‘Disgraceful’ shuttle bus report an ‘insult to the intelligence’ of Waterford people

A report into the feasibility of a shuttle bus on the sustainable transport bridge in Waterford city has been described as an “insult to the intelligence of the people of Waterford”.

Independent councillor Joe Kelly made the remarks at the February plenary meeting of Waterford City and County Council.

The meeting came just hours after the National Transport Authority (NTA) published its findings in relation to the feasibility of a shuttle bus travelling to and from the North Quays.

The report found that it was not feasible for a shuttle bus to operate on the bridge, despite it being included in plans going back a decade.

It cited various reasons, including fears for public safety, a perceived lack of demand and financing difficulties.

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It also highlighted the BusConnects programme, which is due to increase the number of bus services travelling across Rice Bridge to the North Quays.

A number of councillors expressed their disappointment at the findings of the NTA report, with Cllr Joe Kelly describing it as “disgraceful”.

Cllr Kelly said: “To come up with a cost for a shuttle bus of between €1.85 million and €2.16 million to me is outrageous and probably indicative of the outrageous costs we pay nationally for all kinds of schemes around the country.

“I think it’s an insult to the people of Waterford, to the intelligence of the people of Waterford that it suggests that the extra services from BusConnects will be somehow beneficial.

“It might be a little bit beneficial but those same buses will be stuck in the same traffic jams that we have now anyway, going down Dock Road and across the bridge.”

He argued that the report had focused on people coming to and from the Transport Hub and had failed to take into account Ferrybank locals who might be looking to use the bridge.

He added that a privately run shuttle bus could be the answer if the NTA refuses to fund the service.

“Why not look at a private service? I’m sure they’re looking at millions, like we’d certainly get a private company to run a service for cheaper than that.

“We looked at different kinds of funding. I suggested that people pay a certain amount, €2 or €3 to get over and back. We as a council could possibly subsidise that service.

“There’s all kinds of options here but the NTA have played it safe is all I can say there. They’re backing BusConnects to the hilt and they think that’s going to solve every problem.

“In my view, if that bridge or bridge of that type was in Dublin, it would be sorted out in the morning. It’s again, second fiddle for Waterford and I’m very disappointed in that.”

In response to Cllr Kelly, Acting Director of Services Claire Hartley said the report was to examine the feasibility of a public transport service, not a private one.

Fianna Fáil councillor Adam Wyse also expressed his dismay at the report, particularly its references to safety concerns.

Cllr Wyse said: “I read with a lot of displeasure the NTA report regarding the shuttle bus that was part of the North Quays development.

“I’m disappointed to see that their usual items like fears for pedestrian safety as a reason to not allow it, yet you see the Luas going through Dublin with no problem. There’s no discussion there regarding pedestrian safety.”

He argued that the shuttle would have been “brilliant” and “something exciting” for Waterford to have.

He continued: “I’m asking has the council now effectively, with the NTA not suggesting it or supporting it, does that mean it is now dead in the water?

“If we can’t do a shuttle bus, can we have something in terms of benches or a roof across that bridge?

“Small measures that will help people get across that bridge with the weather we’ve had to date.

“If it’s not going to be a shuttle bus, if it’s not going to be backed by private development, if it’s not going to be backed by the NTA, then Waterford council might have to go it alone as usual.”

In response to Cllr Wyse, Ms Hartley outlined the report’s emphasis on the BusConnects programme.

She stated: “I suppose the focus on it really is that the addition of BusConnects services will certainly bring additional capacity.

“That would have a 15-minute frequency of bus services between the North Quays and the South Quays, at a comparable time if not a slightly faster time than what a shuttle bus travelling at 10kmph would be. So that’s I suppose the basis for it.”

Ms Hartley added that she did not see the aspect of the report which examined public safety.

She emphasised that there will be “restpoints” and “furnishing items” on the South Plaza and on the bridge. However, she said that the bridge was not designed to have covered areas.

Sinn Féin councillor Jim Griffin also highlighted the weather as a potential challenge for people looking to walk across the bridge.

Cllr Griffin said: “I worked on the River Suir for more than 20 years in a professional capacity and I know exactly the wind and turbulence that is on the river.

“When you see Cllr Wyse’s most recent [social media] post with the umbrella going all over the place, that weather is something we’re going to get on that bridge 300 days of the year, probably 360 days.

“There are very few short days that we get where there is no wind on that river.”

He went on to say that in spite of the Bus Connects programme, the shuttle bus should still be a priority.

“It would be terrible to say we put in a huge amount of millions for a project and we have to go back once we realise at a later date that it needs to be addressed.

“I would ask that we look at that urgently because it needs to be addressed.” Ms Hartley acknowledged the points made by Cllr Griffin without making any direct response to them.

Meanwhile, Social Democrats councillor Mary Roche described the report as “disappointing” but expressed hope that a solution may still be found.

Cllr Roche said: “There is an addendum at the end of the NTA communication which says they would be supportive if the council was to explore alternative funding options or an innovative led autonomous vehicle solution.

“I’m just wondering if it is worth our while investing a little bit of thought in what that might be or if it’s possible to introduce something like that.

“It would certainly be a unique selling point for Waterford. I do appreciate that the BusConnects improvements probably need to be looked at and hopefully they will deliver the kind of improvements in transport times that is promised.

“I’m not convinced but I’m just wondering if there is a response to that kind of invitation if you like by the NTA for us to maybe think a little bit outside the box.”

In response, Ms Hartley said that the invitation by the NTA for the council to explore alternative options was “quite clear”.

However, she emphasised the potential cost of alternative options such as an autonomous vehicle.

She also compared the potential capacity of a Bus Connects service to that of a shuttle bus.

Nevertheless, Ms Hartley concluded by saying that the council will explore all its options with regards the bridge.
The NTA issued its ‘Waterford Bridge Transport Shuttle Feasibility Report’ to the council on February 12.

The report notes that the concept of the shuttle bus was introduced as part of the original privately-funded plans for the North Quays.

It stated that the scale and nature of the North Quays development had changed significantly since then.

The report also identified substantial costs, in the region of €2 million per annum, to subsidise the operation.

In addition, operational constraints, vehicle considerations, and pedestrian safety concerns were also highlighted within the report. The full report can be read here.