By Diarmaid Doherty
A programme of improvements for bus stops in towns and villages around Donegal is set to make life a little easier for bus passengers across the county.
Many of Donegal’s bus stops offer little or no shelter or even seating for passengers as they wait for their bus.
But councillors have been told that the National Transport Authority (NTA) is engaging with Donegal County Council to address the problem.
Not only will shelters and seating be provided at some bus stops, the NTA wants to erect new poles and proper information on the bus routes which serve a particular area.
Finn Valley councillor Patrick McGowan tabled a motion on the issue at last week’s meeting of Donegal County Council.
He pointed to places like Castlefinn, Killygordon and Drumkeen where improvements are urgently needed.
“You have people going to the likes of Leterkenny, Lifford and Strabane or Ballybofey,” he said.
“There could be shoppers waiting on the bus and there are students who get the bus everyday. There is no shelter whatsoever on those very busy bus routes.
“It is essential there whether it’s older people trying to get to the larger towns for shopping or just going to the doctor, or young people going to school at different times of the day. They need to have some sort of shelter.”
Supporting Cllr McGowan’s motion which asked for a survey to be carried out in various towns and villages, Cllr. Gerry Crawford asked that the bus stop at the old Custom’s Post in Lifford be included in the list of priorities.
Bryan Cannon, the council’s Director of Roads and Transportation said the NTA is responsible for funding, installation and maintenance of bus stop infrastructure nationwide.
“This includes the installation of bus shelters at bus stops,” he said.
“This provides consistency for bus passengers irrespective of where they are in the country or which operator uses the bus stop.
“The NTA is engaging with Donegal County Council to develop a programme of improvements to bus stops in the county on a prioritised basis.
“Improvements that may be included under this programme include the erection of new poles including information on bus routes served, bus shelters where there are a minimum number of buses stopping at that bus stop on a daily basis, works to improve the accessibility of the bus stop and the provision of seating subject to various conditions.”
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