Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council (DLRCC), in conjunction with the National Transport Authority (NTA), are working with AECOM consulting engineers on a design to facilitate a BusConnects Service upgrade to the bus network in Dún Laoghaire. The purpose of this non-statutory public consultation is to provide notice of DLRCC’s intention to carry out works under Section 38 of the Road Traffic Act 1994.
The Council is now looking for your views on matter.
Background
The proposed BusConnects network redesign includes 8 new bus services that will terminate at Dún Laoghaire DART Station. To accommodate these new services additional bus layover spaces are required to provide for an efficient bus operation.
Following a review of the area by the NTA and DLRCC, Harbour Road was identified as the preferred location for these additional bus layover spaces. The scheme includes bus layover spaces, roads space changes allowing turning from west to east on Harbour Road, and a new bus stop to act as a starting point for some of the routes.
Scheme Objectives
- Provide 3 additional bus layover spaces in addition to the 3 already existing on Harbour Road (6 in total), allowing for the independent arrival/departure of buses.
- Provide a bus turning facility on Harbour Road to minimise bus operation time delays.
- Provide a new bus stop on Harbour Road.
- Maintain access to the cruise ship terminal and Harbour Building and ensure these elements are managed carefully during the works to minimise the impact and provide a pleasant arrival location for these passengers at all stages of construction.
- Provide for pedestrian and cycle facilities along Harbour Road, tying into the Council’s Coastal Mobility Route on the east and existing pedestrian facilities on the west.
It is proposed to extend the existing bus layover spaces by the reallocation of the adjacent existing parallel car parking spaces on the south side of Harbour Road. A new small roundabout is also proposed at the entrance to the cruise terminal allowing for bus turning manoeuvres and narrowing access to the terminal, providing safer pedestrian crossing points. A new bus stop with a shelter is proposed on the northern side of Harbour Road, west of the existing signalised pedestrian crossing, and a new 2 way off road cycle path is proposed in line with the realigned footway along Harbour Road with pedestrian/ cycle priority crossing points to provide enhanced pedestrian /cycle facilities, which ties back into existing facilities via shared areas.
Following public consultation and the conclusion of Section 38 process, the detail design of the scheme will commence with construction anticipated to start in 2024, subject to funding allocation and a successful procurement process.
AA/EIA Screening
Appropriate Assessment Screening
The proposed development has been screened for AA and it has been determined that the proposed development would not significantly impact upon a Natura 2000 Site.
Environmental Impact Screening
Having regard to the nature and scale of the proposed development, in a fully serviced urban location, it is considered that there is no real likelihood of significant effects on the environment arising from the proposed development. The need for an EIAR can, therefore, be excluded as demonstrated in the EIA screening determination.
Exemptions from Part 8 Procedure
There are a number of exemptions from the Part 8 Procedure, with one of those exemptions relating to certain proposals under Section 38 of the Road Traffic Act 1994. This is set out in Section 179(6)(bb) of the Planning and Development Act of 2000, which states the following exemption: –
“works, other than works involving road widening, to enhance public bus services or improve facilities for cyclists provided under section 95 (as amended by section 37 of the Road Traffic Act 1994) of the Road Traffic Act 1961 or under section 38 of the Road Traffic Act 1994”.
Accordingly, any works “to enhance public bus services or improve facilities for cyclists” including that proposed at Harbour Road (New BusConnects Layout), which are delivered under Section 38 of the Road Traffic Act 1994, are exempted from the normal local authority Part VIII planning process.
How to make submissions
Submissions must be made within the display period, which runs from Thursday, November 30th 2023, until Friday, January 12th 2024. Late submissions will not be accepted.
You are encouraged to make submissions at this link, but submissions will also be accepted by post to the below address.
- Senior Executive Planner, Traffic, Infrastructure and Climate Change Department, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, County Hall, Marine Road, Dún Laoghaire, Co. Dublin, A96 K6C9
All submissions should be clearly marked ‘BusConnects New Layout at Harbour Road’.
Hard copies of the documents are available to view during office hours at Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council County Hall, 2 Marine Road, Dún Laoghaire, Co.Dublin, A96 K6C9.