Park & Ride plans for Galway ‘lack ambition’

From the Galway City Tribune – Galway City councillors said this week that the Park & Ride plans presented to them to absorb traffic currently driving into the city lacked ambition and urgency.

Cllr John Connolly (FF) told Monday’s City Council meeting, that by now, sites for Park & Ride facilities should have been earmarked or selected and deals concluded with landowners.

He also expressed concern about some of the phrases used in the report prepared by the National Transport Authority (NTA) which lacked urgency, an example being that “they were investigating the potential for sites”.

“There are certain obvious questions that need to be answered. Why, for example, is the former airport site [Carnmore] ruled out and why is Athenry Railway Station not included, in addition to Oranmore Station, in the plans?” asked Cllr Connolly.

According to Cllr Alan Cheevers (FF), the report was ‘underwhelming’ and added that Galway should be way ahead of the game rather than chasing it as regards the provision of Park & Ride facilities.

Cllr Frank Fahy (FG) said that providing 320 spaces north of Claregalway on a route that had 40,000 car journeys every day would make no impression.

Cllr Donal Lyons (Ind) said that it was disappointing that the west side of the city wasn’t being included in the shorter-term plans for Park & Ride. “The Bearna and Moycullen roads are just saturated every morning with cars,” he said.

Galway City Council Chief Executive, Brendan McGrath, told councillors that ‘there was no lack of ambition’ – either with the City Council or the NTA.

(Image: the proposed 550-space Park & Ride near the Claregalway/Oranmore exit of the M6)
This is a shortened preview version of this story. To read further coverage of the NTA presentation on Park & Ride and the subsequent debate,  see the October 14 edition of the Galway City Tribune. You can support our journalism and buy a digital edition HERE.