COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF SDZ, LAPS AND PLANNING PROJECTS

Friday, January 26, 2018

MOTION NO. 78

MOTION: Councillor F. Timmons

Provision of adequate infrastructure to support the provision of 8,500 new homes - at Outer Ring Road / Griffeen Avenue Junction which will serve 6 schools (4 primary and 2 post primary) provision of overhead pedestrian crossing to ensure safety of pupils of each of these 6 schools on their journey to and from school. 

Cllrs G. O Connell, P. Gogarty and L. O'Toole 

REPORT:

The intent of the proposed motion to ensure the provision of adequate transport infrastructure including pedestrian facilities is provided for under the Draft Planning Scheme and this is demonstrated by the Transport Assessment and Strategy that accompanies the Draft Planning Scheme. The provision of pedestrian street overpasses, however, would be at variance with DMURS in terms of the segregation of pedestrian and vehicular traffic and in considered unnecessary.

The Transport Assessment and Strategy that accompanies the Draft Planning Scheme demonstrates that transport proposals will be sufficient to provide for the transport needs of the SDZ lands including schools, which will be dispersed and located along main streets. The provision of additional overhead crossings is unnecessary.

The SDZ lands are uniquely positioned to benefit from a wide range of existing transport opportunities offered by the Kildare/Cork Railway Line, the Grand Canal and an existing network of national, regional and local roads that are served by existing bus lanes. The SDZ lands will be served directly by additional high quality public transport infrastructure projects planned under the NTA’s Transport Strategy for the Greater Dublin Area 2016 – 2035. These projects include the DART Expansion Programme, the Tallaght – Blanchardstown Core Orbital Bus Route and other Core Radial Bus Routes. The NTA has committed to the delivery of these transport projects.

Cross sections and plans for the upgrade of existing strategic streets and the design of local streets have also been included under Section 2.2.4 of the Draft Planning Scheme. Junction improvements are identified and detailed under the Transport Assessment and Strategy (Chapter 7) and Figure 2.2.7 (Overall Movement Concept) of the Planning Scheme. Proposed junction improvement includes signalising for improved pedestrian and cyclist movement and safety.

The Transport Assessment and Strategy has modelled the strategic street network and proposed junction upgrades and concludes that the majority of identified junctions will operate satisfactorily with improved pedestrian and cyclist safety and movement in peak periods (AM and PM).

Internal streets will provide corridors for planned radial and orbital bus routes. The planned street network will provide route choice thus helping to dissipate traffic including that which will serve the existing and planned schools. Proposed school sites are dispersed across the SDZ Land along main streets (Arterial or Link Street), which are designated to maximise access, route choice and to carry higher volumes of traffic. Only one school site (post primary) is designated along the Outer Ring Road together with one school (existing primary – Lucan East Educate Together) along Griffeen Avenue. Furthermore, the council currently employ school wardens in areas around the SDZ lands and this can be monitored and reviewed.

It is also a requirement of the Draft Planning Scheme (Section 2.8.5 - Street and Junction Design) for further toucan crossings to be provided where strategic and local pedestrian and cyclist routes intersect with streets such as those along which proposed and existing schools will be located. The provision of overhead pedestrian crossings for streets, which is at variance with DMURS in terms of the creation of shared/integrated streets, is not considered to be appropriate or necessary. The segregation of pedestrians from streets and crossings would promote faster moving traffic and create environments at a wider level that are unfavourable to pedestrians. Such crossings would also have to be designed in accordance with the building regulations on accessibility.

The intent of the aspect of the subject motion that seeks the provision of adequate transport infrastructure including pedestrian facilities has been fulfilled by the Draft Planning Scheme and no amendment to the Planning Scheme is required in this regard. The provision of pedestrian overpasses, however, in considered unnecessary. It is therefore not necessary to further amend the Draft Planning Scheme.

Recommendation

It is recommended that this motion is not adopted.

Strategic Environmental Assessment of Chief Executive’s Recommendation

No interaction with Strategic Environmental Objectives.

Appropriate Assessment Screening of Chief Executive’s Recommendation

No likely significant effects on European sites within the SDZ’s zone of influence are predicted.