Central Omnibus Station.

The present custom whereby long distance omnibuses stand on the quays is a temporarily enforced expedient and adequate accommodation for a central station must form an integral part of our planning proposals. There is considerable difficulty in reconciling the present day demands with those which will be created when the new roads suggested in this Report are available.

Confining ourselves for the moment to present-day requirements: the Garda Authorities are in agreement with the principle that the long distance omnibus station should be centrally situated and easy of access to a focal point in the local city transport services. To meet these existing demands, it is proposed that the central omnibus station should be situated behind the frontage of Aston's Quay, between Bedford Row and Aston's Place. The continuity of building along the quay frontage would be preserved and separate "in" and "out" access would be provided; also there would be provision for subsidiary access from Fleet Street. This proposed station would allow of standing for 18 omnibuses and would be served by waiting rooms and the requisite offices housed in the building on the quay.

The new road plan indicates that the needs of the future may be different and that a central station might be more convenient if situated nearer to the geometrical centre of the City. It is, therefore, proposed that a site for a future omnibus station should be reserved on Wood Quay, extending from Winetavern Street approximately to Fishamble Street. The road parallel to the quay - Fleet Street - East Essex Street - Cook Street - would bound the new omnibus station on the South. The area between the new station and Christ Church Cathedral would be left free of further building with the object of forming public gardens and giving a view of the Cathedral from Wood Quay on the South bank, and Upper Ormond Quay on the North bank of the river.

The steep slope below Christ Church Cathedral would provide an opportunity for terraced treatment with, possibly, a shelter on quay level cut into the slope under the garden.

The site for the future omnibus station would gradually be cleared and it would be left as an open space, or used for some suitable temporary purpose, until the road plan and the demands of traffic were sufficiently advanced as to justify its use as a central omnibus station. In the event of the railway company deciding to abandon the Aston's Quay site, this existing site could be used for some other purpose.