Notes from Transport SPC Meeting - Feb. 14th 2008.
1. Green Route City Council have proposed a plan for a Green Route along the Dunmore Road, from Maypark Lane Roundabout to Lombard St. / Mall Junction. This involves a bus corridor in places, cycle lanes, parking restrictions and bus priority gating, all to facilitate a modal shift in transport in the city, which has the lowest usage of public transport in Ireland. The plans are on view in the Transport Office, Bishops Palace, The Mall, and in the Planning Office, Maritana Gate for the next few weeks. Written submissions are invited from the public / interested parties up to Friday April 4th. A public meeting will take place in the Woodlands Hotel during the planning period and an information leaflet will be issued to the oublic. Keep an eye on local press for details. Green route plans for the N25 and Ferrybank will come in Phases 2 & 3 - 2009 and 2010. 2. The Bicycle Policy Audit (Bypad) draft report was issued by Colm Buchanan & Associates in November and I received a copy at the SPC meeting. This highlights the absence of cycling policy in Waterford City, and points the way for development of a comprehensive policy, using best practice across the EU and worldwide. It is my understanding the other SPC members will receive the report in June, and use it to inform policy development. 3. Plans are in place to erect 15 new bus stops across the city in the near future. 4. Waterford Taxi Drivers presented a case to the meeting for additional taxi ranks in the city, and support from city council in their attempts to reduce the number of new licence plates issued by the regulator. They also requested that taxi drivers be allowed use the green route bus lanes. We were told that it is currently legal for them to do so. 5. Proposed upgrade of N9 (Waterford to Kilcullen) to motorway spec. The public are invited to make submissions to Minister for Transport, Noel Dempsey on this , before Friday 28th March. A proposal was made that the Transport SPC make a submission to the Minister, supporting calls for the upgrade of the planned N9 dual carriageway (Waterford to Kilcullen) to motorway spec. However, following discussion, in which I expressed my non-support for this idea - on the grounds of exacerbating climate change and carbon emissions, discouraging modal shift to rail transport and further unnecessary land-take - it was decided NOT to make a submission. 6. City Council are examining resource requirements to tackle the issue of road safety. Next SPC Meeting : June 19th. Contact me directly if your group has any queries regarding the above. Marie Power WCCF rep. on the Transport SPC email:marpower@eircom.net