BusConnects : Core Bus Corridors

Dear Community Forum Member,   

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We are emailing you to provide a status update in relation to the Core Bus Corridors.

This week, the National Transport Authority (NTA) gave notice of its application under Section 51(2) of the Roads Act 1993 (as amended) to An Bord Pleanála for approval in relation to a proposed road development consisting of the construction of the Swords to City Centre Core Bus Corridor Scheme.

For information, 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.

A copy of the application documentation may be viewed and downloaded free of charge at www.swordsscheme.ie  .Please note all previous documents regarding BusConnects are still available on www.busconnects.ie

Submissions/observations on this scheme may be made in writing to the Board at An Bord Pleanála (Strategic Infrastructure Division), 64 Marlborough Street, Dublin 1, D01 V902 between Tuesday 23rd  May 2023 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://www.pleanala.ie/en-ie/observations

It is our intention to submit the schemes on a phased basis with the next three schemes likely to be submitted in the order shown below:

Kimmage to City Centre CBC Scheme;

Ringsend to City Centre CBC Scheme;

Bray to City Centre CBC Scheme.

As each scheme is submitted for approval to An Bord Pleanála, the process of public notifications in newspapers and online will be repeated.

Yours Sincerely,

BusConnects Team