Proposed Bus Gate – Bun a Chnoic / Cnoc an Óir

Galway City Council is seeking to carry out works in Bun a Chnoic and Cnoc an Óir in order to facilitate the expansion of the Galway City Bus Network to this area.

Scheme Overview

Update - August 2026

Galway City Council carried out a public consultation during November and December 2025 on proposals for a bus gate in Rahoon. It would allow buses on new route 44 (formerly known as route 3) to travel between Bun a Chnoic and Cnoc an Óir. There were 67 responses of which 51 opposed the bus gate. However, 56 responses supported improved bus services, in principle. There were suggestions for alternative alignments. Following the consultation, the bus gate proposal has been dropped, so a new bus route alignment is needed. Five options were considered and one has now been selected by the National Transport Authority.

Their report is available by clicking on this link.

 

**This consultation has now closed.**

https://www.galwaycity.ie/news/2026/update-proposed-bus-gate-bun-a-chnoiccnoc-an-oir

 

Galway City Council is seeking to carry out works in Bun a Chnoic and Cnoc an Óir in order to facilitate the expansion of the Galway City Bus Network to this area.  

This would entail the removal of an existing planter and replacing it with a bus gate, which would allow buses to travel between both estates.  The new bus gate would not allow cars to pass through, but could be designed to allow access for walkers, wheelers and cyclists.  This proposed project will be funded by the National Transport Authority, and will facilitate the expansion of the Galway City Bus Network, which is due from 2027.  

We want to hear your views on this proposal before progressing the project.

Important points to note

  • This bus gate would connect hundreds more people to the new bus network, offering a convenient service to the apx. 1,200 people living near here.
  • These plans are in their early stages. No design works have been carried out.
  • The bus gate will prevent cars from travelling directly between both estates.  Walkers, wheelers and cyclists may be accommodated, along with emergency services.
  • If the bus gate is not built, the proposed new bus route will bypass this area and hundreds of people would have to travel further to get to their nearest stop.
  • We want to hear your views on this proposal, in order to inform the next steps of this proposal.

You can tell us your thoughts on this proposal by logging onto Galway City Council's online consultation portal at https://consult.galwaycity.ie/

Alternatively, you can make your submissions by email via ActiveTravel@GalwayCity.ie or by writing to Active Travel Department, Galway City Council, City Hall, College Road, Galway, H91 X4K8.

The deadline for responses is Friday December 5.

 

If you have any queries about this proposal, you are welcome attend a Drop-In Public Information Event.

Where: Clybaun Hotel
When: Wednesday November 26, 2025.  4pm-8pm

Members of the project team will be on hand to answer your questions.

 

Next Steps

Galway City Council is undertaking a Non-Statutory Public Consultation with residents in both estates, and the wider catchment area.  This process will allow us to further outline the plans for this route, explain options to local residents and to answer their questions.  After this is complete, we will collate feedback received, and liaise with the National Transport Authority on the next steps.  

A planning application, including a period of statutory public consultation, will be required before any works can proceed.

A mock-up image which shows one option for the proposed bus gate, a barrier which raises as a bus approaches.
A mock-up image which shows one option for the proposed bus gate, retractable bollards which would descend as a bus approaches.