Exploration of increased AirCoach usage on the M50

Potential Route Options

• Suggested Potential Route ID: O50
  Stops: Northbound
  Begin: Bray village
  Next stop: Jnct 15 Carrickmines Park shopping mall. turn at Glenamuck roundabouts.
  Next stop: Jnct 9 Red Cow Park and Ride, turn at N7 flyover towards Monastery Road.
  Next stop: Jnct 3 Dublin Airport
  Terminus: Malahide village
  Route can be used as an airport connection or for commuters travelling between suburbs
  Travel time 45-60mins
  
  Suggested Potential Route ID: O51
  Stops: Northbound
  Begin: Dundrum Town Centre
  Next stop: Jnct 11 Tallaght Basketball arena, turn at Glenview roundabout.
  Next stop: Jnct 7 Liffey Valley Clayton Hotel, turn at roundabout to travel back down N4 and rejoin M50
  Next stop: Jnct 6 Blanchardstown R843 flyover Snugborough road by park entrace
  Terminus: Dublin Airport
  
  
  Suggested Potential Route ID: O1
  Begin: Ballinteer
  Next steps: Dundrum Shopping Centre, Churchtown, Nutgrove Shopping Centre, Rathfarnham, Terenure, Templeogue and Spawell (as per previously scrapped route)

It would reduce gridlock on the M50

• More people using public transport generally means less cars which means less gridlock. Unfortunately history would point to the relevant authorities and decision makers having a hard time understanding this. Such projects need to be done with careful planning, to be well integrated with the rest of the public transport network, be cheap, punctual and with easy payment options such as tap-and-go payment systems. They rarely if ever are which means people aren't convinced to make the switch so the projects are often abandoned early after trials, assuming they even make it that far which most don't.

A bus/car-share lane could be considered for M50 northbound to replace current slow lane

• It could be a restricted to certain off-peak times, particularly in early trials. This may be fruitful in showing the potential benefits to drivers. The lane could potentially be open to all multiple-occupancy vehicles, maximizing it's usage to the greatest extent

A flat fare integrated with leap card would be helpful

• We would suggest the same fare structure as Dublin Bus with an additional surcharge of 5 euro for the airport, which would be incorporated into the Dublin Bus/Luas 90 minute fare. This would ensure that anybody taking another bus or tram afterwards would not be double charged, thereby making the route more attractive to more people.

No cash usage

• No. None of the stops would be on the motorway itself or ramps. They would be at secondary roads and bus stops nearby, such as the park and ride at the Red Cow Luas.

There be a need for more park and rides to make this work

• Park and Rides near junctions such as Tallaght and N4 would need to be explored.

This could directly intersect with Bus Connects and the Luas

• It would require careful planning but its perfectly possible to have it intersect with several Bus Connects spines and the Luas Red and Green lines.

"The problem is that it's very time consuming to get on and off the M50 to a place where you can stop." - National Bus and Rail Union

• A reduced number of stops per route (more routes with less stops) can alleviate this. Add new stops nearer the secondary roads which are near to the M50. A good example of this being done at one junction is adding bus stops near the Spawell in Tallaght and National Basketball Arena which could easily be done.