The Dublin City Centre Transport Study, which was undertaken by Dublin City Council and the National Transport Authority (NTA), sets out a vision for how transport and mobility in the city centre will be managed and enhanced over the next 7 years.
The key objectives of the Study are:
- To protect the investment that already has been and continues to be made in public transport in the city and the region.
- To guarantee the future development potential of the city centre, and improve confidence in the ability of the city centre to be the key focus of future investment.
- To increase the capacity, reliability and use of public transport through the city centre.
- To improve the quality of service for cycling and walking, especially in the ‘core’ city centre.
- To ensure that the city develops in a way which will provide a better living and working environment for residents and visitors alike and;
- To provide an agreed framework for continued transport investment in the city centre.
The Luas Cross City project which is now under construction will provide a high quality, frequent service through the centre of the city and will help transform people’s movement around the city centre. It will not be able to operate effectively unless there is a significant reduction in general traffic along and across its route.
Hence the need for restrictions on general traffic on the North and South Quays and in the College Green area. The imposition of restrictions on general traffic will facilitate significant public realm interventions at College Green, St. Stephen’s Green and Suffolk Street. Wider footpaths on Westmoreland Street and on O’Connell Bridge will provide a much improved pedestrian environment. Investment in cycle ways will ensure that the city core is more suitable and safer for cycling.
The proposals for dedicated public transport interchanges at Heuston Station, Connolly Station/Busáras and D’Olier Street are designed to increase the numbers of people who can access the city centre by public transport by facilitating quick and easy changes from one public transport service to another. Increases in Dart services and the routing of trains via the Phoenix Park Tunnel to Connolly Station as well as increases in the bus fleet will provide more frequent and reliable rail and bus services.
The NTA has committed €150 million to fund the delivery of the proposals set out in the Study. This is in addition to the €368 million already committed to the Luas Cross City project and other city centre projects such as rail improvement and bus fleet investment.
The deadline for submissions on the public consultation on the Study has now been extended to 7th August 2015 and to date almost 1,200 submissions have been received, with 3 in 4 people agreeing with the proposals.
See www.dublincity.ie for more details on the Study and how to make a submission.
“The challenges of providing a Luas route through the very heart of the city are considerable, both during the construction phase and when the service is in operation.”
Brendan currently holds the position of Head of Technical Services with Dublin City Council.
