Naas needs its own bus service
Areas with a smaller population already have this
There is a clear need for a town bus service in the greater Naas area.
Naas Mayor Bill Clear said it should also serve Sallins, Kill and Johnstown ”with a more regular link to Ballymore Eustace.”
He said areas with a smaller population have a town bus service.
The area has a population of 42,000 as well as a hospital and a train station ”so I believe we need one.”
He added: “Many people don’t drive for a variety of reasons and we need help to get a reliable bus service in the area.”
He’s asked Social Democrats TD Catherine Murphy for support.
A number of factors are taken into account before a service is approved by the National Transport Authority.
These include using statistics from the census covering population trends, car ownership, travel needs to work or education and population density.
The next step is assessing the feasibility of “providing buses within the central core of the town” as well as services which attract people to the town.
According to the NTA the county council’s plans for residential development, employment creation and other economic activities are examined because these generate demand for travel.
The location of the urban area boundary and where it is likely to be in the foreseeable future is also a factor.
Also examined is the demand for travel between sectors in the town.