COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
MEETING OF DEVELOPMENT PLAN MEETING
Tuesday, March 01, 2022
MOTION NO.69
MOTION: Councillor G. O'Connell, Councillor P. Gogarty, Councillor L. O'Toole
In names of Cllrs Paul Gogarty, Guss O'Connell, Liona O'Toole (in that order) Reference: SD-C195-245 National Transport Authority submission page 92 and CE recommendation page 93 That the reference to 'Kennelsfort Road and the R148' in Table 7.5 and associated text be retained as a short term objective in the six-year programme and not be moved into Table 7.6 Medium to Long Term Road Objectives.
REPORT:
The motion relates to Table 7.5 Six Year Road Programme and Table 7.6 Medium to Long Term Road Objectives and seeks that the 'Kennelsfort Rd and the R148' Road Programme remains under the Six Year Road Programme as previously set out in the Draft Plan as opposed to being moved to table 7.6 Medium to long Term Road Objectives, as requested by The National Transport Authority under submission on Public Consultation number SD-C195-245 and recommended by the CE Report.
The submission from the National Transport Authority (NTA) under SD-C195-245 page 92 of the CE report is worth noting where it was stated by the authority the justification for such a large scheme, in terms of sustainability, has not been demonstrated and there is no requirement to address cycle network connectivity and consistency with BusConnects set out in the objective.
The submission further stated that a scheme of this nature would be inconsistent with the Transport Strategy which states that there will be no significant increase in road capacity for private vehicles on radial roads inside the M50 motorway. The submission concluded on this issue by recommending that this scheme is removed (EMPHASIS ADDED) from the Draft Plan as it is a significant investment in increased radial road capacity inside the M50 and does not take into account the requirements of other transport modes and transport projects at this location.
In considering the points raised by the NTA the provisions of SM3 Objective 17 should be noted where it is an objective of the plan to work with the NTA and other state agencies to facilitate the delivery of Kennelsfort Road – R148 grade separated junction or an equivalent solution to maximise the efficacy of the BusConnects Project.
While the content and intent of the motion is noted this project would be largely funded by the NTA and given their strong opinion and recommendation on this issue it is considered more prudent to provide for a balanced approach to this issue with the provisions of SM3 Objective 17 facilitating engagement with the NTA in order to identify and ensure the most optimum solution is developed for this area.
It is therefore considered that this motion should not be adopted and that table 7.5 should remove the reference to ‘Kennelsfort Road and the R148’ and associated text and same be inserted into Table 7.6 Medium to Long Term Road Objectives in line with the recommendation of the CE report page 93.
CE Recommendation: It is recommended that this motion is not adopted and that table 7.5 should remove the reference to ‘Kennelsfort Road and the R148’ and associated text and same be inserted into Table 7.6 Medium to Long Term Road Objectives in line with the recommendation of the CE report page 93.