Council fails to commit to provision of bus stop at Kildare location

Kildare County Council has failed to commit to the provision of a bus stop at Shee Bridge on the R403, Allenwood, Co Kildare.

A motion tabled by Cllr Paula Mulroe (SD) at this month's Clane-Maynooth Municipal District meeting asked: “That the council adds the provision of a bus stop at Shee Bridge on the R403 along

the 120 bus stop route to its priority provisions for bus infrastructure 2026 and outlines the results of any investigations into this matter to date.”

Speaking at the meeting, Cllr Mulroe said it was her understanding that a bus stop had been agreed for the location in 2024, “so between then and now, I'm not sure what the hold up has been.”

The local community had re-submitted a request to the National Transport Authority (NTA) in recent weeks, she added, and the landowner is in agreement to engage.

Cllr Mulroe pointed out that this is “a very dangerous location” for school-goers, many of whom congregate at the location.

“It is quite a dangerous area, so I don't think it is impractical to suggest that their safety is a priority”, she said.

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Supporting Cllr Mulroe's motion, Cllr Padraig Mcevoy (IND) agreed that there is a need for a bus stop at the location in question, and said children were vulnerable to traffic passing at speed.

There was a need to give due consideration to the location of a bus stop, but it was obvious that there was also a desire to have a bus stop at this location, he said.

Also supporting the motion, Cathaoirleach Cllr Brendan Wyse (FG) said his daughter attends St Farnan's in Prosperous and gets the bus from that point.

He said this was a very exposed stretch of road, and that meanwhile, the council was trying to encourage young people to stay out of private motor vehicles and onto public transport.

He said that Local Link is “really ramping up services” and meeting demand, and that they needed to be supported by making it safer for people at these stops.

“I fully support everyone here, and I think if it's not a priority then it should be”, he added.

A report issued by the council stated that “the addition of a new bus stop location along a Public Service Operated route is a matter for the operator and licensing authority National Transport Authority to agree upon in the first instance.”

The report continued: “Should there be agreement that a stop should be investigated then the council will examine the location to determine the suitability for allowing public transport vehicles to stop and allow passengers on and off the bus, in a safe manner.”

The report noted that the location was was examined as part of the Local Link service route

but was deemed “impractical” unless substantial engineering works were to be

undertaken, and these works would be located on third party lands.

The report concluded: “Kildare County Council’s works programme for bus stop improvements for future years could consider this location. However, there are over 500 locations across the county that require some level of improvements.”