COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF DEVELOPMENT PLAN MEETING

Tuesday, March 01, 2022

MOTION NO.67

MOTION: Councillor G. O'Connell, Councillor P. Gogarty, Councillor L. O'Toole

MOTION Section 2.3 , Submission Number SD C195 - 245, Page 92 and 93 of the CE Report, (Ref Policy SM3) To change the Chief Executive's Recommendation as follows: FROM: Amend Table 7.5 to remove reference to 'Kennelsfort Road and the R148' and associated text and insert the same into Table 7.6 Medium to Long Term Road Objectives. TO: The Council shall work with the NTA and other state agencies to facilitate the delivery of the Kennelsfort Road-R148 grade separated junction or an equivalent solution to be initiated during the first two years of the 2022-2028 Development Plan and adjust the relevant tables as appropriate to reflect this objective. EXPLAINATION: The intent of the motion is to restore the original objective as set out in the Draft Plan. The Council, and successive County Development Plans, going back to the 1990s has promoted the objective of a grade separated junction at Kennelsfort Road/N4 (now Kennelsfort Road/R148). Now is the time to begin to deliver on this objective especially given the National commitment to address Climate change and its causes. The NRA is not addressing the issue when it states '….that there will be no significant increase in road capacity for private vehicles on radial roads inside the M50 Motorway'. (Michael Mac Ardee, Head of Strategic Planning, NRA, 15th September 2021). Road capacity is not the issue here. The need for a separated junction at this location is required in the first instance to re-unite the divided community of Palmerstown, to promote connectivity. The Community was divided to facilitate the realignment of the Lucan Road in the 1980s by the creation of the then N4, more recently downgraded from a national to a regional road. But the traffic has increased, not lessened. Secondly it creates an unnecessary source of both air and noise pollution in the midst of a residential area, especially at peak times, as motor vehicles are halted in both directions by unnecessary traffic signals. The current arrangement does not support an efficient BusConnect system. Neither does it promote or foster cyclists or pedestrians. The time has come to deliver on this long held objective. Councillors Guss O'Connell, Liona O'Toole, Paul Gogarty,

REPORT:

This motion is similar to Motions Item ID’s 73878, 73872 and 73874, relating 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 but that the wording relating to this road be amended to read as follows: 

From: 

Description: Upgrade of existing junction

Function: Support the provision of a grade separated junction, to be initiated during the first two years of the 2022 to 2028 County Development Plan, to enhance the efficiency of the junction, particularly for buses on the N4/Lucan Road QBC, to ensure safe crossing facilities are provided for all users and to reconnect the Heritage Village of Palmerstown with the newer residential areas of the community.

To: 

Description: Upgrade of existing junction

Function: The Council shall work with the NTA and other state agencies to facilitate the delivery of the Kennelsfort Road-R148 grade separated junction or an equivalent solution to be initiated during the first two years of the 2022-2028 Development Plan.

The submission from the National Transport Authority (NTA) under SD-C195-245 page 92 of the CE report indicates that 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 (as it was worded in the Draft Plan). 

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.  

The points set out in the explanation to the motion on climate change and connectivity are also noted. In this regard there are a number of objectives within the plan which promote the points made under Policy SM1: Overarching – Transport and Movement. This includes a transition to more sustainable modes of transport with specified county mode share targets for walking and cycling, creating safe and attractive street environments for pedestrians and cyclists, and engagement with relevant agencies including the NTA and TII on strategic and local transport issues. Policy SM2 Walking and Cycling places a significant emphasis on sustainable modes of travel particularly the prioritisation of safe walking, cycling facilities and connections and for engagement with the NTA to acquire funding for the full implementation of currently identified and future Cycle South Dublin projects. 

Having regard to the above, and while the content and intent of the motion is noted, the proposed grade separated projects or alternative solution would be largely funded by the NTA. Given the NTAs strong opinion and recommendation it is considered more prudent to provide for a balanced approach to this issue with the provisions of the Draft Plan’s SM3 Objective 17 facilitating engagement with the NTA as follows:

To work with the NTA and other state agencies to facilitate the delivery of the

Kennelsfort Road-R148 grade separated junction or an equivalent solution to maximise the efficacy of the BusConnects Project. 

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.