It’s the plan which will making getting in and out of the city centre quicker and easier.
And this week the National Transport Authority (NTA) published their latest version of the BusConnects Swords to City Centre route and opened it for public consulation.
People have until July 18th to have their say on the route.
Starting at Pinnock Hill roundabout in Swords it travels by the airport, through Santry, Drumcondra and finishes on Parnell St.
In addition to greater bus priority along the route it will also provide a cycle route all the way to the city.
Here are the highlights of the scheme:
- 23.7 km (two-way) of bus priority infrastructure and traffic management;
- 21.6 km (total both directions) of cycling infrastructure and facilities;
- New/refurbished pedestrian facilities and footpaths along theroute;
- A new pedestrian and cycle bridge over the Drumcondra River;
- 34 junction upgrades and associated ancillary works;
- 48 new/refurbished raised table side entry facilities;
- Reconfiguration of existing bus stops resulting in 68 number new bus stop facilities;
- Public Realm works including landscaping, planting, street furniture, street lighting, boundary walls and sustainable urban drainage (SUDs) measures;
A small number of changes have been made to this scheme following consideration of the submissions received during the third round of public consultation (at the end of 2020) and these are summarised below.
- Cycle track previously within Santry Park and Morton Stadium maintained online in the final Preferred Route Option but reduced to 1.5m in width over a distance of approximately 300m;
- Minor reconfiguration of the proposed north and south approaches to the Airport roundabout;
- Provision of a new pedestrian crossing at Santry Close, near the Northwood junction;
- Provision a terminus for the D4 Route in the green space at the junction of Coolock Lane and the Swords Road;
- Provision of a dedicated left-turn lane from Santry Avenue;
- More detailed provision of off-street parking in Santry Village, to offset loss of on-street parking;
- Provision of a new pedestrian crossing adjacent to the Comet bar in Santry;
- Reduction in cycle track width in the vicinity of Plunkett College and Highfield Hospital, to reduce impacts on adjacent mature trees;
- Further development of the Griffith Avenue junction layout, to tie in with the Griffith Avenue Cycle Scheme;
- Segregation between pedestrians and cyclists on the new bridge over the River Tolka;
- Provision of a new segregated cycle track outbound between St Alphonsus Road Lower and Hollybank Road in order to avoid conflict with pedestrians;
- Further optimisation of parking and loading bay provision along Drumcondra Road Lower;
- Provision of a two-way cycle track on the west side of Parnell Square East in order to avoid interface with pedestrians and buses at the bus stops along the east side of Parnell Square East; and
Further rationalisation of bus stop locations, with some bus stops relocated or removed to achieve a better spacing between stops, while also ensuring that each stop is sited in the best location to serve surrounding neighbourhoods.
According to the public notice submissions can be made as follows:
Submissions/observations may be made in writing to the Board at An Bord Pleanála (Strategic Infrastructure Division), 64 Marlborough Street, Dublin 1, D01 V902 in relation to:
• the likely effects on the environment of the proposed road development, if carried out;
• the implications of the proposed road development, if carried out, for proper planning and sustainable development in the area in which it is proposed to situate the proposed road development; and
• the likely significant effects of the proposed road development on a European site
between Tuesday 23 rd May and Tuesday 18th July 2023.
Any submissions/observations must be accompanied by a fee of €50 and must be received by the Board not later than 5.30 p.m. on the 18th July 2023. This fee will not apply to certain prescribed bodies including those specified in section 51(3)(b) of the Roads Act 1993 (as amended) or to landowners and others with a legal interest in land who are objecting to compulsory acquisition of land in which they have such an interest
in a compulsory acquisition case.
Submissions/observations can also be made on the An Bord Pleanála website at the following address:
https://online.pleanala.ie/en-ie/sid/observation.
