"Getting drowned is no way to start the day - Navan Needs More Bus Shelters" - Cllr Emer Tóibín
The prospect of soaking in wet clothes for hours is not one that most people would relish, but it’s the reality for the many users of public transport in Navan, who have to stand in all weathers without the protection of bus shelters.
That’s according to Aontú Cllr Emer Tóibín who has been calling for the provision of more bus shelters at certain bus stops in the town for the past 5 years, but today say that she and the beleaguered public are becoming “more and more frustrated as the wheels of progress on this important piece of infrastructure grind ever so slowly”.
Cllr Tóibín says
“Two bus stops at the Ardboyne Hotel, Navan are conspicuous by the absence of a bus shelter. These stops are the collection, and drop-off stops for Bus Éireann routes 109, 109A and various private buses and coaches going to and coming from Dunshaughlin Community College, Maynooth University and Dunboyne College of Further Education”.
“Large numbers of passengers are to be seen daily standing at these stops and it exemplifies poor planning by the National Transport Authority (NTA) and Meath County Council that despite all the focus and funding on active travel and public transport, service users must wait for buses, often in the rain, without shelter”.
“Whether it is a student, a shopper, a commuter or an intending holidaymaker getting a bus to the airport, waiting for a bus in the rain isn't good enough. Sitting in damp or wet clothes all day, apart from very uncomfortable, reduces productivity and undermines health”.
“Millions of Euros have and are being spent in Navan on the rollout of cycle lanes and active travel but basic bus shelter infrastructure, costing a fraction of this, needs immediate focus and action. We know the government wants people out of their cars, then I say, 'make it attractive, feasible and sustainable'.
“According to a response from the NTA to my recent representation, a different initiative has been launched to provide bus shelters where possible in the town. Each council has to engage in the “Bus Stop Enhancement Programme” with an allocation of €500,000 as part of the 2024 NTA allocations”
“This is not a huge sum of money when you consider the geographical size of Meath, the number of urban centres, the massive growth in population and the growing number of commuters who work outside the county, the largest in the country in fact”.
“The objective of this programme is to facilitate the enhancement / upgrade of existing bus stops across the country and the installation of bus shelters in appropriate locations”.
“Each local authority is being requested to prepare a prioritised programme of bus stop enhancements in their administrative area for design and delivery on a phased basis. The NTA is now engaged with individual local authorities in relation to the development of their programmes for 2024 and subsequent years. The council is charged with carrying out preparatory works like kerb and footpath changes, road markings and underground services. Through a central supply contract, the NTA will provide the bus shelter to the local authority and will also make available the NTA’s bus shelter contractor to undertake its installation and to maintain the bus shelter subsequently”.
Cllr Tóibín concludes
“So, how long before we see a bus-shelter at the Ardboyne Hotel? Good question. I am waiting over 3 weeks for a reply from the council regarding what the 'prioritised programme of bus stop enhancements' for Navan will be”.
