Cars may face charge for coming into Galway City centre

 The option of congestion taxes and increased carparking charges are open to Galway City in its future development, the City Manager has said.

 “A car-free city returned to pedestrians,” is how the Manager, Brendan McGrath, envisages the future of Galway.

And the construction of the Outer Bypass – coupled with a modal shift from cars to public transport, walking and cycling – are essential for sustainable development, he said.

Speaking at the Galway 2040 conference in NUIG on Friday, Mr McGrath gave a comprehensive presentation on ‘Creating and Managing a Sustainable Infrastructure for our City’.

He said that investment in infrastructure is not the only option available for Galway, that carpark pricing mechanisms and congestion taxes can be looked at.

The Manager said the City Council’s vision is to develop a sustainable transport city, and this can be achieved through infrastructural investments in the road network, and a modal shift from cars to using public transport, walking and cycling.

Mr McGrath warned that if choices are not made that favour public and sustainable transport, it will “perpetuate the current models of low-density, car-dependant culture”.

He said the modal shift could be achieved through the development of a network of bus lanes, cycle lanes and pedestrian facilities.

This includes:

• The extension of pedestrianised streets and shared surfaces

• Development of a Quality Bus/Light Rail Corridor on an east/west axis through the city

• Enhancement of the bus transport system to complement these corridors.

Mr McGrath said the construction of the Outer Bypass is essential for Galway’s development and to “take vehicles out of the city network that don’t want to be there”.

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