Shuttle bus service proposed to reduce congestion in Mayo town

A Castlebar councillor has proposed a shuttle bus for the town.

Cllr Cyril Burke said parking and other issues reinforce the need for the service.

“It’s becoming more and more relevant. Even at the Primary Care Centre people are finding it difficult to get parking and to get into town,” said the Fine Gael councillor.

He said a shuttle bus service from housing developments like Hawthorn Village and other estates and the Primary Care Centre would be a key service for many people and help ease traffic issues in the county town.

“It might alleviate some of the traffic jams in some locations. This is the way forward and I think we should look at it,” he told a meeting of Castlebar Municipal District. “Even driving around the car park at Market Square today, it’s nearly impossible to get parking. Up until two years ago you could easily get parking in it up to maybe a Friday. Now it’s difficult every day,” he added.

Meanwhile, Cllr Harry Barrett was supported in a proposal asking Castlebar Municipal District to request traffic management support from Gardaí during key hours to ease the serious congestion coming from Gallows Hill/Rathbawn Road into the town.

“I am also asking council management to review and adjust the sequencing of traffic lights at Linenhall Street/Bridge Street and at the top of Ellison Street during these peak morning times to help traffic move more freely through the town centre,” stated Cllr Barrett.

He said Gallows Hill resembles a “car park” each morning with 40-minute tailbacks at the junction.

“It’s not getting any better. It’s extending longer into the day and the evenings,” said Cllr Barrett.

He said it is worth experimenting with traffic light sequencing to see it makes a difference.

“More and more families are living on that road and out to Snugboro. It’s just going to get worse in the absence of a plan,” Cllr Barrett commented.

• Published as part of the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.