NTA unveils plans for Ashbourne Park and Ride facility
The National Transport Authority (NTA) has unveiled plans for a Park and Ride facility, south of Ashbourne near the Nine Milestone.
The site is located along the R125 just east of the Nine Milestone roundabout.
According to the NRA; "Work continues to develop design proposals with a view to preparing statutory consent documentation and securing planning consent at some stage towards the end of 2026 or early 2027."
The Authority said the location was chosen, "given its proximity to the M2 corridor coupled with the ability to capture trips from the growing settlements of Ratoath and Ashbourne".
In a reply to a query from Deputy Darren O'Rourke the authority said "Nothing prevents a local park and share facility being advanced on the north side of Ashbourne or in Slane where demand is evident. Park and Share is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland or Meath County Council."
Deputy O'Rourke said that more Park and Ride facilities were needed on all routes into the city.
"Hopefully with a site now identified, this will progress quickly.
"However it is frustrating that there are no proposals for a park and ride north of Ashbourne.
"We need solutions for congestion at Primatestown and Kilmoon Cross. A Park and Ride to the north of Ashbourne would help," he said.
Cllr Helen Meyer said she welcomed anything that would cut back on congestion and tailbacks and she hoped when the new facility is built that there will be a bus stop right next to it.
She also stressed the need for park and ride facilities north of Ashbourne.
"I have raised this many times before, but I will be raising it at the next council meeting.
"The N2 is just horrendous with tailbacks. As well as the huge congestion on the main road, the small rural roads are being destroyed by traffic, including big trucks, trying to avoid the tailbacks on the N2."
The NTA said the location chosen based on by factors such as the availability of sufficient land near the motorway, the existing bus services and wider environmental factors such as the Broadmeadow watercourse.
A spokesperson for Meath County Council said the Park & Ride facility at Nine Mile Stone is a regional bus-based facility identified in the NTA’s Transport Strategy for the Greater Dublin Area 2022–2042.
"While no Park & Ride facility is proposed as part of the Slane Bypass and Public Realm Improvement Scheme, the provision of a Park & Ride facility to the north of Ashbourne is being considered as a potential complementary public transport measure in association with the junction options under the N2 Rath to Kilmoon Scheme.
"That scheme represents a long-term response to traffic congestion at Kilmoon Cross and Primatestown, and Transport Infrastructure Ireland provided an allocation in 2026 to support further scheme development.
"The NTA’s Strategy also notes that smaller or local Park & Ride facilities may be considered in specific circumstances, where they support high-quality public transport services and do not encourage short, car-based trips or undermine town centre vitality or land-use objectives."