A modal filter — made up of bollards and planter which stops through motor access — on Pigeon House Road should be made permanent, Dublin City Council officials have recommended to councillors.
Andrew Duff, a neighbourhood transport engineer, said that before the modal filter was in place rat-running was common on the road between Sean Moore Roundabout and Ringsend village.
A public consultation was held in January 2022. The council said that 73% of responses were in favour of making the filtered permeability scheme permanent, 23% were in favour of removing the scheme and reverting to the original road layout, and 4% were in favour of extending the trial a further 12 months.
In a presentation sent to South East Area councillors ahead of their monthly meeting tomorrow, Duff said: “The online survey showed a clear preference for making the filtered permeability trial permanent when analysed by use of the road, the location, age, gender of respondents, and travel behaviours of respondents.”
“While the majority were in favour of making the scheme permanent, comments received suggest further improvements could be implemented by way of addressing traffic on the surrounding network, repairing the road surface, and addressing the issue of traffic using the Poolbeg Quay complex for turning,” said Duff.
He added: “Due to the success of this Filtered Permeability Trial on Pigeon House Road, Dublin City Council’s recommendation is to make this scheme permanent while enhancing the infrastructure for the scheme in doing so. The aim of this work will be to make the scheme more attractive and promote cycling and walking in the area while maintaining a safer neighbourhood for all residents and road users.”
A similar modal filter scheme in Grangegorman, which was implemented in 2020, was made permanent by a vote by local area councillors in January 2021. Before the pandemic, another similar scheme in Drumcondra was also made permanent by councillors in that area.