Call for investment in public transport
A WICKLOW TD has called for urgent investment to match the National Transport Authority (NTA)’s proposals for transport in the county.
Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore welcomed the NTA’s strategic approach to transport for Wicklow but said investment is needed if projects earmarked for Wicklow are to be carried out in a timely manner to meet demand for public transport. She also called for increased investment in services such as Local Link.
Deputy Whitmore made her comments after a Zoom meeting last week between representatives of the NTA and Wicklow’s TDs.
She said, ‘ transport issues are a major concern for those living in Wicklow, whether for those that face long commutes or using public transport for shorter trips, getting to school or just getting to the shops’.
‘I welcome the NTA providing the opportunity to go through all ongoing transport concerns in Wicklow and the fact that a renewed focus has been put on the lack of public transport in
county Wicklow’.
While Deputy Whitmore said she was ‘ happy to see there are a range of upgrades and studies being carried out for Wicklow’, she argued ‘urgent funding will be required in order to carry them all out in a timely manner and to meet the huge demand that already exists in the county’.
‘During the meeting, I also raised key issues in relation to Bus Connects, increasing Dart frequency to 20 minutes as well as Connecting Ireland programmes across the county and the need to maximise public transport access for all commuters in Wicklow
including those in areas with currently few public transport options including Kilcoole and towns further south down the line.’
‘I also made the particular point of the importance of Local Link services to people in Wicklow and called for a significant increase in investment for this vital service. Places like Arklow and South Wicklow have recently benefited from new Local Link services but there is demand for even more, a point I made very clear to the NTA representatives and which I will continue to follow up on,’ Deputy Whitmore added.