Portlaoise in a queue waiting for electric bus service
Portlaoise is earmarked to get its own bus service that could well be electric, but there is a long wait ahead for a bus to arrive.
An update on the planned bus service was given at the May meeting of Portlaoise Municipal District showing that the fast growing town is third in a queue for a bus service.
The Director of Services for Portlaoise MD is Simon Walton.
“As I understand it, the National Transport Agency have three towns on their radar. Carlow and Clonmel are slightly ahead of Portlaoise. We met an NTA rep two weeks ago and they made that comment.
"We've done all the bus stop designs. Now we need the NTA to tender for them. Then they will tender separately for the operators.
“We're doing all we can to progress it. Carlow and Clonmel are going ahead, then Portlaoise. On a timeframe I can't give a commitment because it is not totally under our control,” Mr Walton said.
Cllr Catherine Fitzgerald had tabled a motion to the meeting, requesting the update.
“It's taking a bit of time. We are actually bigger than Athlone in population now. The biggest in the Midlands.The town stretches from Fairgreen to Kilminchy. That speaks for itself the need for the service. The Abbeyleix road needs to be included too,” she said.
Cllr Caroline Dwane Stanley agrees with the motion which was seconded by Cllr Marie Tuohy.
“We have looked for an electric bus service, hopefully it will be.It is at least six or seven years since we first talked about this. Our population has vastly increased, it's badly needed,” she said.
Cllr John Joe Fennelly agreed.
“In a presentation we were told it would take two to four years, we're well past that now. I think a letter should go to day to ask the NTA to speed it up and give a timeframe,” he said.
Last December, Mr Walton said he was hopeful of a go-ahead from the NTA in early 2023.
“We hope that early in the New Year, they'll give us a go-ahead to prepare tender package to deliver the bus stops. In parallel they will seek expressions of interest by operators," he said at that time.
Laois County Council has designed a route with 72 bus stops serving thousands of residents on almost every approach road into the rapidly growing town.
It has stated a preference for electric buses, in keeping with the town's pilot Low Carbon Town status.
Their design, paid for by the NTA, is now awaiting its approval and funding.