Dublin council unveils plans to restrict car traffic in the Irish capital

Proposals to restrict traffic driving through Dublin city centre are expected to come into effect from August 2024.

The draft Dublin City Transport Plan aims to shift drivers away from the city centre and create more space for walking, cycling and public transport.

Speaking to Cities Today, Dublin City Council’s Head of Technical Services Brendan O’Brien said there was a broad spectrum of support for the proposals, including from health professionals.

“The city centre transport plan aims to prioritise public transport, walking and cycling by removing through traffic from the heart of the city.

“The aim is to have a low-traffic city centre where access to the city centre can be maintained for vehicles which have a purpose in the city but not for those which are passing through.

“A reduction of traffic volumes by a series of traffic management measures in the city centre will then create opportunities for enhanced greening and creation of new public spaces.”

The plan highlights that six out of every ten cars in the city centre are only using its roads as a route to reach destinations outside of the centre.

It suggests that this traffic could be removed “without impacting on the vitality and viability of the economic and cultural life of this area”.

The council received 3,592 submissions as part of a non-statutory public consultation process, with support levels of over 80 percent for proposals to take space from cars.

Concerns

While the feedback was largely in favour of the proposals, some organisations and figures have voiced concerns about the impact the move will have.

In a submission to the council, delivery company UPS said that while it supports the proposals it is important that the delivery of goods is recognised “for the value it brings in supporting businesses and consumers in the city centre.”

“We are concerned that while the plan recognises the role delivery companies face there is not enough detail around how the changes will continue to incorporate, and improve, how deliveries and collections are carried out, especially in efficient and sustainable ways.”

Local business interest group Dublin Town has said the plans have “created anxiety amongst Dublin city centre’s business community” due to a “lack of clarity”, and asked for more engagement and feedback before any changes were introduced.

Dublin city councillor and former Lord Mayor Nial Ring has said the city council is “hellbent on getting private motorists out of the city”, and that he believes “no one is looking at the impact it will have on businesses in the city”.

Bus Connects

The draft plan aligns with broader transport aspirations for the city, including the BusConnects programme, which will overhaul the bus services through the creation of 230km of dedicated lanes in tandem with 200km of cycle tracks and a redesign of the route network.

The first core corridor under the programme recieved planning permission in December 2023, with a further 11 under consideration.

Ireland’s Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan has said one of the main beneficiaries of the council’s plan to reduce cars will be the bus network.

“All these new BusConnects corridors which we’re about to build…that’ll be to no avail if it just comes into a city centre which is gridlocked,” said Minister Ryan.

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