NTA approves five new bus stops for the Trim area

Five new bus stops are to be provided in the Trim Municipal District area this year including two on Market Street in Trim.

Trim councillors were given an update on the National Transport Authority's plans for provision of bus infrastructure in the Trim Municipal District for 2025 which includes a new stop for each side of Market Street in Trim, a new stop east bound and west bound on R148 in Clonard and also for the provision of a bus shelter at the bus stop at Main Street in Enfield. It is intended that the new stops and shelter would be delivered this year.

A list of future projects on the NTA radar for delivery post 2025 was also given which includes new bus shelters in Ballivor, and new bus stops in Dunderry, Kildalkey, Longwood, Rathmolyon and Summerhill.

Trim councillors were told the NTA selects and approves the location and that Meath County Council does not have a role in this and only acts as their local agents.

Cllr Noel French raised some concerns over possible loss of parking spaces for customers by providing bus stops at Market Street and was told this would be borne in mind at design stage.

Cllr Padraig Coffey spoke of his concerns about the current location of the bus stop in Enfield saying it is "lethal" and suggested that it should be moved out the Dublin Road. He was told that the location of stops is heavily steered by planning modellers in the NTA and they will look at the optimum location based on how far people will walk to get the most from the catchment area.

Cllr Joe Fox said Enfield is a transport hub not just for people from Enfield but that people also travel in to access bus services and it is important that the provide the facilities.

Cllr Dave Boyne welcomed the infrastructure but said there was "no point putting a bus stop in Rathmolyon if there are no buses going through it" and said they need a local link service. He was told the list wasn't just about services already in place but those that are coming and the fact Rathmolyon was on a list would mean that it is being looked at in the future.

Cllr Paul O'Rourke asked if bus shelters could be provided at all stops given the Irish weather and that people are "often drenched before they ever get to work" but was told that a shelter costs a lot more and if shelters were to be provided at all stops, they would get very few stops done.

Meanwhile, also at Friday's meeting of Trim MD a motion was brought forward by Cllr Dave Boyne asking that loading bays be allowed to be used as taxi ranks after 6pm. In a written response, the council said that parking byelaws are enforced from 9am to 6pm Monday to Saturday, in Trim and that parking bays and loading bays are available to all members of the public after those hours. Its reply stated that there are no current plans to create a time specific designation for taxi ranks as this approach could lead to confusion.