Over €3 million for City transport improvements

Over €3 million for City Transport Improvements

Over €3 million has been allocated to 24 transport projects across Galway City. The project includes a mix of improvements to roads and bridges, footpaths, bus lanes, pedestrian crossings, signage and information boards as well as funding to prepare plans for future improvement projects.

The funding is part of the regional cities sustainable transport programme and is being provided by the Department of Transport in conjunction with the National Transport Authority. The projects will improve the walking, cycling and public transport experience for city commuters, tourists and residents alike.

The full list of projects are:

GALWAY CITY COUNCIL
Item	Project Name	Project Description	2013 Allocation (€)
1	Wellpark Road / Connolly Avenue Junction Improvements	Funding to complete project currently under constuction. Substantially complete on-site. Improvements to the junction to link with the developments of future sections of bus lane on the Monivea Road, which currently has very limited traffic lanes with no pedestrian facilities. The revised junction includes for additional turning lanes, pedestrian facilities and CCTV monitoring. Reduced journey times for public transport in and out of the City will result in greater efficiency of the bus network. The new junction and approaches will provide better facilities for cyclists and pedestrians through the junction. Funding for the current year is for the completion of works on site.	75,000
2	Footpath Widening at Bridge Street	Widening of existing footpath on southern side of Bridge Street between Cross Street junction and Dominick Street Lower junction. Will involve the excavation and removal of existing footpath and the provision of a new widened footpath with limited road surfacing / reinstatement of the adjacent road surface. Provisions for improved taxi ranks are also included in the project. Will provide improved connectivity for pedestrians between City Centre and Dominick Street / Henry street shopping area.	170,000
3	Salmon Weir Crossing Study	Completion of a study to examine options for the improvement of bus, cycling and pedestrian movement at this river crossing location, having regard to its busy traffic function. Options examined include possible conversion to one way traffic flow, signal controlled shuttle traffic running and the construction of a new bridge. Salmon Weir Bridge will also be considered under the Bus and Cycle Network Demand Assessment and Prioritisation.	33,000
4	Variable Message and Parking Guidance Signs (Phase 2)	Provision of car parking guidance and Variable Message System (VMS) in Galway City, to be integrated with the Urban Traffic Management Centre (UTMC) system. The system will facilitate the dissemination of priority road user information (such as collision incidents) in real time as well as car park occupancy data and expected journey times, allowing more direct travel for motorists to their destinations and significantly reduce the occurrence of motorists touring the City Centre looking for parking.	60,000
5	Wayfinding Scheme	The project will deliver a system of signage and information boards in key areas of the City (Canal Walks, Salthill Promenade, etc.) as identified in the Draft Walking and Cycling Strategy. Given the medieval nature of the City Centre, careful design will be required. The provision of Wayfinding signage and information boards in the central part of City will greatly assist with pedestrian and cyclist movements within the city. It should also lead to a drop in journeys made by vehicular traffic.	220,000
6	Dangan Greenway	Greenway from the NUI Galway / Kingfisher Gym (N6 Underpass) to Galway Cathedral on University Road. Forms part of the Galway to Clifden Cycle Route. The route in its entirety passes through NUI Galway grounds. At the southern end it would link to Michael O’Shaughnessey Bridge and Fisheries Field Greenway, which link to Galway City Centre. The scheme will improve pedestrian and cyclist safety by providing a high quality pedestrian / cyclist route, segregated from motorised vehicles and providing a direct route from Galway City Centre through NUI Galway. The route will provide a more attractive route option from the existing road network, which will lead to the transfer of pedestrians / cyclists from other routes. Funding for the current year is for the completion of design work on the project and the development of an overall integrated design for the route and an overall costruction delivery schedule.	102,000
7	CCTV Cameras at Junctions	Provision of CCTV cameras at junctions on key intersections throughout the City, which will facilitate better traffic management through better monitoring of the network. The works will also include extending communications back to UTMC system.	120,000
8	Rahoon Road Bus Lane	Funding to complete project currently under constuction. Anticipated to be completed early this year, the scheme will provide 200 metres of bus lane in the inbound direction and the provision of a dedicated cycle lane for a distance of 200 metres on the outbound direction, with reallocation of exiting space and alterations to existing footpaths so as to provide the bus lane, cycle lanes and new footpaths. The scheme will integrate bus lane and cycle facilities into the recently completed bus and cycle facilities on the Seamus Quirke Road.	500,000
9	Monivea Road Bus Lanes	The Galway Strategic Bus Study recommends that bus priority infrastructure be provided on the Monivea Road / Wellpark Road Corridor. It is proposed that bus lanes be implemented on the approach to the Wellpark Road / Connolly Avenue Junction in the outbound direction and on the approach to the Wellpark Road / Moneenageisha Road junction in the inbound direction. Funding for the current year is for the completion of design work on the project. Further implementation of the scheme will be considered under the Bus and Cycle Network Demand Assessment and Prioritisation.	25,000
10	Bus and Cycle Network Demand Assessment and Prioritisation	Appointment of technical consultants to carry out a bus and cycle network assessment of Galway City and environs, defining the networks with identification of the key improvements required to deliver those netorks. The study will also address the prioritisation of schemes for subsequent implementation.	150,000
11	Variable Message and Parking Guidance Signs (Phase 3)	Appointment of a consultant to carry out a design for the next phase of the above scheme (see item 3). For implementation in future year.	20,000
12	Coach-Bus Station Link	Upgrade pedestrian facilities along approximately 175 metres of roadway (90 metres of Fairgreen Road between Forster Street and the entrance to the Radisson Blu Hotel and 85 metres of the access road to Ceannt Station from Fairgreen Road), improving connectivity between Ceannt Station (Iarnród Éireann and Bus Éireann services) and Galway Coach Station (City-Link, Go-Bus, etc.) for pedestrians and public transport users. A 60 metre taxi bay will be constructed to the east of the Ceannt Station access road. The project will restrict through traffic at Ceannt Station to Bus Éireann Expressway Services only.	300,000
13	Eyre Square Pedestrian Crossings	Upgrade pedestrian facilities at the junctions at Eyre Square South / Forster Street / Ceannt Station and Eyre Square South / Victoria Place, thus improving the pedestrian connectivity between Ceannt Station (Iarnród Éireann & Bus Éireann – Expressway Services) and Eyre Square (Bus Éireann – City Services) for pedestrians and public transport users.	100,000
14	Hospital Cycle Parking	Installation of high quality covered bike parking at Galway City’s public hospitals (University Hospital Galway and Merlin Park Hospital) for out-patients and visitors.	40,000
15	Merlin Park Hospital Bus Access	This project will deliver a new junction and access road with on-road cycleway, approximately 350 metres long commencing at Dublin Road / Galway Crystal junction and finishing at Merlin Park Hospital. This project will provide safe and controlled access / egress to Merlin Park Hospital for all road users and will link directly to the existing Dublin Road bus lane. The new junction will be linked to the UTMC system and will reduce delays for buses exiting Merlin Park (currently served by Bus Éireann route 402). Funding for the current year is for the commissioning of design work on the project.	75,000
16	Tour Bus Parking Study	The delivery of a study that will list potential sites for Tour Bus Parking, in particular evaluating access options and site capacity. The evaluation will also require consultation with key stakeholders.	25,000
17	Wolfe Tone Feasibility Study	Study to examine options for the improvement of bus, cycling and pedestrian movement at this river crossing location, having regard to its busy traffic function. Options to be examined as part of the study include possible conversion to one way traffic flow, signal controlled shuttle traffic running and the construction of a new bridge. Any low cost measures outlined in the study to be implemented where practicable. Study will be carried out post Bus and Cycle Network Demand Assessment and Prioritisation.	50,000
18	Bus Network	Implementation of various bus network improvement projects that will be identified as part of the strategic study for the bus and cycle networks (Item 10 above).	300,000
19	Bus Stop Upgrade	Improvement of a number of bus stop locations in city area.	100,000
20	Cycle Network	Implementation of various cycle network improvement projects that will be identified as part of the strategic study for the bus and cycle networks (Item 10 above).	200,000
21	Cycle Signage	Implementation of a programme of cycle network signage.	100,000
22	Cycle Parking	Installation of cycle parking at various locations in the city including upgrading of some existing facilities.	100,000
23	Pedestrian Improvements	Implementation of pedestian improvements at various locations.	100,000
24	Transport Model Update	Updating and upgrading the Galway City Transport Model with the new 2011 Census and 2012 National Household Survey data.	80,000
TOTAL			3,045,000