The Green Party today launched a six-point programme aimed at transforming Dublin city centre into one of the best civic spaces in Europe by 2010. The proposals include reduced speed limits in the city and pedestrian waiting times of no more than 30 seconds at junctions.
Launching the plan, Green Party Leader Trevor Sargent said the Green party had a "vision of Dublin city centre as a vibrant commercial, social, artistic and civic area promoting pedestrian rather than motorised traffic."
From left: Eamon Ryan, Deputy Lord Mayor of Dublin Bronwen Maher, Trevor Sargent, and John Gormley in College Green, Dublin today.
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"Our six-point plan is aimed at achieving this goal and provides a planning model for all other urban centres. Our vision is formulated to make the type of city Dubliners want a reality rather than focusing, like current Dublin planning, on accommodating traffic volumes," he said.
The party's transport spokesman Eamon Ryan said he wanted to make Dublin city centre one of the best civic spaces in Europe. "We can achieve this by designing the traffic system so that pedestrians, cyclists and public transport can move freely across the city centre," he said.
Commenting on the plan, Deputy Lord Mayor of Dublin Bronwen Maher said creating a pedestirian friendly city centre would be "good for business."
"Ensuring deliveries are adapted to meet the needs of the city rather than the delivery companies will help city centre business in the long run," she said.
The six-point plan involves:
- Joining the two Luas lines and continuing it to Broadstone bus station
- Making College Green traffic free
- Removing through traffic on the city quays between Butt Bridge and Capel Street Bridge and extending the pedestrian boardwalk
- Introducing a new co-ordinated delivery management system to reduce traffic delays and noise pollution
- Introducing a 30 kph speed limit for the city centre and setting a maximum pedestrian waiting time of 30 seconds for the 'Green Man'
- Breaking up one-way system to create a pedestrian and cycle-friendly environment. This would include the creation of a two-way corridor leading from D'Olier Street through to Pearse Street