Dublin’s Painfully Slow and Unambitious Bus Revolution that is Busconnects

16 Nov - Adam Ross - Transport Planner at Metro Dublin

​The Busconnects initiative is an overhaul of the bus networks of Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Galway and Waterford aimed at replacing the existing routes with a more efficient, accessible, and modern system that can better meet the evolving demands of these cities. However, I will be talking mainly about the Dublin aspect of Busconnects throughout this piece. 

Double Decker Dublin Bus

Furthermore, the rollout of new routes began in 2021 and the whole network along with the bus lanes is not expected to be fully in place until around 2030, meaning it will have taken 9 years just for Dublin to get proper working bus services. This is far too slow and unambitious for an initiative like this. With faster implementation, Busconnects could offer even greater benefits for commuters and the city as a whole, transforming Dublin into a more accessible, sustainable, and connected city.

​By focusing on streamlined, simplified routes and creating dedicated bus corridors, Busconnects promises a much-needed upgrade for the capital’s public transport system. However, the phased rollout approach, taking place every six months for the new routes and significantly delayed for bus lanes, has sparked frustration among residents and city planners alike who see it as far too slow and lacking in urgency. 

Why Faster Implementation is Crucial for Dublin
The decision to phase in Busconnects’ new routes at six-month intervals may be intended to minimize disruption and allow the public to fully process the changes being made, but in doing so, it compromises the effectiveness of the plan and the potential for immediate improvements to Dublin’s public transport experience. With every new phase, travellers face shifts in schedules, altered travel patterns, and the uncertainty of adapting to partially implemented networks. This approach leaves the system in a state of flux, where benefits are hard to appreciate fully because they remain fragmented across phases.

​Rolling out the routes faster and more ambitiously would provide clear and immediate benefits, including:

Consistency for Commuters: A quicker rollout would allow commuters to adjust to a fully redesigned network more easily, reducing the period of adjustment to changes and creating stability sooner.
Increased Ridership: Full implementation can showcase the system's overall benefits quickly, encouraging more Dubliners to consider buses as their primary mode of transport.
Environmental Impact: With a more efficient, interconnected network, bus travel could replace many car journeys, leading to a reduction in traffic congestion and emissions. Every delay in implementation slows down these environmental benefits.
Economic Growth: A fully functional public transport system supports economic activity, as efficient transport means shorter, more predictable travel times, making it easier for people to work, shop, and travel across Dublin.
I’m not saying the whole network should just be put out at once, just that phases be increased to every few months or so the public still have enough time to process the changes to the bus routes.

The Role of Dedicated Bus Lanes
Central to the BusConnects plan is the creation of dedicated bus lanes on key routes throughout the city. These lanes are not just complementary additions but a critical element in making the entire system work. Dedicated bus lanes can ensure buses move swiftly through congested areas, especially during peak hours, and maintain reliable, punctual schedules for passengers. But like the route redesigns, the rollout of these lanes has also been gradual and delayed. The synergy between the new routes and bus lanes is undeniable.

New routes without dedicated lanes can only achieve limited improvements in journey times and reliability. Bus lanes allow buses to bypass traffic bottlenecks, enabling the intended frequency and rapidity that Busconnects envisions.

​When buses can avoid regular traffic and flow through prioritized lanes, they become a more attractive option, encouraging car users to consider public transport. Improved speed and reliability in buses can make them competitive with, or even preferable to, private vehicles, leading to a virtuous cycle of increased usage.
 
​By implementing bus lanes in tandem with new routes, the system can more accurately provide the envisioned travel times and increased service frequencies. Passengers will benefit from the system as it was designed, rather than experiencing a less efficient, partially realized network.

Key Bus Corridor Map

The Mutual Benefit of Routes and Lanes
The two elements of BusConnects—the new routes and the dedicated bus lanes—are interdependent, each enhancing the effectiveness of the other. Without the dedicated lanes, the redesigned routes may still be vulnerable to the very congestion they are meant to address. Conversely, bus lanes without an optimised route network miss the opportunity to bring people to their destinations efficiently, resulting in a half-realized improvement in public transport.

Rolling out both components at a faster pace would enable the system to reach its full potential much sooner. For instance, a route optimised for quicker travel times will deliver those benefits only if the buses can actually travel faster along their designated pathways. Likewise, having a network of dedicated lanes enables buses to maintain predictable arrival times, reducing the time passengers spend waiting and thus encouraging more people to use the service.

​Community not Corridors
The "community not corridor" movement reflects genuine concerns from residents who fear that widening roads for bus lanes could impact the character of their neighbourhoods, reduce green spaces, or disrupt local businesses. These concerns deserve attention and thoughtful dialogue because they highlight the need for balanced urban development. However, well-designed bus corridors can enhance community life by reducing traffic congestion, improving air quality, and making public transport more reliable for everyone. When done with care, incorporating pedestrian-friendly spaces, greenery, and protections for local heritage—bus lanes can serve as a shared benefit, connecting communities more effectively while preserving their unique identity, as well as turning traffic choked main roads into efficient corridors with a much better traffic flow for buses. Collaboration and listening are key to ensuring these projects uplift everyone involved.

Overcoming Challenges and Moving Forward
While it’s understandable that citywide infrastructure changes like these face logistical and budgetary hurdles, the phased approach to Busconnects feels disproportionate given the urgency of Dublin’s transport challenges. The slow rollout of both routes and bus lanes means the city will be left waiting many years or even until 2030 for the system to make a noticeable impact. To counteract these challenges, the city should consider re-evaluating project management strategies, increasing funding where possible, mobilizing resources to speed up construction and lane designation, and make the completion of this network a priority.

​Accelerating the rollout could also foster public goodwill, showcasing Dublin’s commitment to sustainable development and accessible transportation. Rapid implementation would demonstrate that the city values the convenience, environmental well-being, and economic benefits that come with efficient public transport.

​The Busconnects plan is absolutely a step in the right direction, offering a much-needed transformation for Dublin’s bus network, but its current rate of progress limits its immediate impact. A more ambitious rollout of routes and an expedited deployment of dedicated bus lanes would not only maximize the benefits of the system but also align with Dublin’s goals of reducing congestion, cutting emissions, and supporting urban growth. By viewing the routes and lanes as an integrated system and accelerating their implementation, Busconnects can better serve Dubliners and help shape a city that prioritises sustainable and accessible public transport for all, rather than being a city where proper working bus services becomes a luxury to look forward to many years from now.