Planning has been approved for the construction of a major new bus interchange at Cork’s Black Ash park and ride facility.
The interchange will support the delivery of BusConnects Cork by catering for six new bus routes which will operate through the park and ride site, providing better public transport links to the airport, train station, Cork University Hospital, and UCC.
City councillors approved a Part 8 planning report on the project on Monday night amid calls for more engagement with the authorities at Virgin Media Park, Turner’s Cross, and Páirc Uí Chaoimh about greater use of the under-utilised 920-space park and ride car park and its buses for big matches or concerts.
Cork City Council, in collaboration with the National Transport Authority (NTA), published the Part 8 proposals for public consultation last February, attracting 40 submissions, including from DAA and Munster Rugby, the report to councillors on Monday said.
Following consideration of the issues raised in the submissions, city officials confirmed that they now plan to:
- facilitate, in conjunction with the NTA, more engagement with the key stakeholders hosting matches, concerts or events in nearby sports grounds to maximise the availability of information on usage of the park and ride facility.
- upgrade the Mick Barry Road surface between the eastern entrance and the western exit of the park and ride site;
- and finalise a detailed landscaping plan for the new hub, focusing on biodiversity and native Irish species where possible.
“The possibility of providing services for the thousands who attend matches and concerts in Virgin Media Park and Turners Cross, the potential for demand-responsive transport services, and the introduction of integrated ticketing can be further explored between Cork City Council, the NTA and the major stakeholders involved in event organisation in order to enhance the overall visitor experience and encourage greater use of public transport,” the council said.
Chair of the city’s transport committee, Labour Cllr Peter Horgan, said the GAA authorities must be consulted about using the park and ride facility for Páirc Uí Chaoimh match or concert traffic.
Sinn Féin Cllr Michelle Gould endorsed his comments and called for a park and ride on the northside, while Independent Cllr Paudie Dineen said private bus operators should also be encouraged to use the new bus interchange facility.
The Black Ash park and ride facility opened close to the Kinsale Road roundabout just over 20 years ago. It accommodates the 213 bus service, which runs on a loop to the city centre, six times an hour, Monday to Saturday.
The new bus interchange will more than quadruple its hourly capacity — from six bus services an hour to 26.
The planning approved on Monday clears the way for construction of:
- four additional bus bays;
- new entrance and exit points onto the Mick Barry Road;
- new bus shelters, seating and sheltered bike parking;
- new pedestrian paths within the site.
The hub will accommodate:
- the new Route 6 from Grange Road, Douglas Road to UCC, running every 15 minutes on a two-way loop, via the hub;
- Route 13 from Cork Airport to Kent Railway Station, via the hub;
- Route 14 running every 15 minutes from Mahon Point, via the hub, to Cork University Hospital;
- Route 23, an hourly service from the Old Youghal Road to Ballyphehane, via the hub;
- Route 42x from Fountainstown/Carrigaline to Kent Station, every hour, via the hub;
- and Route 13b from Kinsale to Kent station, again via the hub.
Councillors were told the scheme seeks to provide a seamless, convenient and attractive parking and bus interchange, and that it seeks to cater for the increased bus frequency proposed under BusConnects Cork.
