Final decision imminent on shuttle bus proposed for Waterford’s new bridge

A final decision is imminent on the shuttle bus which is proposed for Waterford’s sustainable transport bridge.

Independent councillor Joe Kelly asked for an update on plans for the bus at the January plenary meeting of Waterford City and County Council.

Cllr Kelly described the issue of the shuttle bus as his “old chestnut”, in reference to the amount of times he has raised it in council meetings.

He stated: “TII (Transport Infrastructure Ireland) hasn’t given any response yet. We’re waiting on a query and an answer.”

“It’s about the bus, the sustainable bus, across that bridge. I’ve raised it numerous times and I said I’d keep raising it at meetings. I’m just wondering, has that report come in yet?”

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In response to Cllr Kelly, Acting Director of Services Claire Hartley said that the council hasn’t received the report yet.

However, she said she understands that the report has been nearing completion in the last few days and is in the final draft stage.

Ms Hartley added that she will distribute the contents of the report as soon as she receives it from the NTA (National Transport Authority).

Cllr Kelly also raised the issue of the shuttle bus at the council’s December plenary meeting. On that occasion, he described the potential loss of the bus as a “huge mistake”.

He stated: “It would be vital to bring people across from the city to the new station and vice versa, without having to walk in horrendous conditions across the bridge like that.

“I just still think that taking that bus off was a huge mistake. It was one of the selling points of the whole thing when it was drawn up and it’s just so short-sighted, it’s beyond words really.”

In response, Director of Services Michael Quinn said that he had expected to receive the report from the NTA at this stage.

When plans for the North Quays were originally drawn up, it was intended that an electric shuttle bus would transport passengers across the sustainable transport bridge.

However, the shuttle bus was later excluded from plans put forward by the National Transport Authority (NTA).

At the request of Waterford City and County Council, the NTA have since commissioned a feasibility study to explore the prospect of a shuttle bus on the bridge.