Calls for engagement with NTA and bus operators over Kildare town junction

A Fine Gael councillor has called on the council to engage with the National Transport Authority and bus operators to resolve traffic issues on Mill Street and Main Street junction, Maynooth, Co Kildare.

Speaking at a Clane Maynooth Municipal District meeting held on Friday, October 3, Cllr Tim Durkan said he had received numerous complaints about this junction, which he was aware was under construction at the moment.

The situation was, he explained, that buses travelling up from Mill Street to Main Street are not able to make the turn, “without possibly hitting a car.”

Also, buses travelling from Main Street to Mill Street - with the filter lane being in place and the cars being positioned too far forward – cannot get around the corner.

He said he understood and agreed with the fact that there is now a modal shift towards more sustainable transport, but the situation now in Maynooth is that traffic had come to a halt due to this problem.

Cllr Durkan said he had spoken with a number of bus operators about the issue, and he now called on the Active Travel team to meet on-site with a view to resolving the matter.

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Supporting the motion, Cllr Donna Phelan (FF) said she had received no less than 60 complaints about this junction.

She understood, she said that this was “a work in progress”, but at the moment, “everything is at a standstill.”

Cllr Phelan pointed out that with students back in Maynooth University, “there are nearly more students than there are residents”, so that the amount of buses travelling in Maynooth has greatly increased.

She said there must be something that can be done to alleviate the situation, as “60 complaints in one day is more than excessive.”

A council official stated the local authority is aware of the complaints in relation to the current works.

Part of the problem, he explained, was that works are still ongoing and cones are narrowing the lanes further.

When the works were going on during the summer, it wasn't such an issue, he said, but now with students back in the university traffic had built up in the area.

In relation to the stop lines, he said if the stop lines were moved further back to allow room for vehicles exiting Main Street onto Mill Street, there needed to be cognisance of shortening the right hand turn onto Parson Street, which would also have adverse effects.

“There is a balance to be found there”, he said.

A report issued by the council confirmed that “the effective lane width for the left turning lane on Mill Street will be increased to 3.0m post re-lining, whilst the straight ahead and right turn lane will be 2.75m in width.”

This, the report stated, would make the left turn movement easier for buses.

The report continued: “Kildare County Council are monitoring the situation and therefore do not believe it is necessary to engage with the National Transport Authority (NTA) or bus operators at this time in advance of the completion of the construction phase of the Mill Street Active Travel Scheme...”