Travel times in Dublin will continue to get longer if the Bus Connects plan isn't introduced, according to The National Transport Authority.
The body has received 30,000 submissions on the proposal, and says re-designing the city's bus network by creating 16 new bus corridors is "vital" to tackle congestion.
NTA management are appearing before the Dáil’s Transport Committee this afternoon, to answer questions on how the plan would affect traffic, parking and front gardens of houses along the routes.
Some of the concerns raised include the changing of routes, frequency and the loss of space from some people's front gardens.
CEO Anne Graham has told the Transport Committee that it's vital some gardens are made smaller to make room for new bus lanes.
"On average, bus journeys will be reduced by up to 40-50%", she said.
If Bus Connects doesn't go ahead, she said "journey times will continue to get worse, and commuters will spend more time getting to and from work each day".
The four proposed routes subject to current public consultation connect the city centre with Blanchardstown, Clongriffin, Lucan and Swords.
Deputy Fergus O’Dowd, Chair of the Transport Committe, said "all stakeholders involved can agree that Dublin’s traffic congestion requires urgent reform and new thinking".
Over 1200 Dublin homeowners, who could lose part of their gardens under the Bus Connects Plan, will be notified by February next year.
The project, which would create 200 kilometres of bus and cycle lanes on 16 new routes, involves taking land off property owners to widen the roads.
The Dáil’s Transport Committee has heard claims people living along affected routes are living in limbo and cannot sell their homes.
