Update on the Implementation of Proposed Dublin City Council Cycling Projects – March 2021

Executive Summary
In the January report, members were advised that Dublin City Council had been notified of the approval for an overall framework for the delivery of active travel projects. This was followed by the funding announcement from the NTA earlier this month. This report therefore, focuses on the Dublin City’s 5 Year Plan for Walking and Cycling Infrastructure.

This report also provides further updates on the major schemes that were being progressed over the last month.

1. Introduction

The NTA recently announced that €49.875 million grant funding would be made available to Dublin City Council in 2021 for the delivery of 75 cycling and walking projects and programmes to be implemented over the next five years, ranging from green schools infrastructure, through COVID mobility and stimulus package measures, to major infrastructure projects. Over the next few months, Dublin City Council will be putting in place structures to facilitate the effective and efficient resourcing and implementation of the plan. Progress has continued in the design development of schemes that currently have current planning approvals. This will see Royal Canal Phase 3 going to tender within the next couple of weeks.

2. 5 Year Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Delivery

Over the next five years, Dublin City Council will undertake the planning and implementation of 140km of cycling and walking infrastructure. This is made up of 55km from 27 existing projects and 85km from 31 new projects. The new projects are shown in dashed lines on the map below. A brief description of each project is also given below:

5 Year Cycle Plan

3. Schemes with Statutory Planning Approval

There are no new schemes undergoing the statutory planning process. This is unchanged from last month. There are four projects with Statutory Planning consent.

These are;

1. Royal Canal Greenway
2. Dodder Greenway
3. Clontarf to City Centre
4. The Point Junction Improvement Scheme

3.1. Royal Canal Greenway

The Royal Canal Greenway is being delivered in four phases.

• 3.1.1.1. Phase 2: Preparatory landscaping works will commence in February with tree planting occurring in the first two weeks of March. This is as reported in the last report.
• 3.1.1.2. Phase 3: The detailed design is now being finalised. The publication of tenders for construction is scheduled for end February. This as reported in the last report.
• 3.1.1.3. Phase 4: Site investigations are still ongoing. The target date for the issuing of construction tender documents for the mainline works is now set for March 2021. This is because of delays in finalising site investigations. Following discussions between Dublin City Council, Irish Rail and the design team, further investigations are required before finalising options selection for the Liffey Junction underpass. The project team is currently working on proposals to merge phases 4B and 4C. This would enable the implementation of localised widening at the same time as the upgrade of the overall route.

3.2. Dodder Greenway (Herbert Park to Donnybrook)

There was no progress during the month. It is still intended to facilitate a meeting of the Dodder Greenway consultative committee meeting before the end of the first quarter of 2021.

3.3. Clontarf to City Centre

Information on the project is now accessible on the Dublin City Council webpages. The address is http://www.dublincity.ie/c2cc .

The following information is now available;

• Project Overview and Progress Update
• Drawings and Visualisations
• Bus Stop Design

The preparation for consultation with stakeholders, including residents and businesses along the route, and representatives for people with disabilities is progressing well. The bus stop design proposal has been circulated to stakeholders. The communications plan will be circulated to members before the end of February. This is as previously reported.

3.4. The Point Junction Improvement Scheme

This is as reported last month, and at present there is no change in its status.

4. Interim Schemes

The implementation of two interim schemes to facilitate immediate safety improvements for cyclists is ongoing. This is to compensate for delays in the delivery of the main schemes. These are:

1. Liffey Cycle Route
2. Fitzwilliam Cycle Route

4.1 Liffey Cycle Route

Work is still ongoing at Bridge Street/Merchants Quay junction. Works at St John’s Road West/Victoria Quay junction commenced in February. As previously reported, this will facilitate the rollout of the scheme from Grattan Bridge to Frank Sherwin Bridge. The designs from O’Connell Bridge to Matt Talbot Memorial Bridge, for both the North and South Quays are being finalised. However, COVID has affected progress and works over this section is anticipated to take place in April. For the full permanent scheme, Dublin City Council has appointed services providers to provide the baseline archaeology, architectural heritage and conservation reports. The archaeology report has been finalised, and Dublin City Council has received a draft of the other report. This is under review by the relevant Dublin City Council Department. The drafting of the public realm and opportunities study will resume in February 2021.

4.2. Fitzwilliam Street Cycle Route

In order to finalise the design of the permanent scheme, cellar surveys started in November 2020. These are continuing. Dublin City Council has received representations to provide enhanced greening along the route as part of the permanent scheme. This is under consideration and an update will be provided in a later report.

The contract for ground investigations at junctions to facilitate the replacement of a section of water-mains was awarded in December 2020. Works commenced on-site in January 2021 and are ongoing.

5. On street Cycle Parking

The contractor has completed the installation of the outstanding sites on contracts awarded in 2020. Under the 2020 Programme, installation of 816 stands at 167 locations has been achieved. The programme had envisaged the installation of 1,000 stands, however work was constrained due to COVD restrictions. The 2021 programme is under review with the objective of identifying opportunities for soft landscaping opportunities.