Dáil debates

Thursday, 12 October 2006

 

Traffic Management.

2:00 pm

Photo of Joe CostelloJoe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)

I would like the Minister for Finance to explain the OPW's new transport policy for the Phoenix Park. The residential community surrounding the park is concerned about the new transportation and traffic plans that the Minister and the OPW have for the park.

This 1,750 acre park, the largest public park in any capital city in Europe, is a wonderful amenity for the people of Dublin. The purpose of the new plan is to reduce through traffic and to make the park more pedestrian friendly. Unfortunately, the new proposals are such that residents fear they will have the opposite effect.

Chesterfield Avenue bisects the park from Castleknock Gate to Parkgate Street and the quays. The new proposals will introduce a bus service for the first time, with 20 new buses on the route. There are no proposals, however, for a quality bus corridor. Consequently, the new service will only add to existing peak hour traffic, making Chesterfield Avenue a major commuter feeder route into the city.

The changes to the other roads in the park will make them unidirectional, with a one way entrance from west and north and a one way exit to the east through Cabra, the North Circular Road and Parkgate Street, directing traffic towards the city every morning. If the OPW is serious about traffic reduction, it would introduce a bus lane and restrict commuter traffic at peak traffic hours through the park.

Outside the park, Blackhorse Avenue in Cabra will undoubtedly experience a considerably greater volume of traffic, as will the North Circular Road, Infirmary Road, Prussia Street and Aughrim Street, which already have high levels of traffic.

I hope the Minister of State can assure us that the report that has just been published will be open for discussion and amendment with the local authority traffic management office, with public representatives and local communities around the park who will be affected by the new changes and that this will all be done before any action is taken regarding the implementation of the report's recommendations.

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