Have your say on transport hub planned for Nenagh
Tipperary Co Council (Nenagh Municipal District) is seeking the views of the public on the proposed development of a transport hub at Nenagh Railway Station.
The proposal may include the following measures: Provision of a fully integrated transport hub serving rail and bus passengers; relocation of the existing bus stops from Kickham Street to Nenagh Railway Station for all Dublin, Limerick and other local bus services – including those provided by Bus Éireann, private operators and Local Link services; provision of set-down and pick-up areas at Nenagh Railway Station; provision of a taxi rank, if required; provision of bus shelters; parking area for the dropping off and collection of passengers; provision of real time information panels; enhanced linkage to the town centre for pedestrians and cyclists; enhancements to the provision of secure, sheltered cycle parking.
The council has found that the existing bus stop situation on Kickham St often conflicts with traffic movements and causes serious delays to traffic, as well as being inherently unsafe for passengers getting on and off the buses. It is not unusual to observe buses simultaneously at either side of the road and they are often prevented from fully entering into the set-down area by illegally parked cars.
Furthermore, the impending new Traffic Management Plan will force the Limerick-bound buses to relocate from their current stop outside Nenagh Credit Union to Pearse Street (in the vicinity of Supermacs).
On the face of it, the proposal to move to the railway station has a lot of advantages: The Limerick and Dublin bus stops would be located beside each other; there is sufficient room to develop a full transport hub in the station with train, bus and taxi services all in the same location. Furthermore, other facilities such as modern bus shelters and real timetabling could be provided.
The council believes the National Transport Authority (NTA) may be willing to fund most if not all of these facilities. The railway station is leased by the council from Iarnród Éireann/CIE, who are the owners of the site. The proposed transport hub would require their agreement.
When the idea of relocating the bus stops to the railway station was previously mooted, there was some resistance from businesses on Kickham Street, who felt there might be a reduction in footfall to their premises. But council management has met with some of these business owners and are of the opinion that they no longer oppose the proposal.
However, there may be other businesses/interests that would not agree with the proposal and the council would like to engage further with these. A non-statutory public consultation is therefore being advertised and submissions, clearly marked 'Nenagh Transport Hub', can be made by email to customerservices@tipperarycoco.ieor by post to the Civic Offices in Nenagh before June 11th.