Wicklow Fine Gael TD and Minister for Food, Forestry and Horticulture Andrew Doyle met with Ray Coyne, Chief Executive of Dublin Bus and Cllr. Derek Mitchell to discuss Dublin Bus Transport issues, suggested improvements for services in North Wicklow and Blessington.
Demand for Dublin Bus transport services have increased over the past three years as more constituents are commuting to work, schools and colleges. The population of Wicklow is 142,332 and increase in 4.2% since the last census in 2011.
We asked Dublin Bus to run more bus services in Wicklow especially the 84x during the day and to provide more bus transport with school fares from Charlesland to Templecarrick School which is rapidly expanding. Many children use the 6 express busses before 8 am to get to the school but must pay the higher fare on this express bus. Dublin Bus will see whether they can provide more 184 busses at this time. Students are currently paying up to 60% more for the same bus journey on the 84X services.
Several Constituents have voiced their concerns relating to the bus stop located on Rathdown Road and we discussed Dublin Bus carrying out a safety audit of this bus stop. Cllr Mitchell will raise this safety issue at the next County Council meeting too.
Dublin Bus will try to align the 184 better with DARTs but pointed out that it can only link up at only 1 of the 2 stations which it calls to. It is difficult to get busses starting in Dublin, the 84 and 84x, to meet up with a half hourly DART service as their arrival time will be affected by traffic.
We also pointed out that about 600 houses are being built in Greystones and that there will be more demand for transport. Dublin Bus will examine how to improve services and also mentioned that the 184 & 185 routes were to be put out to tender with defined service levels.
This was a very positive meeting and it is planned that more bus corridors will be operating in the Wicklow area in the foreseeable future.