A feasibility report into the purposed shuttle bus that was to run across the pedestrian bridge on Waterford’s North Quays development has been labelled an insult by Independent Councillor Joe Kelly.
Cllr. Kelly made the comments at the Councils Plenary meeting for February, after the feasibility report was made available earlier that week. This report had been chased by Councillors since it emerged that the driverless, electric shuttle bus, would no longer be included in the North Quay’s pedestrian bridge, contrary to the development’s original plans.
The reports suggests that such a bus would require a €1.8m to €2.1m subsidy, if the bus could run at 10km p/h for 16 hours before recharging.
“The design vehicle referenced in the planning application, MotoEV Electro Transit Buddy 15 Passenger XE Hard Door Shuttle, had a fully loaded range of 80 km,” the report explained.
“While battery technology has improved since then, and at an average operating speed of 10 km/h it may be feasible to run for 16 hours without recharging.
“However, given the unique nature of the shuttle bus and its operating environment, exposed to estuarine conditions, it is likely that two vehicles would be required to ensure regular maintenance and service continuity. This would result in an estimated annual operating cost of €1,855,000 – €2,165,000.”
However, these figures, and the report’s finding were challenged by Waterford Councillors, with Cllr. Joe Kelly, prominent among them. “To come up with a cost for a shuttle bus of between €1.85 million and €2.16 million, to me is outrageous and is probably indicative of the outrageous cost we pay nationally for all kinds of schemes around this country," he said.
“I think it’s an insult to the people of Waterford and the intelligence of the people of Waterford that they suggest that the extra services from BusConnects will be someway beneficial,” explained Cllr Kelly.
“It might be a little beneficial but those same buses will be stuck in the same traffic jams that we now have anyway, going down dock road and across the bridge. It’s not just to do with trains that pull in…people in Ferrybank and the broader area come to the station and will come to the new bridge at all times of the day and night and would like to cross it.
“…why not look at a private service?" Asked Cllr. Kelly. “We’d certainly get a company to run a private service for cheaper than that. If we look at different kinds of funding models. I suggest people pay a small token, €2, €3 to get over and back.
“There are all kind of options here, but the NTA played safe, is all that I can say about that. They are backing Busconnects to the hilt and they think that is going to solve every problem.
“In my view if a bridge like that was in Dublin it would be sorted out in the morning. It’s again second fiddle for Waterford, and I am very disappointed in that. This scheme would want to be scrapped or the Minister should just ignore it," he added.
Cllr. Mary Roche also pushed for the NTA to explore the option for self-driving vehicles, which gets a small mention in the report, with the Councillor saying that something like that could be a real selling point for Waterford City and is already being trialled in Belfast, as the report explains.
AARON KENT
Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme
