Dublin City Centre Transport Plan: What is it, who’s against it and how will it affect motorists?

However, the plan has become increasingly divisive, with calls for changes, delays in implementation and more consultation. Here’s what the transportation plan will mean for the city.

What is the Transport Plan?

A strategy developed by Dublin City Council and the National Transport Authority (NTA) for a ‘light traffic city centre’, with more space for public transport, cycling and walking.

Who came up with this and why?

The plan was developed as a means of reducing the amount of ‘through traffic’ in Dublin city centre.

Research by the NTA found that almost two in three drivers in the ‘core’ of the city – an area broadly defined as Smithfield to Customs House and St Stephen’s Green to Mountjoy Square – do not have the city centre as their destination.

They are, as one Fine Gael councillor put it, using the city centre “as a big shortcut”.

What will it cost the city?

Dublin City Council has not yet released an estimated cost of implementing the transport plan. However, the potential costs to retailers and other businesses have become a point of contention around the plans.

‘The biggest risk to jobs is our buses not moving fast enough through traffic’ – Eamon Ryan responds to criticism of Dublin city centre’s traffic management system

Following calls from business lobby groups, a full economic evaluation report has been commissioned.

Those who support the plan say that motorists driving through the city do not benefit businesses or life in the city, and only add to the traffic congestion.

The removal will free up streets in the central shopping and business district for public transport and motorists who want to shop or work in the city centre.

What are the most important changes?

The two most attention-grabbing elements are changes that will affect traffic on the North and South Quays. “Bus gates” will be introduced at Bachelors Walk and Aston Quay, allowing only public transport to pass through.

Private cars are not allowed to drive through it, only buses, taxis, cyclists and pedestrians. Although it is seen by some as a car ban in the city centre, there are many other options to cross the city centre outside of these two specific points.

Private vehicles will also no longer be allowed to turn left from Westland Row into Pearse Street, with a new right turn for general traffic. This would make the section of Pearse Street between the junction at Westland Row and Sandwith Street two-way.

The council said Westland Row was important to the BusConnects scheme and while it would no longer be a through route to Pearse Street, it would remain an option for motorists travelling towards Samuel Beckett Bridge.

The council expects this change to result in improved cycling and pedestrian infrastructure in the Pearse Street and Tara Street areas, and would also create a new opportunity at Lincoln Place, which could become more of a recreational space.

Who is in favor of the transport plan and who is against it?

Secretary of State for Enterprise and Fine Gael TD Emer Higgins has called for the plan to be delayed until at least 2025.

She asked for the delay after speaking to “concerned” retailers in Dublin city centre who have “very legitimate concerns” about protecting jobs. Green Party councillors have criticised Deputy Higgins for a “huge overreach”.

Transport Minister Eamon Ryan has also called for the changes to go ahead as planned next month. He said: “Emer is entitled to her views but I don’t agree with them and I don’t think the council agrees with them.”

Most Dublin city councillors support the plan, after approving it following public consultations last November. Councillors also rejected subsequent calls to reopen the process for further consultation this year.

Business groups including Ibec have also said that not enough attention has been paid to the “potential negative consequences” of the plan.

The Dublin City Centre Traders Alliance, which includes well-known city businesses such as Arnotts, Brown Thomas and Louis Copeland, expects the measures to lead to job losses, business closures and an impact on the retail sector.

The group has written to Dublin City Council asking for the project to be placed under embargo and a full environmental impact assessment carried out by An Bord Pleanála.

When will the changes start?

The first measures of the plan – including the “bus gates” and changes to Pearse Street – were due to be implemented in early August. However, a number of last-minute changes are now being sought following consultation with disability groups.

The proposed changes would mean that the bus gates would only be open from 7am to 7pm, rather than 24 hours. The left turn from Bachelors Walk to O’Connell Street would also be retained, but private vehicles would not be allowed to continue straight through to Eden Quay.

Dublin City Council chief executive Richard Shakespeare told councillors last night that he had commissioned a study into the economic impact of the plan and would wait for the results before making a decision on changing the implementation dates.

What other changes are in store for the city centre and when?

Construction of the new Liffey Street Plaza in Dublin city centre is well underway, following delays due to the construction of a hotel on the same street.

The project will extend the pedestrian area on Liffey Street Upper to Abbey Street and create a new pedestrian plaza on Liffey Street Lower between Strand Street and the Quays.

Improvements include widened and repaved granite sidewalks, more greenery, new plantings, and improved public amenities such as lighting, benches, bike racks, and trash bins.

Liffey Street Lower will remain open to one-way traffic southbound, but temporary road closures and traffic management measures will be required to ensure the safety of pedestrians and road users during construction.

What other streets does Dublin City Council want to change?

Two options are being considered at Beresford Place and Gardiner Street. Beresford Place could switch from one-way to two-way, while Gardiner Street could reduce its lanes from four to two, improving safety for pedestrians and cyclists.

Option two would keep Beresford Place as one-way, but introduce a counterflow for buses and cyclists, while also reducing the lanes from Liberty Hall to Custom House. Both options could potentially create new public spaces from Liberty Hall to Custom House.

College Green and Dame Street will be transformed into fully pedestrianised areas from Trinity College to George’s Street, although deliveries and limited access will still be permitted.

This will be implemented in phases in conjunction with the BusConnects programme to accommodate changes to bus routes. The council also plans to monitor bus journey times and consider redesigning the bus network from Dame Street to Christchurch to widen footpaths and improve cycleways.

On Parliament Street, the council wants to repeat a similar scheme to Capel Street, allowing only pedestrians and cyclists, with managed delivery access. There is also a proposal to introduce a two-way cycle link over Grattan Bridge.