Identifying locations for new bus shelters in Mayo

BUS stops and shelters are creating a bit of a crux in Mayo.

Everyone wants them, just not outside their house or shop.

Mayo County Council is working with the National Transport Authority on a programme to deliver new shelters, and a person has been appointed to look at it at county level to get agreement on suitable locations.

The update was given to members of the council's roads and sustainable travel strategic policy committee (SPC) by the acting head of roads, Conrad Harley.

Stops along national routes need approval from TII for each shelter, he also explained.

It's hoped to make progress on both points above in the year ahead.

On specific areas, they're looking to progress accessible shelters in Belmullet. There is a possibility that the bus stop may move to a new location, as where it is may not be suitable from an accessibility point of view.

At Kilkelly, the new bus stop off the N17 is inter-linked with a diversion of the regional road out of the town. And it's hoped to get a reasonable allocation for this next year, which will allow both schemes to progress through the design phase.

It will result in an offline bus stop, with fully sheltered accommodation off the N17, with safe room for parking, buses to turn and passengers to get on and off the bus.

Ballinrobe bus stops are lined up to be moved from main street to out the other side of Cornmarket. However, there's a slight difficulty with one bus route as the new location is not directly on the route.

Confirmation is awaited from Bus Éireann that it can be accommodated.