Galway – a Medieval City with a traffic congestion problem

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3rd February 2015 Peter Butler B.Eng. MBA

What is the “GCTP” about ?

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Galway City Transport Project

How (NOT) credible is the data?

1. Survey drivers crossing the bridges – NOT DONE

2. Survey employers & schools – NOT DONE

3. Analyse Traffic Count data – DONE – but does not include where cars are coming from/ going to.

4. Analyse Household Survey (POWSCAR) data – DONE - but does not include data on how 35,000 children/ teens get to/ from School/ College.

5. Analyse SATNAV data - DONE - but only 10% of cars (mostly tourists) have satnavs and they don’t use it to get to/from work or school.

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GIGO

The bypass - relative to schools.....

NUIG + GMIT 22,000 Primary + Secondary SCHOOLS 13,400

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Original Bypass

Pink Route

Household Surveys (POWSCAR) shows only 3% of traffic need to bypass the City

5%

20%

18%

22%

20%

7%

3% 5% 3%

5%

5%

7%

20% 22%

20%

18%

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Dublin to Clifden 295Km (3:26)

77,200 CROSS THE CORRIB in

2019

35% cross river, but only 3% want to bypass it, that’s not 10% want to bypass the city.

3% bypass - converted into cars

3,385

6,304

6,303

6,536

12,661

9,697

6,304

3,385

6,303

6,536

12,661

9,697

44,886 x 3% = 1,346 per day each way = 1,346 x 2 = 2,692 crossings out of 77,200 crossings each day.

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M50 Bypass (6 lanes) AADT = 133,374 per day (2015) Bray Bypass (6/4 lanes) AADT = 66,238 per day (2015) Athlone Bypass (4 lanes) AADT = 32,038 per day (2015) Limerick Bypass (4 lanes) AADT = 15,260 per day (2013) LOSS making Waterford Bypass (4 lanes) AADT = 9,029 per day (2013) LOSS making Proposed Galway Bypass (4 lanes) = 2,692 per day (HUGE LOSSES !!!)

FACT #1 – the numbers don’t justify a bypass

7 Capital Plan 4 Lane Capacity = 40,000 per day !

Diversion figures claimed for bypass

Do Minimum 2019 Journeys

(both directions)

AADT Figure

Blue/Pink Route 2019

(both directions)

AADT Figure

Reduction as result of New Bypass AADT

Figure

Reduction

Quincentennial Bridge

35,000 28,600 6,400 1 in 5 ?

Salmon Weir Bridge

15,100 12,700 2,400 1in 5 ?

O’Brien’s Bridge 7,900 6,600 1,300 1 in 6 ?

Wolfe Tone Bridge

19,200 16,700 2,500 1 in 7 ?

77,200 CROSS THE

CORRIB

64,600 12,600 ???

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Of 35% who cross the Corrib, half of them will use the bypass ? – NO WAY

Salmon Weir

Wolfe Tone

O’Brien

Quincentennial

Waterford versus Galway

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Waterford Galway

Bypass Traffic 9,000 √ Bypass Traffic 1,300 √ Diversion Traffic 900, not 5,500 X Diversion Traffic 2,500, not 11,300 X

Journey time versus journey length.

8.2Km @ 40Km/hr = 12.4 mins

9.0Km @ 85Km/hr = 6.4 mins

1.7Km @ 40Km/hr = 2.5 mins 13.0Km 12.4 mins

2.3Km @ 40Km/hr = 3.5 mins

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Morning traffic – the bottlenecks

Journey: Oranmore (Maldron) to Knocknacarra (Cappagh Road) + Knocknacarra (Cappagh Road) to Parkmore Industrial Estate

16 Km/hr

19 Km/hr

17 Km/hr

September 2015 (Weekdays) – NUIG, GMIT and Schools open Start 07:00 07:20 07:40 08:00 08:20 08:40 09:00 09:20 10:00 12:00 14:00 16:00 Km/hr 46 38 35 21 27 27 36 42 41 41 42 41

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August 2015 (Weekdays) – NUIG, GMIT & Schools closed Start 07:00 07:20 07:40 08:00 08:20 08:40 09:00 09:20 10:00 12:00 14:00 16:00 Km/hr 46 42 40 39 36 39 40 42 41 42 41 41

NUIG + GMIT + Schools 25,400

Evening Traffic – different bottlenecks

September 2015 (Weekdays) – Schools open Start 16:00 16:30 17:00 17:30 18:00 18:30 19:00 20:00 21:00 22:00 Km/hr 40 36 28 25 22 31 38 41 42 44

15 Km/hr

22 Km/hr

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Through Traffic 5pm-7pm

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33%

75-85%

Traffic Lights

– 35 seconds for Sean

Mulvoy Road.

- 35 seconds for Bothar na dTreabh !!!.

Salmon Weir Bridge Westbound (4pm-7pm)

3,109 cars/ 2 = 1,555 cars

07:00-08:00 1,011 08:00-09:00 1,589

16:00-17:00 1,289 17:00-18:00 1,016 18:00-19:00 804

1,300 + 1,555 = 2,855

Salmon Weir Bridge Eastbound (7am-9am)

2,600 cars/ 2 = 1,300 cars

Quincentennial Bridge

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Salmon Weir Bridge Eastbound (7am-9am) 704 cars / 2 = 352 cars

Salmon Weir Bridge Westbound (4pm-7pm) 1,963 cars / 2 = 982 cars

Salmon Weir Bridge

2,855 + 352 + 982 = 4,189

07:00-08:00 176 08:00-09:00 528

16:00-17:00 1,289 17:00-18:00 1,016 18:00-19:00 804

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O’Brien’s Bridge

07:00-08:00 105 08:00-09:00 544

16:00-17:00 133 17:00-18:00 170 18:00-19:00 143

4,189 + 64 + 44 = 4,297

O’Brien’s Bridge Eastbound (7am-9am) 649 cars / 10 = 64 cars

O’Brien’s Bridge Westbound (4pm-7pm) 446 cars / 10 = 44 cars

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Wolfe Tone Bridge Eastbound (7am-9am)

1,509 cars / 10 = 150 cars

Wolfe Tone Bridge Westbound (4pm-7pm)

1,471 cars / 10 = 147 cars

07:00-08:00 496 08:00-09:00 1,103

16:00-17:00 496 17:00-18:00 427 18:00-19:00 551

Wolfe Tone Bridge

4,297 + 150 +147 = 4,594 18

M50 Bypass (6 lanes) AADT = 133,374 per day (2015) Bray Bypass (6/4 lanes) AADT = 66,238 per day (2015) Athlone Bypass (4 lanes) AADT = 32,038 per day (2015) Limerick Bypass (4 lanes) AADT = 15,260 per day (2013) LOSS making Waterford Bypass (4 lanes) AADT = 9,029 per day (2013) LOSS making -Diversion rates claimed for bypass = 12,600 per day – NO WAY -Diversion rates based on 3% bypass = 2,692 per day – WORST POSSIBLE -If you assume 50% diversion on Quincentennial & Salmon Weir Bridge. = 4,189 per day – BEST POSSIBLE ? -If you assume additional 10% diversion on two other bridges. = 4,594 per day - UNLIKELY !

FACT #2 – as “relief road”, numbers are wrong

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Weekdays, September, all 08:10 Start.

Oranmore (Maldron) Oranmore (Maldron) Oranmore (Maldron)

Quincentennial Bridge Salmon Weir Bridge Wolfe Tone Bridge

10.5 Km 10.9 Km 9.8 Km

38 Mins 50 Mins 49 Mins

16 Km/hr 13 Km/hr 12 Km/hr

It’s an Axial problem, not a Radial one!

16 Km/hr

13 Km/hr

12 Km/hr

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Public Buses – a success story – why ?

• Route 409

• Eyre Square to GMIT to Doughiska to Parkmore.

• 1 Million Passengers pa

(2,700 cars/ day).

• Every 15 minutes.

• Successful because of Dublin Road bus lanes .

Shared car pool lane would also work

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Parkmore Knocknacarra

Peak evening traffic(4pm-7pm). 1,100 cars per hour (550/ lane). Average speed 20Km/hr 1.05 People/ Car, so number of People transported = 1,100 x 1.05 = 1,155 People.

Parkmore Knocknacarra

Lane 1 (Cars): 550 cars x 1.00 People/ Car = 550 People @ Average speed 20 Km/hr Lane 2 (Buses + Cars with 2 Occupants only). 6 buses x 20 people/ bus = 120 people. 250 cars x 2.00 People/ Car = 500 People. 256 vehicles = average speed of 40 Km/hr.

Quincentennial Bridge

Quincentennial Bridge

550 @20m/hr

550 @20m/hr

550 @20m/hr

620 @40m/hr

Traffic 5pm-7pm

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33%

75-85%

As would changing light timings during

peak traffic hours…..

“Total capital costs, including Rapid Transport Corridor and public transport fleet is €209 Million (Bus) or € 788 Million (Rail) and would yield a positive return on investment ”

“The East-West Rapid Transport Corridor, supported by an Enhanced Bus Network and Park and Ride, would increase public transport mode share from 6% to 46%”

Galway Public Transport Feasibility Study 2009

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The Galway of the future

Live and Work Live and Work 25

Digital Hub

Ardaun

“Investment will be focussed on addressing bottlenecks ...

.. and the needs of industry.” - Minister Pascal O’Donoghue,

Galway, 2015

Some FALSE Myths

1. The Original Outer Bypass was the right solution, it should have been forced through – NO.

2. Investment in Public Transport depends on first constructing a bypass – NO.

3. Any new road must be from M6 to R336 – NO.

4. Any and all public money spent in Galway building any bypass is good for Galway – NO.

5. The new bypass can be pushed through An Bord Pleanala/ EU Commission – NO.

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So what is “GCTP” about ?

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Galway City Transport Project

If you have € ½ Billion to spend.....

Waiting Lists/ Accident & Emergency

New Parks & Playgrounds Homelessness

New Homes

…..

What are the solutions ?

SHORT-TERM (< 1 year) 1. Bus lanes from Clybaun Hotel to Clayton Hotel open to car poolers.

Reduce competing lights (Sean Mulvoy Rd, etc.) at peak times. RH turn at Newcastle Road ?. Second/ third entrance at Parkmore.

2. Bus services (every 10 mins at peak times) across Quincentennial bridge from Salthill & Knocknacarra to Ballybrit & Parkmore.

MEDIUM –TERM (< 2 years)

1. Public bus services (circular, flexible routes) in place for City schools.

2. Widen Ballybrit Crescent to two lanes to get people in/ out of Parkmore Industrial Estate. Widen N7 from Bothar na dTreabh to Parkmore to two lanes. Widen Dublin Road to include an outgoing bus/ car pool lane from the G Hotel to Galway Clinic.

3. Rapid Bus Service in Galway or Rapid Rail Service (e.g. GLUAS).

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Summary

Traffic congestion is caused by the lack of dedicated public bus

services to the Schools in the City.

€ ½ Billion would be wasted diverting only 4,200 of the 77,200

journeys each day. Go raibh maith agat/ Thank you

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