Preliminary designs are in place for a Portlaoise Town Bus Service for two bus routes which would run on a half-hourly basis.
A recent meeting of the Portlaoise Municipal District in Laois County Council was told that while the plans are not at as advanced a stage as other similar-sized regional towns, a meeting was recently held with the National Transport Authority, who are the funding agency for such a project.
The two bus routes would go from Collier’s Lane to Ballyfin Road and from Kilminchy to Bellingham.
Director of Services for Laois County Council Simon Walton said in a response to a query from Cllr Caroline Dwane-Stanley that each route will be serviced by two buses and there would be 40 stops between them, “including five stops in the town centre where the two routes cojoin”.
“In keeping with Portlaoise’s designation as a Low Carbon Town, a recent meeting was held with the National Transport Authority (NTA) with a view to … expediting the delivery of the Portlaoise Town Bus Service.”
Cllr Dwane-Stanley said she had raised the issue on a few occasions previously but welcomed the recent engagement with the NTA.
“We have a growing population and not everyone has cars,” she said.
“Sooner rather than later we’ll be encouraging people to leave their cars at home and get the bus,” she added while also referencing the importance of bus shelters on both routes.
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