We'll speed up buses that move at walking pace
TRAFFIC snarl-ups which have reduced bus journeys on a busy Dublin route to walking pace are to be alleviated.
The Quality Bus Network Project Office is preparing a new scheme in conjunction with Dublin City Council and South Dublin County Council.
The overall proposal will aim to improve bus journey times between Rathfarnham Road and Earlsfort Terrace.
Also included in the plan are Terenure Road North, Harold's Cross Road, South Circular Road, Harrington Street, Wexford Street, Camden Street and Adelaide Road.
lights
Dublin Bus operates 155 buses during the morning peak-time and 152 buses during the evening peak-time along this route, called the Rathfarnham quality bus corridor (QBC).
"Significant delays occur in the vicinity of Camden Street and Harcourt Road," a city council report stated.
Monitoring studies have "consistently identified the Rathfarnham QBC as one of the poorest performing corridors of the original 11 QBCs constructed.
"The survey recorded average bus speeds of less than 5kph, which is equivalent to walking speed (note the target speed for duly functioning QBCs, is 22kph)," the council said.
It added: "In order to improve bus speeds, it is proposed to provide bus lanes up to the traffic signals (ie first-priority bus lanes) in both directions at the junctions along this route.
"This will involve extending the bus lanes closer to the stop lines so that buses get through the junction on the first green signal."
Another measure is the provision of two-way traffic -- for all road users -- along Camden Street and Richmond Street, from Charlotte Way to Lennox Street.
Further changes include a new southbound central bus lane on Earlsfort Terrace, from Hatch Street Upper to Adelaide Road, and an inbound right-turn ban from Clanbrassil Street to South Circular Road for all traffic apart from buses. Where road widths allow, sections of bus lanes will be joined up.
"All pedestrian crossings along the route will be upgraded including dropped kerbs, tactile paving, and audio push button units," the council said.
If the council agrees the scheme, it will go out to public consultation for at least six weeks. The council will discuss it next month.
comurphy@herald.ie
- Cormac Murphy
