Greater Dublin Area Draft Transport Strategy 2011-2030

10.2 Bus and coach10.2.1 OverviewOver the lifetime of the Strategy, bus will continueto be the predominant public transport mode interms of network coverage throughout the GreaterDublin Area. Outside of the corridors served by rail,buses will be the nucleus of the public transportoffering, providing services over a large geographicarea to a widely dispersed population.Within the Metropolitan Area, the role of thebus network will be particularly pronounced inthe period in advance of delivery of the proposednew suburban rail, Metro and Luas services (seeSection 10.2.2 below). While the implementationof those projects will provide new alternatives inthe particular transport corridors, the bus networkwill still continue to serve local transport needs,providing links to rail services and deliveringservices in corridors not served by rail. Bus will,therefore, continue to play a pivotal role in theregion’s transport provision in the longer term.10.2.2 Bus servicesA major bus network reform programme is currentlyongoing in the Dublin area – the Network Directproject. As part of this project, the bus network inthe Dublin area is being significantly simplified, withmore direct services being introduced and a greatermatching of service capacity to passenger demand.More cross-city routes are being introduced and thenumber of routes terminating in the city centre areais being reduced.Following full implementation of the NetworkDirect project, the bus network will continue to befurther reviewed and developed over the lifetime ofthe Strategy.Changes to bus services will be focussed onpassenger needs. Population and employmentgrowth and changes to where people live andwork, shop or spend their leisure time will needto be taken into account. The location of majordestinations such as hospitals and educationfacilities may also change over time and the busnetwork will be revised to respond to these changes.Bus services will need to complement and supportthe investment in rail that will occur over thelifetime of the Strategy. Integrating with theexpanded rail network will lead to bus routechanges and new routes.Measure BUS1:The Authority will regularly review the networkof bus services and implement modifications asappropriate.In such reviews, the Authority will seek to provide:• Bus frequencies and operating times thatappropriately match demand;• Better bus service coverage in built-up areasthat are not well served by rail;• Improved bus services to disadvantagedareas, where appropriate;• More direct and reliable access to localtown centres, employment areas, hospitals,third level institutions and other majoractivity centres;• Services that cater for growth in populationand employment; and• Better public transport integration, byproviding good interchange opportunitieswith other services, as the public transportnetwork evolves.Bus service characteristics will vary by area. A guideas to how services will operate is presented in thefollowing sections.Metropolitan servicesThe focus of the Metropolitan bus network willremain Dublin city centre, as the largest centre ofretail and employment activity. Future developmentconsolidation will require enhancements to thenetwork of bus services for Designated Towns andDesignated Districts in the outer MetropolitanArea. Local bus services will operate as requiredthroughout the Metropolitan Area, linking toDesignated Towns and Designated Districts andconnecting to key public transport interchangepoints as well as meeting essential social needs.Chapter 10: page 2 www.2030vision.ie