Shuttle bus for new Waterford bridge ‘dead and gone’ as council ‘stabbed in the back’

The shuttle bus that was proposed for the sustainable transport bridge in Waterford city is “dead and gone”, a local councillor has said.

Fine Gael councillor Pat Nugent raised the issue at the April plenary meeting of Waterford City and County Council.

Cllr Nugent asked about transport connections between the new Transport Hub and Waterford Bus Station on the South Quays.

He referenced a meeting that was due to take place with the National Transport Authority (NTA) and asked for an update on the situation.

In response, Acting Director of Services Seán Dobbs said that the issue of the shuttle bus has been addressed at previous meetings.

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Mr Dobbs said: “The NTA have stated their position. I suppose the key parts there are the bridge and the train station are anticipated to open towards the end of 2027.

“The key connection there then would be the rollout of Bus Connects, which I understand will start shortly afterwards, in early 2028.

“Then, of course, the sustainable transport bridge itself in terms of walking and cycling, so that’s how it’s going to roll out.”

He continued by outlining the impact that the Bus Connects programme will have and the bus stop facilities that will be available.

“There will be an increase in frequency of bus services connecting the two and the new interchange hub for buses on the South Quay and a full interchange for local and intercity bus services outside the Transport Hub so we have trains, buses, cars, walking, cycling all interfacing at the Transport Hub itself.

“So from the end of 2027, through 2028 and beyond, that will be the plan.”

At that point, the Mayor of Waterford, Cllr Seamus Ryan, made a rare interjection to take issue with these comments.

Mayor Ryan said: “I didn’t realise that the issue of the transport going across that bridge had been resolved definitely. That wasn’t my understanding so I just want to make sure that that’s not the case.

“Can we go back to the TFI or whoever it is about this because to me this is a significant piece of infrastructure, that particular bridge.

“It’s called the sustainable transport bridge without transport on it, it doesn’t make sense. So I would ask that a letter or a strong case be made to the powers that be.”

He concluded by apologising for interrupting, adding that it is something he feels strongly about.

In response, Mr Dobbs said he agreed with the mayor in saying that the shuttle bus proposal is not off the table completely.

He stated: “The NTA have not closed the door on the shuttle bus so they are open to further engagement.

“Their focus at the moment is on rolling out the Bus Connects so high frequency and high volume bus services but they have not closed the door on a potential shuttle bus.

“Their feasibility study was useful I suppose in crystallising the issues that they may have when we go back again, so the door isn’t closed on that.”

However, later in the meeting, Fianna Fáil councillor Eamon Quinlan expressed little hope that the shuttle bus proposal might be revived.

Cllr Quinlan said: “I take it from reading the NTA’s response that the sustainable transport bridge having transport on it is dead and gone.

“The report basically said that the response from them was that ‘we’re not paying for it but if the council wants to pay for it, by all means’, which is definitely them stabbing us in the back and not only that, but twisting the knife by putting it back onto us.”

“We were never meant to pay for it,” he added.

Mr Dobbs responded by saying that Cllr Quinlan was correct in saying the NTA has no funding available for such a project.

However, he insisted that it has left the door open for future engagement on the subject.

In February, the NTA published its findings in relation to the feasibility of a shuttle bus travelling to and from the North Quays.

The report found that it was not feasible for a shuttle bus to operate on the bridge, despite it being included in plans going back a decade.

It cited various reasons, including fears for public safety, a perceived lack of demand and financing difficulties.