Transport & Planning Issues in the west of Ireland

galway | environment | opinion/analysis Wednesday August 17, 2005 15:49 by Derrick Hambleton - An Taisce's Galway Association derrickhambleton at ireland dot com Kingston, Galway 087-2544496

This is a piece about the need for better planning in the west of Ireland. Particularly, Transport Planning and the need for this government to put Public Transport provision at the top of its list. Read on !

Transport & Development in Galway City: An Opinion

Recently (Spring 2005), Galway’s city councillors approved a large number of applications leading to the re-zoning of lands around the city (during consideration of the new City Development Plan 2005 - 2011). These actions will make millionaires out of some lucky land owners and will usually result in the spread of socially damaging Urban-Sprawl; as without the accompanying provision of adequate social, economic and transport infrastructures, this can only contribute to the ever increasing levels of traffic chaos, and social exclusion as more people take to cars to move around the city.

By continuing to stimulate substantial growth of, mostly, low density housing and commercial development in the city suburbs, without the parallel provision of infrastructure, especially in public transport infrastructure, we promote a culture of car dependence. In discussing transport in it’s Draft Development Plan 2005-2011, Galway City Council acknowledged in the opening paragraph, where, it is admitted, that, “the GTPS (Galway Transport & Planning Study) does not provide for specific transportation policies for the city area”. An Taisce asks Why Not ?

The car has transformed the opportunities to live in and visit the countryside around Galway, much the same as in Dublin and in other cities in Ireland. Previously remote areas have come within easy reach of urban Galway and the rural population has grown. But the new choices the car offers of where to live and how to travel have come at a cost:

new roads around Galway have scarred the landscape and many more are planned, while more minor ‘improvements’ to country lanes have stripped them of their rural character;

car pollutants and traffic noise now extend far into rural areas, further eroding the tranquillity of the countryside around Galway city;

increasing traffic levels cut through communities, breaking up social contact;

speeding traffic has changed the feel of many Galway villages and fatal car crashes occur most frequently on rural roads; and for one in five rural residents without a car, life has become more isolated as other transport options have declined and shops, post offices, garda barracks and other services have withdrawn from the countryside.
Looking ahead, rural traffic around Galway is set to grow faster than urban traffic and is set to increase by huge percentages by 2016 (the period covered by the September 1999 Galway Transport & Planning Study ‘Buchanan’). For busy commuter areas, like County Galway, this will mean rural congestion and growing traffic jams. However, country roads everywhere are likely to become busier, reducing the quality of the experience of living in and visiting the countryside.

An Taisce’s interest !

Why is transportation so important in our environment and to An Taisce ? The movement of people and vehicles has implications for settlements within our city and in the surrounding countryside. Within Galway's larger suburbs these (implications) can lead to conflicts between residents and commuters and between pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles. In our urban environment the volume and rate of movement of motor vehicles affects the quality of the air we breath, the amount of noise we experience and our ability to cross the roads safely. Transportation has major impacts on the environment whether it be natural, social or economic and hence it is of concern to An Taisce. It is after all EU policy, and should be the Irish governments - to reduce car dependency.

But first. What is An Taisce and why is it interested in transportation ? An Taisce, The National Trust for Ireland was founded in 1948 and is recognised nationally and internationally as the major voluntary and independent environmental organisation in Ireland. It has about 6000 members and receives no financial support from the Government. Its role is to attempt to conserve the natural and man-made environment. The elements of the environment needing protection include eco-systems that support native populations of plants and animals; areas of outstanding landscape and of scientific interest; our built heritage whether it be ancient monuments or items of archaeological interest; buildings from particular periods such as great houses or vernacular thatched cottages as well as structures designed for particular purposes which may be no longer economically relevant like market houses and village water pumps. The threats to the environment were well summarised in an address given by our first president, Robert Lloyd Praeger (1865-1953), on Radio Eireann on 10th October 1948: ‘These need protection against dilapidation, against injury, whether caused by carelessness, ignorance or ruthlessness, against sequestration for private ends, and in recent times, often against the action of public bodies.’

An Taisce says that Transport is an issue requiring urgent political commitment over long periods of time. In Galway, we need to look at other city’s where mass transit systems work very well and we need to challenge the apparent mental block which exists against preparing an integrated transport plan for Galway.

Recent Development Pressures:

According to the Galway Integration Study - Interim Report (Colin Buchanan and Partners 2001) “Revisions to the population and household forecasts have resulted in a higher than expected number of people and households to be accommodated in the GTPS area during the Study period 1996-2016, when compared to the 1999 GTPS.”

In these studies, we are led to believe that we can expect the city’s population to grow to 76,000 + while the County will grow to 82,393 by 2016 (An Taisce believes these figures represent significant underestimates).

An Taisce in Galway suggest that Galway’s designation as a Gateway in the governments National Spatial Strategy document (NSS 2002 - 2020), has, and will in future, lead to the city developing an ever growing influence in the region. This will lead, if nothing is done to resolve the difficulties, to “a worsening commuter problem which has a serious negative impact on quality of life, particularly for families where parents are obliged to commute long distances.” So said Gerald Purcell, who is president of the Construction Industry Federation (Irish Times, 3 Sept 04).

Anecdotal evidence suggests that with continually rising house prices in Galway, that couples are choosing to build one-off houses in the country, or are moving out to live in the growing Satellite towns which are scattered around Galway. They then commute back to the city for work, because there is insufficient well paid employment near them in the County ! This now presents Galway city, and County, with problems.

The Solutions:

There has been much talk recently about how we might resolve these growing difficulties. Some solutions being put forward are: -

to improve Bus services
ensure the costs of car travel reflect wider social environmental costs
provide commuter rail
build Galway City outer-by-pass (but An Taisce says not yet)
provide park-n-ride sites at edge of city
and, re-develop Ceannt Station.

James Wickham, TCD, in presenting a paper to tasc (the new Social Think Tank) (Not Berlin, not Boston, but Los Angeles ? Public Transport and urban citizenship in Dublin) suggests that “the corollary of poor public transport is car dependency, where people use cars because they have no choice of any alternative mode of transport. In a car dependent city it is essential to own a car (or at least have access to one) in order to participate in normal activities - not just employment, but shopping, socialising etc”.

Transport 2000, a UK based public transport campaign group, also say “that despite warnings, it is still socially acceptable to own a car and many people express their individuality partly through the vehicle they drive, from brand to extra fittings. The car might seem to be settled in its place in society. This is partly because the car has been cleverly equated with a range of basic needs - such as belonging and sex - by crafty marketing for years and is now firmly entrenched as a desirable object. The link between the car and basic desires is an artificial link, however, and can be broken.

In fact the link is already being broken. Car sharing in Switzerland is a successful business enterprise, precisely because it is increasingly seen as a respectable and sensible alternative to owning a car in Swiss cities. Simple good sense is prevailing as society there is starting to move beyond the need to own a car to satisfy a range of psychological needs. And when this happens, the way will be open for people to move from owning cars to sharing them”. www.transport2000.org.uk has the information .

Galway already has some public transport, in the form of its mainline train - Galway - Dublin, and a City/Country bus network. But the problem as An Taisce sees it, is the historical under-investment in bus services, and the fact that buses share the same road space as cars. Therefore, buses cannot operate efficiently where they get caught up in the same congestion that we all do.

The solution here is to remove bus services from the roads space presently occupied by cars, lorrys and other road users. Department of Transport officials have ruled out providing more money for extra bus vehicles, until “we see more investment in infrastructure” on which to run buses efficiently (we will discuss how this might happen in Galway at the end of this article).

However. Recently (1st October, 2004), Andrew F. Cullen Asst Secretary in the Department of Transport confirmed, in a letter “there is funding available for QBC’s in Galway. It is a matter for Galway City Council to submit its proposals to us”.

At a transport conference, held in April 04, in Clarenbridge, Co Galway Minister for Transport had stated that a fund of 20million euro was available, as primer funding for any local authority who would bring in QBC’s to relieve congestion. I am not aware that Galway City Council have yet looked for any significant amounts of this money ?

The greater use, and twin lining, of the existing mainline Galway - Dublin rail track, and the re-invention of the unused north - south line by introducing commuter services operating between places like Tuam to Galway, Athlone, Ballinasloe, Gort, Oranmore and Galway etc, is being discussed as part of the Draft Development Plan.

This part of the solution should be supported and expedited by local politicians. The fact that former Minister for Transport Seamus Brennan, has put this into limbo by setting up a committee to look at the West-on-Track rail network is merely delaying the inevitable. Although we all hope that this committee’s deliberations will show the economic benefits of setting up a West Coast rail network, and will make argument for the politicians to delay progress inarguable and unstoppable.

There is no doubt that Galway, if it continues to grow outwards, will need to see the construction of a form of Outer-City By-pass at some future time. But the arguments being used to justify its urgent construction now are specious. Junior Minister, Frank Fahey TD should stop blaming “a few individuals, the Labour Party and the Greens” for holding up this road. For it is a fact that his own government colleague is responsible for holding back the funds needed to progress the construction of this road. The NRA haven't even published the EIS for the project yet. It is also quite possible, probable even, that there will be continued delay due to very real concerns being expressed over the environmental, heritage and sustainability issues surrounding such a project.

The loss of landscape and the considerable land-take involved in building this road will surely see public concerns being highlighted when the Environmental Impact Statement is eventually published. Given the environmental and archaeological concerns currently being expressed over the proposed development of the M3 Motorway at the Hill of Tara; we can surely expect delays, due to similar fears of loss, in Galway. However, an Outer City By-pass will not get rid of, nor will it resolve the growing traffic congestion we presently have in the city. There is some justification in the argument put forward by some, that building this road is more about opening up yet more development land for builders than it is about providing alternative routes to avoid traffic going through town. An Taisce are concerned about the losses, and irreparable damage which may occur to some of Galway's vital heritage features, which will inevitably result if the proposed bridge crosses the River Corrib at Menlo.

It is for these reasons, and those given below, that An Taisce opposes the roads suggested route.

An NRA survey (based on 1,500 completed questionnaires) showed that nearly 70% of all journeys during the peak hours of 7.30 - 9am on the Dublin Ring Road are conducted by commuters, and 80% of these vehicles are occupied by just one person. 91% of the survey respondents started their journey at home during the peak hours, and 72% of peak-time drivers finished their journey at their work place.

A quality public transport system, with QBC’s, in Galway would, in An Taisce’s view, be both cheaper, and, be more effective in reducing car dependence. Given the continuing government failure to fund the next stage in the process for a GCOBP. The quicker and more environmentally sustainable public transport options are, An Taisce’s believes, more viable ! And, if access to Connamara is deemed to be so vital, why not go for a bridge at Kilbeg/Knockferry as is already being proposed in the GTPS Integration Study ?

The provision of Park-and-Ride in Galway city has been discussed for aeons, and is getting nowhere. A developer who was recently given permission to construct a Park-and-Ride facility at Briarhill, is now looking to get out of this commitment, and now wants to build a more profitable shopping centre instead. Land for Park-and-Ride is becoming scarce.

It would seem to An Taisce, that despite discussing this P&R issue for years, that the provision of such facilities is as far away as ever. There needs to be some concrete proposals put forward quickly, and funding secured to enhance the possibilities of such services being provided.

The positive development of, and proposed major re-jig, at Galway’s Ceannt Station is urgent, if the city is to be able to handle improved public transport systems coming into the centre. A Multi-modal public/private transport interconnection is an immediate requirement if public transport is to succeed in reducing car generated traffic in Galway (news of developments at Ceannt station is expected in the Autumn 05). Galway City Council, CIE and private developers must bring forward proposals urgently, and expedite planning for this essential facility asap. It should put the development of public transport solutions as a priority, and reserve land for such vital infrastructure ahead of any commercial development of hotels, shopping precincts and luxury city centre apartments, which are all being mooted for this site. This would be in the publics best interest.

An Taisce’s preferred options:

An Taisce advocate that local councillor’s and T.D’s should be seeking greater government investment in rail and bus services for Galway, and to ensure that they are upgraded to meet the needs of the 21st century.

News of the second coming of the Celtic Tiger will, we are told, increase the governments tax take. This should allow for greater investment in vital infrastructure projects, and is surely good news for Galway.

An Taisce wants to see Quality Bus Corridors provided in all urban areas. This means introducing continuous all day bus lanes that will ensure that buses keep to their schedules. We also need to replace the aging fleet with reliable buses (using alternative fuels) that cause less pollution and don’t breakdown. We must seek to expand the bus network, and ensure proper funding to do this. Once this happens your bus should arrive on time.

We are aware that Galway City Council together with Bus Eireann are embarking on a series of route improvements which may make buses more efficient on existing routes (the Dublin Road Bus Priority Measure in Renmore is just a start). But such improvements on their own will not in our view encourage car users to abandon their cars and move over to using public transport. We need a Ken Livingstone (Mayor of London) type of character to suggest the introduction of measures which inhibit the use of private cars in the city centre. A congestion charge may not be the most appropriate, or popular method to use in Galway, but, there are other ways of promoting a change in habit. However, one of Ken Livingstones more recent (and more acceptable) projects, is set to see the re-introduction of Trams back onto Londons streets. See www.tfl.gov.uk/westlondontram.


Mayor. Livingstone is proposing the introduction of a Tram service in West London, which will see the building of a tram route between Shepherds Bush and Uxbridge town centre. The tram would run 20km along the A4020 through Acton, Ealing, West Ealing, Hanwell, Southall and Hayes End. It will be capable of carrying 23 million passengers per year.

In Galway, where our built suburbs now stretch 20 miles across - east to west. Why can we not also consider the development of a GALWAY-TRAM service ? This could run from a terminus located in Bearna/Knocknacarra running alongside the Western Distributor Road via Westside, Newcastle, over the Quinncentennial bridge on through the Headford Road area to Ballybane, then on to Doughuisce and through Ardaun (18,000 new people living here by 2016 we are told) terminating in Oranmore. Modern articulated TRAMS can carry 300 passengers each, compared with 120 on a bendy-bus (as used in Dublin) or 90 on a double decker bus. A new tramway along the route mentioned above could increase public transport capacity, and if you had a frequency of say 7 or 8 minutes at peak times, with real-time electronic indicators, would allow for further growth in passenger numbers.

In addition, TRAMS have fewer drivers and vehicles to maintain, which reduces operating costs compared with buses. For most of its route, the GAL-TRAM would run on separate lanes to general traffic. Traffic lights on the route would be arranged to give the GAL-TRAM priority over other traffic. This would make the GAL-TRAM quicker and more reliable than the current bus service if there is one. Of course - Park-and-Ride car parks should be made available at each end and at intermediate stops. All this for half the price of a Galway City Outer By-pass (estimated 250m euro +) and be ready twice as fast !

While planners will say that there isn’t yet the residential density, or the passenger numbers, to justify the level of investment required. WE are quite sure that if politicians were perceptive enough to recognise the future economic advantages which would flow from the building of such a system. That residential and commercial high density development would quickly follow along the route. This would quickly see passenger numbers increase to make the system financially viable. After all. How quickly did the Quinncentennial Bridge, and its approach roads become inundated, overcrowded and outdated ?

ENDS.

Derrick Hambleton has lived in Galway for 26 years and has been a taxi driver in the city for the past 21 years. He is the current Chairman of An Taisce’s Galway Association. Derrick also represents the Galway City Community Forum on Galway City Council’s Transport & Infrastructure SPC, The Spatial Planning sub-committee of the City Development Board he also sits on its Integrated Transport Co-ordination sub-group.

Contact details for further information: tel 091-525588 or 087-2544496
eMail - derrickhambleton@ireland.com