NORTH STRAND MATTERS – December 2023

North Strand Road Bus Stops to be restored.

I want to share with you confirmation that bus stops along North Strand Road, thought to be lost, will now be restored, following direct intervention by myself and Minister Paschal Donohoe.

PLANNING PERMISSION

You may remember that I opposed the successful amendment to the planning permission for the Clontarf to City Centre project that enabled Dublin City Council to permanently remove bus stops along North Strand Road as part of this project. That amendment put forward by the Green Party and the Labour Party and supported by Sinn Fein and Social Democrats Councillors provided the basis upon which the bus stops were to be lost.

MY WORK TO SUPERSEDE THIS DECISION

Since works started along the North Strand and the impact this decision would have on those living in the area, I, along with local Minister, Paschal Donohoe T.D. have been working and liaising with the National Transport Authority in an effort to supersede this decision, so that these much-needed bus stops be retained.  Local concerns about road and pedestrian safety have been raised by me which has resulted in further road safety assessments being carried out. The key objective for me has been to ensure that we provide safe, fully segregated cycling facilities but that local people who rely on Dublin Bus services have the ability to access those services along the North Strand Road.

(NTA) National Transport Authority DECISION

Therefore, I am pleased to report to you that following analysis undertaken by the National Transport Authority, as a result of the intervention and engagement of myself and Minister Paschal Donohoe, bus stops, thought lost, will be restored.

This means that:

• An inbound bus stop (adjacent to the Junction of North Strand Road and Strandville Avenue) and
• An outbound bus stop (under the railway bridge) will be installed.
• These stops will be served by the 130 Bus Route, that operate every 10 to 12 minutes.
• Other bus routes can be accessed from other bus stops.

I am advised by the NTA that:

“In the inbound direction, the new stop will require the conversion of an already constructed car parking bay (two car spaces in front of North Strand Floors/North Strand Beds and Furniture) into a bus stop equipped with a bus shelter, and the consequential loss of these two car parking spaces.  At the outbound stop at the railway bridge, a bus stop will be provided but there isn’t space to provide a bus shelter. However, the bridge structure does provide some level of weather protection.”

WHEN WILL THE WORKS TAKE PLACE?

As soon as possible. Both Minister Paschal Donohoe and I will liaise with the City Council Project Team and the National Transport Authority to make sure they are in situ as quickly as possible.