80% of respondents to public consultation have supported the Blackrock Park to Trimleston Avenue Sustainable Transport Improvements project, which is effectively an extension of the DLR Coastal Mobility Route.
The project is a quick-build scheme which runs along part of the Rock Road. A contractor is expected to be appointed in 4-6 weeks and for the work to get underway sometime after that in the Summer.
Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council’s Coastal Mobility Route runs from Blackrock Park to Sandycove Beach, while the planned extension will run from the Booterstown end of Blackrock Park towards the city council boundary at the junction of Trimleston Avenue junction.
The project covers a distance of about 450 metres and the drawings for it can be found in our previous article on it.
In a report to councillors, the council executive said: “The National Transport Authority have confirmed funding to progress the scheme and construction could commence in summer 2022.”
The report covered the non-statutory public consultation which was carried out from April 6 for 4 weeks. It had a total of 260 submissions, including 221 via the council’s website and 39 via email.
Cllr Séafra Ó Faoláin (Green Party) said: “The results of the public consultation show a huge amount of public support for this route, with 80% in favour. The Council will be making some changes to incorporate feedback from the consultation, which is positive.”
“This scheme is very timely as the NTA has just applied for permission for the Blackrock to City Centre route, and the scheme proposed by the Council is consistent with BusConnects designs,” he said.
Cllr Ó Faoláin added: “There are a few missing pieces still in other areas, particularly the Strand Road, but this will finally provide a safe route into the city from Blackrock, which is momentous and will allow many more people to use active and public transport.”
The most common issue raised in the consultation said that the scheme should be continued
further into Dublin City Council Area. The Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council said that “The feedback from this consultation will be forwarded to Dublin City Council for their consideration.”
Dublin City Council sees its project from the Merrion Gates to the council boundary at the junction of Trimleston Avenue junction as being tied up with the Strand Road, Sandymount cycleway project. An appeal against the High Court judgement on Strand Road is due to take place on June 24 for two days. A judgment may take some time after that, especially given the Summer months.
In reply to 21 respondents who complained about possible traffic impacts of the project, the Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council said: “This scheme proposes the reallocation of road space in favour of the more sustainable modes of transport e.g. buses. This will provide realistic and attractive alternatives for users and free up road space for those that choose to drive. The provision of bus lanes up to the stop line at junctions provides improved priority for the buses and allows them to get to the stop line without having to compete with vehicles.”
The report added: “There is little opportunity to provide additional road capacity along this route and the existing space is being reallocated to improve facilities for all road users’ pedestrians, cyclists, and public transport.”
Others asked for a continuation of the project towards the Blackrock Bypass it said that this would be part of BusConnects, while regarding the narrow laine at Blackrock Dart Station, between Blackrock Park and the village, the council report said that “This is an objective of DLR, and we are currently working to resolve this issue.”