Official report on Malahide QBC consultation

The following report has been supplied to City Councillors in advance of next Monday’s meeting of the North Central Area Committee.

Quality Bus Network Office,
4th Floor, WorldCom Buildings,
Lower Erne Street, Dublin 2
Oifig Ghréasán Bus
Urlár 4, Foirgneamh WorldCom,
Sráid Éirne, Íocht, Baile Átha Cliath 2
T. 01 6860100 F. 01 6860127
Email: qbnoffice@dublincity.ie

Report to the Chairman and Members of the
North Central Area Committee

Malahide Quality Bus Corridor Enhancements

Report on Public Consultation

19th June, 2006

Introduction

The Quality Bus Network Project Office (QBN Project Office) in association with Dublin City Council prepared a preliminary design for the enhancements of the Malahide Quality Bus Corridor. The scheme runs between Talbot Street and Clare Hall via Amiens Street, North Strand Road, Annesley Bridge Road, Fairview and Malahide Road. The proposals entailed the provision of bus and cycle lanes, improved footpaths, additional signalised pedestrian crossing facilities and safety improvements at locations where accident records are high.

These proposals were presented to the South East Area Committee for consideration on the 24th April 2006.

Public Consultation Process

The Public Consultation process took place from the 15th May 2006 to the 9th June 2006, with observations accepted until the 16th June 2006.

Please note that this report deals with submissions received by the Quality Bus Network Project Office up to the 13th June and that any further observations received will be verbally reported to the Area Committee meeting on the 19th June.

The scheme was put on public display in the Civic Offices, North Central Area Offices, Bunratty Road and Fairview Library. The scheme was included in the Dublin City Council Web Site with both text and drawings available for viewing. An information leaflet on the scheme was also prepared and distributed at the public displays. The public consultation process was advertised in the Irish Independent, the Irish Times and the North Side People newspapers.

In total 22 submissions were received up to the 13th June in relation to the scheme. In reviewing the submissions every effort has been made to respond to the concerns raised by members of the public, while at the same time ensuring that progress is made in improving the bus performance and traffic safety along the route. The proposed measures also address pedestrian and cyclist issues where appropriate.

Main Objections to Scheme

These were two main areas of concern expressed in the public consultation. These are the proposals to ban the right turn from Malahide Road to Kilmore Road and to reduce the width of the footpath outside Artane Cottages.

The right turn ban from Malahide Road to Kilmore Road was recommended to improve the bus priority at the junction.

The Quality Bus Network Project Office carried out a traffic count on the Malahide Road Kilmore Road junction on 18th May 2005. These counts show a peak hour flow of 98 passenger car units (pcus)/hr in the AM, an average of 121 pcus/hr in the off-peak and peak hour flow of 141 pcus/hr in the PM.

In order to estimate how traffic would divert as a result of a right turn ban being implemented a Select Link Analysis was carried out on the right turning movement by the Dublin Transportation Office using the Saturn Traffic Model. The model analysed the traffic movements and calculated the origin and destination of the right turners during the AM peak. The model found that 40% of right turning vehicles originated from the Malahide Road and 60% from the Gracefield Road approach to the Artane roundabout originating in the Howth and Clontarf areas. The main destinations shown by the model were the Swords and Ballymun Road (70%), the M50 (20%) and the Beaumont Area (10%). Based on the above figures it is estimated that 15% of the right turning traffic would divert via Oscar Traynor Road, 80% via Ardlea Road and 5% via Collins Avenue.

A traffic count taken on 24th February 2005 recorded that during the morning peak hour the two-way traffic flow on Ardlea Road was 1130 pcus with 567 pcus travelling westbound. An 80% diversion of right turners to Ardlea Road will lead to an additional
80 pcus during the AM peak hour, which is an increase of approx 14% in the westbound flow and an overall increase of approx. 7% on the road. Ardlea Road is a 7.3m wide road with off-road parking and can readily accommodate this increase in traffic volumes.

It is also proposed as part of the scheme to upgrade Ardlea Road/Kilmore Road junction by providing two lanes on the Ardlea Road approach and to operate the existing signals as part of the SCATS urban traffic control system and to ensure clear sign posting for Beaumont Hospital, a series of advance directional and information signs are proposed on the Malahide Road and Gracefield Road.

The Quality Bus Network Project Office has noted the objections raised by the residents of Artane Cottages in relation to proposals to reduce the width of the footpath outside their houses. The Quality Bus Network Project Office has prepared a revised layout for this section of the scheme which minimises the impact on the footpath on the east side of Malahide Road outside the Artane Cottages. The majority of the road widening will take place on the west side of Malahide Road between St. Davids Wood and Kilmore Road.

A summary report on the submissions received together with QBN Project Office comments is shown in Appendix A.

Recommendation

It is recommended that the scheme should be implemented with the modifications outlined above and in Appendix A. This revised scheme addresses the comments received while not reducing the overall benefits of the scheme to bus passengers on the Malahide Road. It is therefore intended to proceed to construction on the scheme in September of this year.

No	Rep	Name	Address	Issue/Comments	QBN Response	Date Received
1		Damien Shiels	40 Malahide RoadDublin 3 Clontarf,	Comments include:- – avails parking on daily basis outside his home from 10 am to 4 pm. No dish outside his house though has a drive in to the garden . – Concerned over the loss of parking space. .	Dish in footpath to be provided.	31/05/06
2	Seán Haughey	Damien Shiels	40 Malahide Road, Clontarf, Dublin 3	Comments include:- – avails parking on daily basis outside his home from 10 am to 4 pm. No dish outside his house though has a drive in to the garden . – Concerned over the loss of parking space.	Dish in footpath to be provided.	08/06/06
3		William Kearney	41 Maryaikenhead House Dublin 8	Comment: Very good		29/05/06
4	Cllr. David Healy		54 Pairc Eabhora Beann Eadair Howth	5.1 Dangerous existing junction with East Wall Road for cyclists Solutions proposed are as follows:- 1. Ban left-hand turns at this junction (and redesign the junction in order to prevent/impede illegal turns) 2. Direct the cyclists to occupy the centre traffic lane with markings 6.1/7.1 Annelsey Bridge Road and Fairview on seriously inadequate cycle lane in door zone The cross-section shows a cycle lane (at 1.20m below “absolute minimum width” and far below the recommended 2m) in the door zone of parked cars. 6.2/7.2Substandard cycletrack against railing with substandard footpath alongside Fairview park. 8.1 What happens to the existing straight-ahead cycle lane at Fairview/Malahide Road. 10.1 Cycle lane positioning cyclists to the left of left-turning traffic on junction Malahide Road/Griffith Avenue 10.2 Advanced Stop Lines to provided at Malahide Road Griffith Avenue Junction. 10.3/11/12.1 Inadequate cycle lane width on Malahide Road 13.1/14.1/15.1 Inadequate joint bus and cycle lane at Malahide Road/Collins Avenue 13.2 Road markings should direct cyclists into the correct straight ahead lane at Malahide Road / Collins Avenue junction 13.3 Is it really necessary to have 4 north bound lanes on Malahide Road at Collins Avenue 13.4 Advanced Stop Lines at Malahide Road / Collins Avenue junction 16.1 Inadequate cycle lane width at Malahide Road/Kilmore Road junction 17 Removal of roundabout at Artane Roundabout 17.4 Bus stop missing? Is there to be no southbound bus stop at Artane Roundabout	5.1 It is not possible to ban the left turn from Annesley Bridge Road to East Wall Road. The number of Heavy Goods Vehicles making this turn has been reduced by the traffic management measures at the railway bridge and the left turn is necessary for local access. 5.2 This solution proposed is unsafe as the kerbside lane operates as straight through general traffic lane when the bus lane is not operational. It is proposed to provide advisory cycle lanes across the junction in both directions. 6.1/7.1 This cross-section shows the existing layout which it is not proposed to change. 6.2/7.2 It is proposed to install red surfacing on the cycle track and provide additional cycle and pedestrian symbols to better delineate the cycle track from the pedestrian zone. It is not possible to remove one of the northbound traffic lanes. This would cause major congestion in the area. 8.1 Eastbound cycle lane on 10.1 This solution proposed is unsafe as the kerbside lane operates as straight through general traffic lane when the bus lane is not operational. It is proposed to provide advisory cycle lanes across the junction in both directions. Box junction markings will be provided on the left turn lane to assist cyclists. 10.2 Advanced stop lines will be provided on all arms of the junction with the exception of the northbound arm on Malahide RoadCopeland Avenue. where the right-turn is banned to 10.3/11/12.1Combined bys and cycle lanes will be provided on Malahide Road. It is not proposed to carry out major road works in this area to widen the carriageway to provide additional width for the cycle lanes. 13.1/14.1/15.1The drawings on display were only the preliminary design drawings. The detailed design will show a combined bus/cycle lane on the Malahide Road . The road widening being carried out is the maximum possible between Donnycarney Road and Kilmore Road as per the Design as it is necessary to maintain adequate visibility for the local residents with driveways. It would lead to serious congestion on the route to reduce it to one general lane of traffic in each direction . 13.2 Cycle lane markings will be provided a the junction to direct cyclists into the straight ahead lanes. 13.3 The 4 lane approach to the junction is essential to maintain adequate operating conditions for traffic. 13.4 Advanced Stop Lines will be provided on all arms of the junction together with advisory lines through the junction. 16.1 It is proposed to provide a combined bus/cycle lane southbound through the junction and widen the northbound lane to 3.5m as a cycle and traffic lane. 17 Noted. The detail design at the roundabout will take account of the comments made by Mr. Healy in relation to the width of the cycle lanes, the design of the cycle lanes on the side roads. The details of the left-turn filter lanes will be addressed. 17.4 There are proposals to remove any bus stops at this location.
5		Derek Peppard	Derek@timepoint.ie	– Suggests to retain existing straight ahead cycle track at Fairview/Malahide road junction	Retained in scheme.	02/06/06
6		Derek Peppard	Derek@timepoint.ie	– Fairview off road cycle path should be removed. – This off road cycle path should be removed so commuting cyclists can legally cycle on the bus lane without harassment.	The off-road cycle track in Fairview is the safest as the traffic lanes on Fairview are narrow and cannot accommodate a wide bus lane. It is proposed to upgrade the surface of the cycle track and provide additional cycle and pedestrian symbols.	02/06/06
7		Derek Peppard	Derek@timepoint.ie	Recommends as follows: – That major junction designs be modified to allow cycle lanes traverse the junction. Design already used in QBC proposals at the Killester Avenue junction – To replicate this design at the Artane Roundabout, Kilmore Road and Griffith Avenue junctions. – Continue the cycle lane through the junction in the main road direction i.e. along the Malahide Road	Agreed	02/06/06
8		John Sheridan	4 May Park, Malahide 0872391443	Phonecall. Is not happy with the Malahide QBC Enhancement Scheme	Issues re the ban on right turn to Collins Avenue West and the provision of a pedestrian crossing phase discussed with Mr. Sheridan. Scheme proposals explained to him .	29/05/06
9		Bill Casey	29 Portside Court East Wall	Agreed with proposal		13/06/06
10	Finian McGrath	Patricia Healy	133 Malahide RoadDublin 5 8327868	Phonecall – concerned regarding the right of access to her drive way	Dish to be provided.	06/06/06
11		Ken Ryan	52 Pinebrook Rise Artane Dublin 5	– Organise funding quick		01/06/06
12	Seán Haughey T.D.		5 Mornington Park, Malahide Road, Artane, Dublin 5	– Concerned about the proposed outright ban on cars turning right from Malahide Road to Kilmore Road – Believes that total ban will cause great inconvenience for local residents. – Suggest that other solutions to this problem be examined first and if that is not possible a ban during the morning peak only could be considered		26/05/06
13		Alan Sweeney	77 Pinebrook Drive, Artane	Comment: Banning right at Kilmore all day will back up at roundabout and unfair to Residents		29/05/06
14		Alfie Local Government Auditor	audit@dublincity.ie	Feedback includes:- – If possible to widen the footpath between Clontarf Golf Club entrance and Mount Temple School so as to make it safer for pupils attending Mount temple – To do something about the sequence of the traffic lights when turning right from Collins Avenue onto the Malahide Road when heading for the city. Currently, and for a significant period of time only 2 cars can get through. Results in traffic cutting through the residential areas of Hazel Road etc. onto Donnycarney Avenue to get onto the Malahide Road. – The proposal to ban the right turn into Kilmore Road will lead to problems as follows: a) If you know about it in advance you’ll have to turn right at Ardlea Road, left onto Kilmore Road and left again at the Roundabout at Artane Castle to get to McDonalds, say. This increases the volume of traffic passing the schools on Ardlea RoadKilmore Road. and b) If you don’t know about it in advance you’ll have to turn right into Elm Mount Road and travel along it, up Elm Mount Rise and right onto Skelly’s Lane to get back to McDonald’s or Tesco. This will increase delays due to right turns at this junction and will also force additional traffic through residential areas. It will also reduce access to Beaumont/ Whitethorn area and significantly increase journey times for people travelling there.		16/05/06
15		Mary Flynn	Santa Maria 31 Malahide Road Artane Dublin 5	– Welcomes most of the changes in particular removal of the roundabout with a signalised junction. – Concerned for people living between the roundabout and Kilmore Road and believes that no right hand turn into Kilmore Road will cause problems as there is no left turn on to Donnelli Road and this suggestion of no right turn to Kilmore Road will leave people with no option but to cross Malahide Road to get to Artane Castle SC which is busy and dangerous road.		31/05/06
16	Richard Bruton T.D.	Alan Sweeney	77 Pinebrook Drive, Artane, Dublin 5	– Believes that the proposal to close-off the right-hand turn from the Malahide Road on to Kilmore Road will be very disruptive to local residents and particularly the residents of Pinebrook. Makes it very difficult to access St. Brigid’s School.		01/06/06
17		Residents of Lower Artane Cottages Phyllis Kenny Marion Kavanagh Adam Kavanagh Agnes Costello Marie Radford Mary Reddy B. Horan	Lower Artane Cottages, No. 1 – 10 Dublin 5	– Objects strongly to the proposals concerning the narrowing of the footpath outside homes of the Residents of Lower Artane Cottages. – Heavy traffic converges on the footpaths. Narrowing of footpaths will be dangerous as well as impossible to sleep as bedrooms are situated to the front of their homes. – Draws attention to the fact that lorry demolished No. 5.		06/06/06
18	Seán Haughey	Mary field Residents Association	5 Mornington Park, Malahide Road, Artane, Dublin 5	Comments include:- – Maryfield Residents Association opposed to a ban on cars turning right from Malahide RoadKilmore Road to – Association believes if this goes ahead that cars will divert down Ardlea Road and on to secondary roads in its area thus greatly increasing traffic volumes and reducing the quality of life for local residents.
19	Naoise Ó Muiri	Cecilia and Joe Roche	1 Dromawling Road, Beaumount, Dublin 9	– Opposed to the removal of the facility to turn right onto Kilmore Road from Malahide Road when heading towards the city centre. – Believes it will severely disadvantage local residents and cause serious congestion problem on the Ardlea road.		08/06/06
20	Seán Haughey	Residents of ten houses at Artane Cottages	5 Mornington Park, Malahide Road, Artane, Dublin 5	– The residents of the 10 houses at Artane Cottages are very concerned about the proposal to narrow the footpath in order to widen the road outside their houses. Will cause serious problems in relation to noise, vibrations & fumes – Believes that the road reservation opposite to these homes has plenty of room to widen the road.		08/06/06
21		Dr. Aine Kelly	Lower Artane Cottages	Phonecall Concerned about the narrowing of footpath outside her house		08/06/06
22		Maeve & Phyl Kenny	2 Lower Artane Cottages Malahide Road Dublin 5	– Very concernced about the narrowing of the footpath at Lower Artane Cottages for several reasons including no front gardens, buses, trucks running through the doors. – Also reminding of a serious accident occurred some years ago when a lorry plaughed into no. 5 lower artane cottages.		09/06/06