COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, October 12, 2015

QUESTION NO.14

QUESTION: Councillor G. O'Connell

To ask the Chief Executive for a report on the operation of the Traffic Management Section of the Council and to include in the report the role played by CCTV and how, if possible, this can be improved.

REPLY:

The Traffic Management Section is involved in a range of activities as follows:

• Operation, maintenance and improvement of the traffic signal and traffic equipment network (150 signalised junctions, 163 signalised pedestrian crossings, 50 traffic counters and 18 speed display signs).
• Review and improvement of road signage and road markings.
• Review of speed limits in conjunction with the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport.
• Undertaking and implementing recommendations of traffic studies.
• Working with the Elected Members through Membersnet, Traffic Management Meetings, Area Committee Meetings and SPC to deal with traffic related issues, requests for traffic calming, requests for traffic improvement works and to formulate, develop and implement policies in relation to speed limits, parking, mobility and management of HGV’s, cycling, taxi-ranks.
• Dealing with requests for temporary road closures, road licences/permits, serving of notices under the Roads Act 1993.

The Traffic Management Centre (TMC) is central to the operations of the Traffic Management Section.

The TMC operates 07:00 to 19:00 Monday to Friday.

It consists of:

A Remote Monitoring System (RMS) connected to traffic signals in the county alerting the TMC to signal faults. This is connected to all of the junctions in the county and most of the pedestrian crossings. All new equipment will contain Monitoring units and Monitoring units will be installed in all pedestrian crossings on a phased basis

Urban Traffic Control (UTC)

This is an adaptive traffic system optimising traffic flow. It operates on a regional basis with a region being a series of individual junctions.

Regions

1. Greenhills Road (Tymon Nth to Airton)
2. Oldbawn Road to Firhouse Road
3. Outer Ring Road (From Willsbrook to Lucan Woodvale “Woodies”)
4. R148 (Old N4 Kennelfort to Oval Jncts)

The installation of dedicated fibre optic cable has allowed for the deployment of Urban Traffic Control (UTC) systems. SDCC currently operates SCOOT / UTC version MMX which was developed for the London Olympic Games.

Currently there are 81 CCTV cameras for traffic monitoring and the TMC is now hosting additional CCTV cameras from other departments. This allows the TMC operators to observe traffic flows, detect changes in patterns which may require alterations and evaluate signal operation. Traffic Incidents which are observed are reported to emergency Services, AA Roadwatch and other agencies as needed.

The cameras are not intended for nor are they suitable for any enforcement functions.

Cameras are not generally recorded due to privacy issues, data protection issues and data management issues.

There are links to Live Drive FM, AA Roadwatch, Dublin Port Tunnel, NRA Control room and Dublin City Council Control room.

The TMC allows for early detection and reporting of signal faults, ongoing overview of traffic throughout the county and acts as a point of contact for the public and outside agencies.

It has also operated as a Command and Control centre during episodes of severe weather and can provide journey time data.