines?
  • Can we provide frequent orbitals by reducing duplication?
  • Is there a role for suburban feeder buses to support major routes?

“It is important to note today, that nothing in this report should be construed as a proposal. What is happening here is that Jarrett Walker & Associates are posing some questions on how people feel about our bus services, and how the network could work better, and the NTA is facilitating consultation and discussion around those questions. We hope that members of the public will engage in this process of consultation by filling in the survey, so that the information on their views about bus services and the bus network can be factored into the redesign process and help shape the final outcome in a meaningful way.”

The public consultation process commences today 6th June and submissions should be made before 5pm on Friday 7th July.