The study says an electric light rail service running in an east-west direction across the city could attract between seven million and 13 million passengers.
A 16.5km long corridor from Knocknacarra, west of the city, through the city centre to just beyond Oranmore, east of the city, has been identified as a possible route.
A further 5.5km corridor from the city centre to Ballybrit and Parkmore is also examined.
The study stresses, however, that this is very much a preliminary analysis and that the corridors referenced are only indicative of what might emerge if the issue was pursued.
“This report is only intended to explore key issues and potential feasibility,” it says.
“Route options would need to be explored in more detail during any subsequent process of options assessment and development.”
An estimated cost of €1.23bn-€1.34bn in 2023 prices is given which works out at roughly €80-90m per kilometre.
It stresses this is a rough calculation, with a lot of unknowns to be factored in.
“At this early stage, it is not considered appropriate to attempt to forecast the future costs, due to uncertainties about when the project would be delivered, and uncertainties about future construction price inflation,” it says.
Nicknamed the Gluas, the service has been campaigned for locally as part of a much-needed revamp of the traffic-choked city’s transport woes.
The feasibility study, commissioned by the National Transport Authority (NTA) and compiled by consultants AtkinsRealis, says that as the fast-growing population of the city continues to increase and development around it expands, a light rail service could form an important component of an overall transport strategy.
It says it would work best if rolled out alongside other sustainable transport projects in Galway including BusConnects, CycleConnects and the Cross City Link.
Park & Ride would play an important part too in allowing drivers from outside the urban area to link up with public transport to reach city destinations.
The study comes as An Bord Pleanála continues its deliberations on the divisive proposal for a major new ring-road around the city.
Green Party Senator and Galway representative Pauline O’Reilly, who is opposed to the ring-road proposal, welcomed the study’s findings.
“Gluas would transform Galway, linking the city from east to west with a sleek, frequent and reliable light rail system” she said.
“This study shows clearly that not only is there a case for Gluas, there’s a really strong case for it.
“It throws cold water on all the naysayers who have said that Galway isn’t big enough or wouldn’t have the demand for light rail.”
Ms O’Reilly, the Greens director of elections, said voters who wanted to see the transformation should vote for the Green Party as Fianna Fail and Fine Gael had “no interest” in developing public transport.
The NTA has said the study will inform its considerations of an overall Galway Metropolitan Area Transport Strategy.
