A radical plan to reduce through-traffic using the Phoenix Park in Dublin has been drawn up by the Office of Public Works (OPW) and will be presented today to the Dublin Transportation Office, An Garda Síochána and the local authorities.
The plan, which is to be implemented in phases from January 1st next, will curtail the use of minor roads or "rat-running", cut the speed limit on part of the main avenue to just 30km/h (18mph) and allow a city bus service to run through the park for the first time.
In line with a traffic study by consultants Faber Maunsell, speed cameras with automatic number plate recognition would be installed to enforce speed limits if this proves to be necessary, said David Byers, the OPW commissioner in charge of State property.
A system of one-way exits or entrances is to be introduced at the park gates, with the exception of the Castleknock gate, the North Circular Road gate and the main Parkgate Street gate in an effort to reduce the volume of traffic crossing through the park on minor roads.
In future, entry only will be allowed at Ashtown and Chapelizod gates, and exit only at Cabra and Islandbridge gates. The winding Military Road, running south of the Magazine Fort, will also be closed to through-traffic to prevent it being used by speeding cars.
Mr Byers told The Irish Times yesterday that the OPW was incredulous to discover that a "phenomenal" 10 million car journeys were being made through the Phoenix Park every year.
The volume of traffic and the speed at which some cars travel had resulted in numerous accidents, mainly involving cyclists and pedestrians but also deer.
He said this was in conflict with the protection of the park as a public amenity area. Mr Byers also noted that the lower end of Chesterfield Avenue (the main avenue through the park) was increasingly being used for commuter parking, with up to 300 cars parked on both sides between the Parkgate Street gate and the first roundabout.
This informal "park-and-ride" site was making it more difficult for people visiting Dublin Zoo to find parking spaces, so the OPW is seeking planning permission from Dublin City Council for a dedicated car park on land just west of the zoo boundary.
The proposed tarmac car park, which is to be landscaped, would only be available from 10am onwards, to coincide with the opening time of the zoo and discourage its use by commuters. It will have 250 spaces, all of which would be free of charge.
The OPW is also planning to introduce an extensive cycleway network to encourage more recreational use of the park by cyclists. Traffic calming would also make it safer for people using it for walking and jogging.
"We know that some of these proposals are going to be contentious, but we're asking people to consider the choice - to preserve the landscape and amenity value of the park or have it eroded by rat-running commuter traffic," Mr Byers said.
Referring to the plan to allow a city bus service to run through the park, he said this would facilitate about 1,500 people working in Dublin Zoo, the Ordnance Survey and St Mary's Hospital who currently had no option but to drive to work.
Noting that tour buses were already permitted to use Chesterfield Avenue, Mr Byers said Dublin Bus was "positive" about the proposal for a new route running from Castleknock to Parkgate Street.
Plans for a shuttle bus from Heuston Station, running in a circular route around the park every 15 minutes in the summer months, are also being considered. This would provide a link to the Tallaght Luas line at Heuston.
