Matthews Welcomes N11 Park & Ride Progress

Green TD – Steven Matthews has welcomed progress on the first of three Park & Ride facilities for the N11 which is going ahead at Fassaroe with the planning application now open for public submissions.

‘The provision of park and ride facilities with dedicated bus corridors and new frequent bus services will provide better public transport options and reduce congestion on the N11,’ said Deputy Matthews. ‘There will be almost 400 parking spaces, including disability spaces and lots of dedicated EV charging spots. It is a well laid out plan, which provides good shelter and secure parking for users to avail of a new 20-minute peak time bus service.

The new bus service will be frequent and reliable as it uses dedicated bus corridors on the N11 and the Bus Connects corridors which are also going through planning and consultation from Bray to City Centre’.

‘This is the type of transport infrastructure and facilities that have been needed for many years to reduce congestion and offer an alternative for some car users. There will always be people who must drive or want to drive but for others, it is vital that we supply frequent buses and trains. The dedicated N11 bus corridors are proceeding, the first of the Park & Ride sites is designed and in for planning permission, there are many new rural bus services across Wicklow, new direct bus services between Wicklow, Bray and Dublin, a new late evening rail service and the DART to Wicklow Town is making good progress’.

‘This is proper transport planning. There are still many Wicklow politicians pushing antiquated transport ideas for third lanes, tunnels and new roads in complete ignorance of climate change and the urgent need to reduce transport emissions. Their ideas and obsession with roads are of a different era but my priority, which I am delivering on is for good reliable affordable public transport for those that want it and a safe N11 with reduced congestion, bus corridors and park and ride facilities. One of my main objectives as a TD is to improve transport in Wicklow and I will deliver more rural and town bus services, safer cycling and walking routes, Safe Routes to School, the DART to Wicklow Town and improved rail services on the Arklow line as long as I represent the people of Wicklow,’ concluded Deputy Matthews.