Dublin launches Covid-19 transport recovery plan

Dublin City Council has published a comprehensive plan to get the Irish capital’s mobility system back on track with a raft of new public transport and active travel measures.

Produced in collaboration with Ireland’s National Transport Authority (NTA), the comprehensive policy framework includes proposals to make walking and cycling safer, while maintaining the city region’s bus services and managing other traffic.

The strategy is focused on the city centre and the key arterial routes into the central area, but its architects accept that the plan is very much a first draft which will evolve over time.

Key measures include:

• Improving pedestrian safety through the provision of additional space for movement and enhanced pedestrian areas
• Enabling more people to cycle by providing safer cycling facilities
• Providing additional space at many bus stops in order to facilitate social distancing
• Accommodating a certain level of car use, calibrated with other transport needs, including possible additional parking provision on the periphery of the city core area
• Implementing various bus route changes required to enable the roll-out of cycling and walking measures while still maintaining a strong public transport network.

Areas with high numbers of cyclists and pedestrians will be prioritised to ensure that the maximum number of people can move freely throughout the city on safe, connected and coherent transport routes.

Consequently, Dublin transport planners will adopt a phased approach to implementation over a six to 12-month period and measures will be introduced on a temporary basis and subject to review.

A wider Dublin city region will be incorporated within recovery framework as local proposals are developed.

See the plans in detail here: www.nationaltransport.ie