THE BUSY traffic route in front of Dublin’s Custom House could be turned into a pedestrian plaza and the city’s quays made a no-parking zone under a new 12-year traffic plan from Dublin City Council.
The City Centre Transportation Plan is a framework document which sets out a “vision for movement” for the city centre until 2020. The plan, which will be put before councillors for the first time tomorrow, concentrates on measures to reduce traffic congestion by restricting private car access to the city and creating new opportunities for walking, cycling and public transport.
The city’s canals and historic bridges, which are protected structures, have a “limiting” effect on the number of vehicles which can enter or leave the city each day.
“The city streets have virtually reached the limit of what can be accommodated on them in vehicular terms,” the report says.
The council has already introduced limits on traffic, such a the heavy goods vehicle ban and pedestrianisation of parts of the city. However, the report said more measures have to be taken if the city is to continue to thrive.
One of the most controversial traffic plans announced recently by the council is the “bus gate” which would make the area from Dame Street across College Green to Westmoreland Street a public-transport-only zone from July.
The proposal has been endorsed by Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey but heavily criticised by city traders, the Dublin Chamber of Commerce, AA Roadwatch and several councillors.
The new plan re-emphasises the need for the bus gate and says restrictions on cross-town car traffic must be extended to Parnell Square. “Modelling work done on the civic spine from Christchurch to Parnell Square indicates that if general traffic is allowed free access to cross-city movement in the O’Connell Bridge area, public transport will be unable to function properly.”
However, while the report emphasises the need to stop cars from using the city centre to cross town, it does not propose banning cars from accessing the city.
“Economically, it is vital that private car access to this area is preserved for retail, business, servicing and leisure purposes.”
The plan proposes developing “car park routes” which would bring cars past multistorey car parks but would channel them back out of the city in the direction from which they came if they chose not to use the car parks.
The city centre car ban is likely to be the first of the plan’s proposals to be implemented. However, it suggests further measures to reduce car presence in the run-up to 2020.
One measure proposes the extension of the Liffey boardwalk from Capel Street to Croppy’s Acre – the area of parkland between Collins Barracks and the quays. This would eliminate parking from the north side of the quays. The report acknowledges there are “serious issues” in the scheme but said it would bring great benefits to pedestrians.
It also proposes a pedestrianised civic space in front of the Custom House.
Any proposed changes would be put out to public consultation before they were introduced.
