COVID Mobility Update – #November 20th

COVID-19 Mobility Measures Update

1.Introduction

Implementation of the COVID Mobility Programme for the City Council area continues with an emphasis on schools and safe zones. The Level 5 restrictions reinforce the need to continue to respond to this health crisis with a range of appropriate interventions.

It is intended to bring a report to the December City Council meeting on progress to date under the COVID Mobility Programme, together with proposals to restart the TAG service.

1.1 Pedestrian Volumes

The footfall counters count continuously and provide 24 hourdata. These counters are located between Stephen’s Green and Henry St. These show that footfall in this core area had reached a high of around 60% of pre-COVID levels. Footfall dropped whenLevel 5 restrictions were introduced but it has increased modestly since then before declining over the past week.

Data from the new footfall counters that have been installed at key pedestrian locations (Phibsborough, Newcomen Bridge, Baggot Street, Grand Canal, North Wall Quay, and Richmond Street), shows that footfall in the morning peak period declinedslightly when Level 5 restrictions came into force but it has already recovered showing more people moving around their local areas.

1.2 Cycling Volumes

Cycling volumes, which are continuously monitored by CityCouncil’s counters (located at Grove Road, North Strand Road, Charleville Mall and Guild Street), show overall cycling numbers at approximately 80% of pre-COVID numbers with this levelholding steady since the start of June. Numbers had begun to increase again in September. As with the pedestrian figures, the numbers have dropped since Level 5 restrictions came into force. They also appear to have recovered slightly over the past two weeks and eased off in the past week.

During the peak morning time, 7am to 10am, cycling numbers are at approx. 35% of pre-COVID levels. Comparing February to November of this year, to last year, we can see that the morning commuter cycling numbers remain significantly reduced. Incontrast, the off peak cycling figures are still exceeding 2019 figures.

1.3 Bus Passenger Numbers

Bus passenger numbers remain at approximately 40% below pre-COVID levels.

1.4 General Traffic Volumes

Traffic levels have remained at around 70% of pre-COVID levels since the introduction level 5 restrictions.

2. Implementation of Measures

2.1 Grafton Street Area – Proposed Pedestrianisation of a Number of Streets in the Grafton Street Area

An online survey for the proposed pedestrianisation of a number of streets in the Grafton Street area has been available on our Consultation Hub since 6 November. We have received 324 submissions to date. The majority of submissions received have been from the general public with very few from businesses. As the majority of businesses in the streets where changes are proposed are currently closed, it seems reasonable for us to propose to extend the deadline for the consultation to 11December. A Government decision regarding what restriction will apply in December is awaited.

2.2 Protected Cycle Facilities, Contra-Flow Facilities, Cycle Parking and ‘Filtered Permeability’

Strand Road Cycle Route

Work on the trial cycle route is now scheduled to commence in mid-January 2020. The trial will last for 6 months. A Consultative Forum which will be chaired by the Lord Mayor is being established. Reports on alternative proposals and updates on the scheme are all on the Consultation Hub.

Griffith Avenue Cycle Route

Pre-marking for the road markings on Section 2 is now complete. Details of Section 4 were published on the Consultation Hub last Friday, 13 November.

Installation of the second section of the Griffith Avenue Cycle Route from Walnut Rise to the Junction of Drumcondra Road Lower is due to commence by the end of next week.

Pigeon House Road Filtered Permeability Trial

The report on the Pigeon House Road, with the City Council’s recommendation to extend the trial for 1 year, was agreed at the South East Area Committee on 9 November.

Resurfacing Works

Resurfacing works are now complete on Constitution Hill and the extruded kerbs on both the inbound and outbound lanes were completed on 10 November. Road marking and surface colouring works are still to be completed.

Cycle Lane Protection

The work to install an extruded concrete kerb on Ormond Quay to protect the interim Liffey Cycle Route has been completed, with road markings and colour surfacing to follow.

The extruded kerb was installed over two days Tuesday andWednesday, with minimal impact on traffic. It provides protection for cyclists and is less visually intrusive than the previous plastic bollards. As the required excavation depth is very shallow, at a maximum of 175mm which is above the level of underground services, meaning no services need to be moved during installation which speeds up the process considerably. The periodic gaps are to allow for drainage and to ensure that the people can easily leave or join the route. All of the extruded kerbs are designed to be easily removed, as in this case when the final Liffey Cycle route is being put in.

Inns Quay

Our colleagues in the Parks Department have kindly assisted the COVID Mobility Team and designed a series of planters to replace the plastic bollards at this location outside the Four Courts. These are due to be installed this weekend. Below is a visual from their landscape architects on what Inns Quay should look like,once this is complete.

Cycle Parking

A further 14 cycle stands were installed in the past week bringing the total installed this year to 628 stands at 128 locations.

2.3 School Mobility Programme

School Zones

We have received two new applications for School Zone in the past week, bringing the total to 89. The COVID Mobility Technical Team are assessing all submissions for suitability and schools will be contacted with timelines, if it is deemed an appropriate intervention at that location.

Works are underway at:

• St. Louis Infant and Senior Schools, Rathmines, Dublin 6
• St. John Scottus National School, Northumberland Rd, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4
• Our Lady Immaculate Senior School, Darndale, Dublin 17

The next Schools Zones will be implemented at:•

• Drimnagh Castle National School, Walkinstown, Dublin 12
• Shellybanks ETNS, Roslyn Park, Newgrove Ave, Sandymount, Dublin 4
• Scoil Úna Naofa, Armagh Road, Crumlin, Dublin 12
• Mary Queen of Angels, Gurteen Road, Ballyfermot.
• Scoil Tereasa Naofa, Petrie Road, Dublin 8
• Christ the King NS, Annaly Road, Cabra, Dublin 7
• Marian School, St Catherine’s and Casa Caterina, Dominican Campus, Ratoath Road, Cabra, Dublin 7
• Scoil Fhursa, Cromcastle Green, Kilmore West, Dublin 5
• Scoil Ída GNS, Cromcastle Green, Kilmore West, Dublin 5

Note the works being undertaken on the Schools Zones are funded from the Government stimulus package for 2020. We are putting additional resources into this project at the moment to ensure maximum draw down of Government funding by year end.

School Cycle Parking

The next batch of cycle parking to schools will begin next week. The order will deliver 128 cycle parking stands to 57 schools throughout the city.3. Communications3.1 Website

The COVID Mobility webpage, www.dublincity.ie/COVID-19mobilityprogramme is being updated regularly to keep the general public informed of COVID-19 mobility interventions. As previously advised we will be making more extensive use of the Consultation Hub in order to provide more information on measures.

3. Communications

3.1. Website

The COVID Mobility webpage, www.dublincity.ie/COVID-19mobilityprogramme is being updated regularly to keep the general public informed of COVID-19 mobility interventions. As previously advised we will be making more extensive use of the Consultation Hub in order to provide more information on measures.

3.2 DCC Consultation Hub/Citizen Space

Details of schemes on the Consultation hub at present include:

Grangegorman Filtered Permeability Trial,

https://consultation.dublincity.ie/traffic-and-transport/grangegorman-filtered-permeability-trial/

Strand Road Cycle Route Trial,

https://consultation.dublincity.ie/traffic-and-transport/strand-road-trial-cycle-route/

Griffith Avenue,

https://consultation.dublincity.ie/traffic-and-transport/griffith-avenue-protected-cycle-track/

Grafton Street Area Pedestrianisation,

https://consultation.dublincity.ie/traffic-and-transport/pedestrianisation-of-grafton-street-area/

College Green,

https://consultation.dublincity.ie/traffic-and-transport/proposed-extension-of-the-civic-plaza-at-college-g/

Each week we will alert Members to any new proposals which are available to view on the Consultation Hub and aim to have a more dynamic process for ensuring that support for projects, suggestions on how to improve them and concerns and issues which may need to be addressed can be better handled. Any feedback on this approach is welcome.

3.3 Dedicated COVID-19 Mobility Measure Request Form

In the past week, we have received 66 new requests for COVID Mobility Measures. This brings the total number of COVID Mobility requests to 4,951. A breakdown of these requests is given below.

3.4 COVID-19 Mobility E-Mail

The dedicated e-mail address continues as the primary channel to contact the COVID Mobility Team. It is attracting huge volumes of queries and feedback. The intention is that the e-mail is for general queries and the COVID-19 Mobility Request Form should be used for specific requests at specific locations.

3.5 Councillor Updates

Updates on COVID-19 mobility measures are issued on a weekly basis to Elected Members. Updates via e-mail are also being issued to stakeholders via the Transport SPC and the NTA accessibility network.

3.6 Business Liaison

The Business Liaison Officer continues to engage and consultwith businesses on a number of COVID Mobility Measures citywide and provides advice to cafés, restaurants and bars, on the process for street furniture (tables and chairs) applications.

3.7 Active Travel Promotion

We are continuing to utilise Dublin City Council Social Media Channels:

• to highlight COVID-19 mobility measures that have been implemented;
• to encourage the public to walk or cycle, where possible;
• to encourage social distancing as people move around the city and
• to encourage more respect for vulnerable road users

We also continue to evolve our Active Travel Campaign in collaboration with key strategic partners (e.g. NTA Smarter Travel, Healthy Ireland, Green- Schools and third level institutions).

Owen P Keegan

Chief Executive