COMHAIRLE CHONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, June 12, 2006

QUESTION No. 21

QUESTION: Cllr. Fintan McCarthy

To ask the Manager to make the necessary arrangements for the Council to take control of the operation of all traffic light junctions within the county given the unnecessary congestion being caused in South Dublin to residents living to the west of the M50.  

REPLY

The current arrangements for the operation and control of traffic signals are in accordance with the Regional Traffic Management measures agreed between the four Dublin Authorities and the NRA, and are summarised as follows: 

• Responsibility for M50 Traffic Management is devolved to DCC by the NRA and is monitored and controlled from the DCC Traffic Control Centre.  
• The M50 intersections with the N4, N7 and N81are linked to the SCATS system which is monitored and controlled from the DCC Traffic Control Centre.  
• All other signalised junctions in the South Dublin area are monitored and controlled from the SDCC Traffic Management Centre.
• SDCC has access to the DCC CCTV network through a fibreoptic link to the Traffic Management Centre.
• It is proposed to provide DCC with a web-link to the SDCC CCTV and ANPR systems as part of the current TMC expansion programme.

The main contributory factor to increased congestion west of the M50 in recent weeks has been the introduction of revised lane markings by NTR in the approach to the Toll Plaza. This issue is being addressed in discussions between the NRA, DCC, SDCC and NTR with a view to having the lane markings amended.

The M50 Upgrade works, for which the first phase implementation contract has recently been signed, will afford relief, on completion, to the congestion problems  being experienced throughout the South Dublin area.