Today Sunday 8th October 2023 I decided to investigate the new 99 bus route servicing Phoenix Park. I arrived at the Parkgate bus stop [8208] at 15:25 expecting a bus to arrive at 15:30 but the bus did not arrive until 15:45. It would appear that the timetable only shows the times that the buses depart from the Phoenix Park Visitor Centre rther than from Patkgate Street and this is confusing to say the least.
Initially, the new shuttle bus service will run between Parkgate Street and the Phoenix Park Visitor Centre, via Chesterfield Avenue. Stops include Parkgate Street entrance and popular visitor attractions like Dublin Zoo and the Phoenix Park Visitor Centre. Visitors to Áras an Uachtaráin will be also facilitated with stops close to the Phoenix Monument.
The Phoenix Park Transport and Mobility Options Study, developed by the Office of Public Works, the NTA, Dublin County Council and Fingal County Council, identified the need for a bus service to the park as part of its ambition to reduce private car usage, enhance sustainable transportation modes for visitors and commuters, and minimize the impact of vehicles on the park and its surroundings.
The study found that public transport accounts for an 18% share of all trips with a destination in Phoenix Park. As the largest park in Dublin, with numerous significant attractions and thousands of annual visitors, the new shuttle service will help to increase the numbers accessing the park via public transport.
The new bus route has been designed to allow a greater number of trips to be facilitated by public transport to and from the Phoenix Park, taking into consideration the sensitive environment of the Phoenix Park. Once the service is operational, The NTA will assess customer feedback and demand, adjusting the hours of operation where required.