Pug

@kite wrote:

By Eoin English
A COLOURFUL new concept in public transport was unveiled in Cork yesterday.

Bus Éireann took gardaí, city and county officials on a test drive on board a sleek lilac street-car it hopes to introduce in the city soon.

The street car will visit Limerick today and Galway tomorrow for more test drives.

Hurrah, only a few years late. 10 should be ordered immediately as nightlinks for Ballincollig/Bishopstown, Mayfield/Ballyvolane, Glanmire (inc Midleton until the train kicks in sometime in 2010) and Douglas/Carrigaline

We could hold on to the demo model when it comes back from Limerick and Galway.

And, in fairness, it better not be lilac

@vkid wrote:

But I still don’t really see why they should pay for all of CA’s debts.

Because Seamus Brennan and then the Taoisaeach of the country said that we wouldnt need to pay for it. And if the DAA over run a project costs wise i.e. Cork Airport, then thats their problem, as you say, a business should be liable for its premises, the DAA built it so let them be liable

From Chamber of Commerce
“there were recent newspaper advertisements by Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) offering 10 acres of land, valued at up to €30 million, at Cork airport for sale without the support of Cork Airport Authority. What logic does this land sale serve apart from attempting to asset strip Cork Airport prior to a hand over?”

I think its a resigning matter for the Taoiseach to be honest.

Martin Cullen promised 21 million for kent station in 2005, instead we are getting canopies like the bus station over the entrance. The whole point was that the bus station would go INTO kent station. in the meantime CIE had the audacity to apply for 200 apartments and a 24 storey building right next door at Horgans Quay. Should be ruled premature pending redevelopment of Kent station. Somebody should point out to CIE as well that it took 18 months for a 17 storey application, in an almost ADJACENT site to CIE’s application, to be refused.

@bunch wrote:

why would we drain the south channel of the lee to put in a luas? how about putting it at street level like its done in normal cities.

how about just getting on with it and just doing SOMETHING constructive (pardon the pun), calling on the government to do this and that and writing to the likes of bus eireann to say “we urge you to make the service better” will do nothing, just GET ON WITH IT.

– stop making endless plans
– get Docklands going with light rail/tram to go through it, carriages to be 2 storey like australia, german trains
– sarsfield and bandon flyover
– kent station FULL change around, fully integrated with moved bus station, just make the damn place into a 21st century building
– increase of bus fleet to have smaller more frequent buses in the inner city and suburbs
– at least tripling of buses to carrigaline and crosshaven, at least two an hour being express to cork not winding down a country road to douglas
– night links to ballincollig, mayfield, glanmire,douglas/carrigaline
– car pooling initiatives with in conjunction with the park and ride
– a bus service that goes from frankfield to the LINK road i.e. not driving into douglas traffic at peak hour in the mornings
– cork airport debt to be paid off as promised, plenty of funds for the NDP so obviously theres enough left for Seamus Brennans promise to be upheld (and a few airbridges to be thrown in out of the change)
– multi purpose 40,000 seater stadium at the docklands where the light rail / tram will let you off at the station next to it, U2 to be the first to play but only in support of John Spillane

its election time, theres a change in the air, just do it

@kite wrote:

😮
Stakeholders have gone over the heads of city management in recent weeks with approaches to Government members to have the development in the area fast tracked, City Hall are desperate to ensure that the planning of the docklands does not fall out of their control.
.

Cant say I blame developers for trying to get a move on, its ridiculous – “When” the CPO is confirmed on the showgrounds? If they had done that a few years back when they heard the first mention of “docklands” and surprisngly discovered a large swathe of land occupied by someone else right in the middle of their plans.

Pity Kent Station couldnt be CPO’d as well so something might actually HAPPEN apart from a €4m lick of paint and a fire in the car park, The planners should refuse CIE/Manor Park planning application point blank on the grounds of premature application pending refurbishment of Kent Station – although then we would be left with a victorian barn for 50 years

ABP have given the nod for 72 apartments over 3/4 storeys at the disused site right next to the where the ferry drops you off at Cobh – interestingly the planners wanted a possible allowance for embarking/disembarking area for proposed medium term water-bus service

@Spinal Tap wrote:

Well soon they will be calling at our doors looking for votes – mention any of the above and get the usual bewildering answer from our esteemed representatives.

the one i love the most is when you complain about something to a local councillor and either they or their website says “I have written to Bus Eireann urging them to consider increasing services in the area” or something to that effect

Let us all marvel in awe at their ability to read and write as Bus Eireann receive, read, shred and ignore the letter. I’ll quite happily write to Bus Eireann and a whole host of other people for the same money that councillors get. Itsa completely pointless as they have no power at all and then want to run for the Dail. scary.

New National Devt plan out today, was curious to see if Cork got a mention – some things included are a focus on the Docklands (but when) in terms of relocating the port, putting in transport etc. Other items mentioned

Completion by 2010 of the M/N8 Dublin – Cork road to full motorway standard and other road
and public transport aspects of Transport 21;

The development, as part of the CASP Strategy of an integrated public transport system built
around the Green Route programme of improved bus priority,

the re-opening of the Cork City-Midleton rail service by 2008 and the development of commuter rail services on the Mallow-Midleton corridor;

Introduction of hourly rail services on the Cork-Dublin route;

Roads, water services, port relocation and associated infrastructure to facilitate docklands
regeneration;

Improved road and bus-based public transport links to Cork airport;

Enhancement of road links to other Gateways along the Atlantic Road Corridor;

The upgrading of N28 road access to Ringaskiddy Port and its associated industrial zone (has been mentioned numerous time – last I heard about that is the earliest it would start is 2009 and be finished 2011- pretty dire for the most car dependant town in the country, carrigaline)

Pedestrianisation and similar urban renewal activity, building on recent progress in this area;
Enhancement of tourism, cultural and recreational facilities;

Lands at Ringaskiddy and Carrigtohill to be developed by IDA Ireland as part of its Strategic
Sites Initiative; and

Continued development of the City’s R&D capacity such as the recently opened Tyndall
Institute.

• The development of the Atlantic Road Corridor from Letterkenny through Sligo, Galway, Limerick,
Cork and Waterford;

Upgrading the Belfast-Dublin-Cork Trans European Network (TENs) link route through the removal of speed
restrictions has been identified as a priority

@THE_Chris wrote:

Thats interesting with the Tescos already there. Maybe that means the current Tescos will be CPOed and the new South Ring Douglas junction put in??

for all their faults I cant see anyone in City or County Council CPO’ing one of the leading retail job providers in Cork and Ireland. As far as I heard, part of the planning is for the developer to build in a slip road up on to the main dual carriageway – i sincerely hooe it includes a major revamp of the roundabout by the Shell garage – a simple set of traffic lights would surely help

planning granted for extension to douglas shopping centre, unclear if it includes revamp of road structure in douglas as well, may go to ABP

decision on musgrave park extension to rugby ground due tomorrow

Hopefully the rugby ground extension will be granted, as Cork could do with it but the sticking points might be

a) The site is located within an area to which the European Communities (control of major hazards involving dangerous substances) regs, 2001 applies and

b) the fact that the application also included 42 apartments and 10 townhouses in blocks ranging from 3 to 5 storeys with balconies on the south and west elevations, decking on first floor level and roof gardens. A 272 sqm retail unit and 2 offices comprising 95m at ground level. 89 car parking spaces at ground floor level.

bets on Further Information anyone?