COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
MEETING OF TALLAGHT AREA COMMITTEE 2
Monday, October 22, 2007
HEADED ITEM NO. 8
Planning and Development Act 2000
Part 8 Planning and Development Regulations 2001
Part 8 Report - Greenhills Road QBC
1. Introduction
Part VIII of the Local Government Planning and Development Regulations 2001 outlines the requirements in respect of certain classes of Local Authority Developments. These regulations apply to the proposed Greenhills Road Quality Bus Corridor.
The Quality Bus Corridor scheme will consist of the following:
· Changing road markings to omit the central hatching in the existing design and provide a 3.25m wide bus lane in both directions.
· Reduce the traffic lane width from 4.5m to 3.25m.
· The bus lanes are to be operational for 24 hours, Monday to Sunday.
· The provision of approximately 1955m of bus lane in the north-eastbound direction (to city centre) and 2170m of bus lane in the south-westbound direction (to Tallaght).
· No changes in the total width of the carriageway or cycle tracks.
· No changes to any of the junction design.
The intention of the scheme is to:
· Ensure a quick and reliable bus service capable of providing consistent journey times. Hence, improving on bus journey times.
· Make better use of the available road space.
· Establish a high profile identity for bus services using the corridor.
· Link Tallaght town centre to the city centre and to join the South Clondalkin QBC at the Walkinstown Road/Long Mile Road junction.
The overall impacts of proposal are:
· The provision of improved facilities for buses.
· There will be significant time-savings for a large number of bus passengers.
· There will be no significant impact on journey times for general traffic or reduction in capacity.
· There will be no impact on cycle facilities.
2. Public Consultation Process
The proposal was advertised in the Irish Independent and The Echo in accordance with Part 8 of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001 and was on public display from Tuesday 15th May 2007 to Wednesday 13th June 2007 at:
· South Dublin County Council Offices, County Hall, Tallaght, Dublin 24.
· County Hall Library, County Hall, Tallaght, Dublin24.
Any person wishing to make a submission or observations with respect to the proposed development, dealing with the proper planning and sustainable development of the area in which the development would be situated was invited to do so. The latest date for the receipt of submissions was before 4:30 pm on Wednesday 27th June 2007.
3. Written Submissions
7 submissions were received as follows:
1. P. Keogh, 80 St. James Road, Greenhills, Dublin 12.
2. Abacus Systems, 2-3 Mulcahy Keane Industrial Estate, Greenhills Road, Dublin 12.
3. Mairead and John Davis, 15 Keadeen Avenue, Green Park, Walkinstown, Dublin 12.
4. Gloria Rooney, 5 Killakee Drive, Green Park, Greenhills.
5. Sean Cooke, 19 Birchview Lawns, Kilnamanagh, Tallght, Dublin 24.
6. Tallaght Community Council, 32 New Bawn Park, Old Bawn, Tallght, Dublin 24.
7. Michael O’Reilly, 6 Lugnaquilla Avenue, Greenhills, Dublin 12 (4 submissions).
Report on Submissions
1. P. Keogh
Mr. Keogh is happy with the introduction of bus lanes on Greenhills Road as this will improve bus service. He also enquired if Greenhills residents will have a shuttle bus to the LUAS station.
Response:
The bus lanes are being provided as part of the Quality Bus Network, which is a strategic plan developed by the DTO as part of A Platform for Change 2000-2016.
It is envisaged that with the introduction of bus lanes on this route and the large amount of development in the area, both ongoing and planned, Dublin Bus will provide more buses in order to improve the service.
Whilst it is not planned to introduce a dedicated shuttle bus to the LUAS, the introduction of the bus lanes for the existing bus services on Greenhills Road, which provide a link to the LUAS at The Square, will greatly benefit.
It should also be noted that with the introduction of the proposed bus lanes, there would be largely continuous quality bus priority measures linking the Greenhills area with Dublin City Centre via the recently opened South Clondalkin QBC.
2. Abacus Systems
Abacus Systems had no comment on the proposal.
3. Mairead and John Davis
The Davis’s raised concerns regarding changes to the existing bus services following implementation of the scheme, and whether residents of “Green Park Estate” will have adequate access to bus services.
Response:
The realignment scheme has been approved by the elected representatives as part of a previous Part 8 process. However, as part of the detailed design of the scheme, consultation will take place between the consultants employed by South Dublin County Council and Dublin Bus, to ensure the maximum possible pedestrian access to the realigned bus routes.
4. Ms Gloria Rooney
Ms Rooney doesn’t see how a bus lane can fit on Greenhills Road as she normally cycles along Greenhills and is forced to cycle on the footpath. She also raised concerns about passengers smoking on buses.
Response:
The proposed QBC is part of the realignment scheme that was approved during a previous Part 8 public consultation process. This scheme consists of a 12.5m wide carriageway with two 4.5m wide traffic lanes and 3.5m of central hatching. The scheme will also include 1.5m wide off road cycle tracks and a 1.8m wide footpath. The Quality Bus Network Project Office (QBNPO) is proposing to change the design of the road markings to omit the central hatching. The carriageway cross section will therefore comprise of a 3.25m bus lane in each direction and a 3.25m wide traffic lane in each direction with no impacts on the off-road cycle tracks and footpaths.
With regard to passengers smoking on the buses, this is a matter for Dublin Bus and will be forwarded on to them accordingly.
5. Mr Sean Cooke
Mr Cooke is of the opinion that money will not be well spent to introduce a bus lane that will be terminated before the Greenhills Road bridge over the M50, as the buses will have to merge with the existing traffic at this location. Hence, he wanted to know how bus commuters can save time because of this. In addition, he pointed out that the cyclist will also have to merge with traffic at this bridge and he believes that this will create unsafe conditions for the road users.
He also commented because of the introduction of a bus lane next to Birchview Avenue, the green space in front of Birchview Avenue will be decreased and a number of mature trees, which serve as a barrier against noise and exhaust pollution, will be destroyed.
Response:
The proposed scheme under consideration as part of this Part 8 process does not include bus priority measures at the Greenhills Road Bridge over the M50. However, South Dublin County Council, in conjunction with the QBNPO are currently preparing a design for full bus priority measures at the Greenhills Road bridge over the M50. It is envisaged that this will eliminate delays to buses at this location and will also provide for cyclists to safely cross the M50.
In relation to the mature trees and green space in front of Birchview Avenue, the QBNPO is only proposing to change the road markings of the previously approved realignment scheme and not to widen the road.
6. Tallaght Community Council
Tallaght Community Council proposed an alternative three lane system for the Greenhills Road with the centre lane alternating as inbound and outbound during rush hour i.e. being inbound during the morning peak and outbound in the evening peak.
Response:
A reversible lane system requires a large amount of infrastructure in order to accommodate the changeover safely and within a sufficiently long distance. This cannot be accommodated within this relatively short stretch of road, particularly with the large number of junctions on the route. In addition the above proposal would require the carriageway to be designed to accommodate 5-lanes. This cannot be accommodated within the carriageway cross section approved for the realignment scheme
It should be noted that the layout of the realignment scheme as approved by the elected representatives of South Dublin County Council, included for one traffic lane in each direction. The proposals for the bus priority measures do not seek to alter this in order to accommodate bus lanes.
7. Mr Michael O’Reilly
Mr O’Reilly had 4 submissions:
a. He requested to minimise the road closure, if any, of Greenhills Road at Walkinstwon roundabout.
b. He questioned how could the residents of Green Park access the QBC as the bus stop positions were not shown on drawing. He also commented that there appears to be insufficient pedestrian crossing for the Green Park residents to access the inbound QBC.
c. He requested to modify the bus lanes at Walkinstown roundabout so that inbound buses can be given more priority.
d. He requested if the right turning lane length on Greenhills Road to Tymon North could be increased as he thinks that the provided length is inadequate. He suggested shortening the outbound bus lane between Tymon North and Mayberry Road for this.
Response:
a. The construction of the scheme will be carried out in order to minimise the disruption to the surrounding areas.
b. The realignment scheme has been approved by the elected representatives as part of a previous Part 8 process. However, as part of the detailed design of the scheme, consultation will take place between the consultants employed by South Dublin County Council and Dublin Bus, to ensure the maximum possible pedestrian access to the realigned bus routes.
c. It is not clear to what, Mr O’Reilly is referring, in relation to this point. The proposals are to be applied to the previously approved realignment scheme. This scheme terminates approximately 450m south west of Walkinstown Roundabout and provides for bus lanes in both directions throughout the scheme.
d. The bus lanes have been designed in order to maximise the bus priority measures. It is necessary to provide the maximum length of bus lane whilst also providing for the remaining traffic. A dedicated right turning lane has been provided at this location, which is considered adequate. It is therefore not proposed to reduce the length of the bus lane in this location.
4. Summary
The proposed Greenhills Road Quality Bus Corridor is in accordance with the 2004-2010 County Development Plan and with the proper planning and development of the area. It is therefore proposed to proceed with the Quality Bus Corridor as proposed. The bus priority scheme measures will be designed in conjunction with the Quality Bus Network Project Office. 33% of the total scheme costs will be provided under the Dublin Transportation Office Traffic Management Grants Scheme.