12th March 2021 Observations on Phoenix Park Transport and Mobility Study,Margaret GORMLEY, Chief Park SuperintendentBy email: parkmobilityreport@opw.ie Superintendent’s Office, Whitefields,Phoenix Park, Dublin D08 KDC4 Re. Phoenix Park Transport and Mobility Study Dear Ms. Gormley, I write to support the broad approach suggested in the Phoenix Park Transport and Mobility Options Study. My thoughts on the Study are as follows:
- Provide safe pedestrian crossing points Chesterfield Avenue is over four kilometres long and has no pedestrian crossings. I would seem obvious that the provision of crossings should be a high priority. Children should be able to cross Chesterfield Avenue safely. These should not be over-engineered signalised crossings, but could be provided with carriageway narrowing, appropriate planting and other traffic calming measures sympathetic to the history and heritage of the Park.
- Chesterfield Avenue bus service The limited options for new bus routes is regrettable. It seems that much of the commuter traffic through the Park could be handled by a half-decent Dublin Bus route. A regular Dublin Bus service between Castleknock Station and Heuston Station is recommended. If events on Chesterfield Avenue restrict services on certain days, then divert the service on those days. The implication that events, which attract people, would be used as a pretext to avoid providing a bus service in the vicinity is incorrect.
- Cycling provision Current cycling provision within the Park does not represent best practise. In simple terms, if a seven or a seventy year old does not feel safe, then the solution is wrong. Cycling routes along the same alignment as car-traffic should be separated by at least a 100mm kerb, and ideally by at least a small-planted divider that could consist of hedgerow or grass. There may also be space to have some cycling provision that is not on a tarmacadam surface.
- Quality benches There are some attractive benches in the park, but additional provision would be welcome. There has been a tendency in recent years to opt for a white-painted steel or aluminium bench which is regrettable. Such seating is cold to the touch and inhospitable for nine months of the year. I suggest that quality wooden benches should be provided, preferable facing towards the sun. I hope this isn’t stating the obvious!
- Clarity on timelines the time-scale for implementation is almost entirely absent from the study. One of the few clear timelines is a recommendation by the Transport and Mobility Working Group that the cul-de-sacs on North Road and Upper Glen Road be temporarily installed in Q2 2021. The relevant agencies should be clear in what will happen, and when. Much of what is proposed could be implemented in 2021, if the will and the resources are applied.
- Car parking The removal of car parking along Chesterfield Avenue is welcome. It may be appropriate to provide car parking on stretches of Conyngham Road close to the existing entrances, rather than providing additional car parking within the park itself.
- A new entrance There may be scope to provide a new park entrance for pedestrians and cyclists off Conyngham Road, perhaps between Chapelizod and Islandbridge Gate. This could align with new car parking on Conyngham Road.
- Traffic data I am concerned that the origin-destination traffic analysis failed to review existing journeys with a level of granular detail that might have better informed the options given. I also feel that traffic modelling of the impact of closing Chesterfield Avenue to through car traffic should have been provided in the Study, as many submissions have requested this. Perhaps this could be done as a quick add-on to the study.
- End through-traffic Arising from my suggestion above, if it can be shown that removing through traffic from the park would not have significantly adverse impact on the surrounding communities on the Navan Road and Chapelizod, then it should be implemented, especially one a decent bus service has been provided.
- Evidence base Looking at the evidence derived from the Baseline Assessment, I am concerned that some of the background information was fairly ‘broad-brush’ in nature, In addition, the assessment criteria in the options matrix did not appear to be clearly defined. I also feel it may have been useful to survey those who do not visit the Phoenix Park in order to better inform how it might attract new visitors who might use the Park in the future.
My thanks for the good work that has been carried out to date in improving the Park, and I look forward to the implementation of the many positive measures identified in your study at the earliest opportunity Warmest regards, Ciarán CuffeCiarán CUFFEGreen MEP for DublinA link to this submission can be found here.
