€4 million plan for safer, smarter travel in Fingal

“The National Transport Authority has allocated €4 million to Fingal’s Road Development Plan to improve safety and smarter travel throughout Fingal”,   according to Fine Gael TD for Dublin Fingal Alan Farrell. The funding was confirmed today through the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport.

“There are 24 key projects in the new Road Development Plan for Fingal that will result in major improvements for cyclists, pedestrians and bus users in the next few years.

“The plan will improve the Quality Bus Corridor that links Swords to the City Centre. Public transport users are well aware that buses are often stuck in traffic at peak times due to narrow road sections and traffic obstructions which in my opinion should have been addressed long before now.   Investment for the widening of bus lanes and in new traffic measures will reduce this congestion, therefore reducing commuter time and creating a more efficient public transport system.

“Almost €2 million will be earmarked for the planning, design and construction of various Cycle Network Schemes throughout Fingal, and I am particularly pleased that plans to further the design stages of the Donabate-Malahide walkway and to construct the Drinan Holywell Pedestrian Cycle route has been named as part of this development.

“The Swords Sustainable Transport Improvement plan will receive €200,000 to develop a   new movement strategy for the town which will include the provision of a new traffic management plan, a cycle network and improved pedestrian facilities.

“Parents will welcome the range of plans to will improve pedestrian accessibility at many of our schools such as the Educate Together in Swords, and both the national and secondary school in Lusk. It will provide peace of mind for those who would prefer to avoid the school time traffic by walking their children safely to and from school.

“Lusk will also benefit very soon from the construction of traffic signalling and footpaths at the junction where the Dublin Road meets Mains Street, allowing for safer pedestrian access through the busy junction.

“Holywell residents will also be interested in this funding allocation as it will include the provision of over half a million euro for the completion of the Holywell Distributor Road.

“The aim of this plan is two-fold. It will improve movement and accessibility in Dublin Fingal, while also encouraging safer, smarter modes of transport such as cycling, walking and public transport which is economically efficient, is of benefit to the community, our health, the environment, and our landscape.

“I commend the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport Leo Varadkar TD, Fingal County Council and the NTA foR developing this comprehensive plan that will widely contribute to the community of Dublin Fingal.”

Donabate Station to Malahide Station walking-cycling route €20,000

Carrying out of a feasibility study for the development of a segregated pedestrian and cycle route from Malahide to Donabate, along the western side of the Dublin-Belfast railway to include a crossing of the Malahide Estuary.
Drinan Holywell Pedestrian Cycle Link €100,000

Construction of cycle/pedestrian connection on the M1 overbridge at Drinan eastwards, linking Drinan to Holywell, in Swords.

Holywell village improvement and associated   Distributor Road €575,000

Provision for completion of missing section of distributor road and roundabout that will link up the two existing sections of the distributor road to the north of and west of Holywell housing development in Swords. The provision of this road will complete the road network in the Holywell area, remove traffic from the residential core of the neighboroughood, provide more appropriate routing for bus service and enable traffic improvements measures in the vicinity of the school/local shops.

Lusk Traffic Scheme €250,000

The scheme involves the construction of a traffic signalised junction at the existing junction between Dublin Road/Station Road/Main Street, as well as new sections of footways and ancillary works. Contract awarded end of 2012.

Pedestrian Crossing, Lusk Outer Relief Road, Lusk  €50,000

Provide new pedestrain crossing and minor footpath improvements to serve exisiting   National School and new Secondary School currently under construction

Swords QBC Upgrade €200,000
Design of the Swords QBC within the Fingal area. (from Santry Avenue/Coolock Lane junction to Estuary Road Roundabout on the R132 at Swords). The aim is to deliver an improved environment for bus services as well as cyclists, pedestrians and vehicular traffic by providing continuous dedicated facilities for the various modes along the R132. Other key requirements of the scheme are: 1. Determine a location of Bus Hub. 2. Future Proof Bus route for the possible upgrade to BRT. 3. Manage traffic for the benefit of the bus services.

Extension of S2S Cycle Route €“ Sutton to Malahide €100,000
Preliminary design and planning stage of a cycle route on the R106 between Sutton and Malahide, including addressing requirements for Special Protection Areas and Special Areas of Conservation north of Baldoyle.

Swords Sustainable Transport Improvements €200,000

Development of an overall movement strategy for Swords. Implementation of key elements such as pedestrian movement improvements (pedestrian crossings, footpath widening etc.), cycle network development, bus support measures. May include elements of traffic management necessary to support such measures.

Cycle Network Schemes €250,000

Develop route, concept and preliminary designs for the main priority cycling routes within the Fingal area identified in the NTA Cycle Network study for the GDA

Traffic Ramps Renewal Programme €100,000

Programme to renew and/or replace various ramps which have failed or deteriorated significantly.

Bus lane Markings Renewal Programme €100,000

Programme to renew bus lane markings on key bus corridors

Holywell, Accessibility Scheme, Swords €55,000

Provide improved access arrangements to the Educate Together National School by providing improved crossings to school.

Bridge Street footpath, Swords €60,000

Provide new footpath link along Bridge street to connect to the Church Road footpath and regularise footpaths at the junction.

Various 2012 Schemes €12,600

Allocation for residual contractual payments from schemes completed in 2012.

Ongar Cycle Network  €1,000,000
Construction of Cycle Network in Ongar-Castaheany area, comprising: Toucan crossing at west end of Old Hansfield Road; pedestrian/cyclist facilities along western side of Hansfield Road; access to Scoil Pobail Setanta/Phibblestown Centre from North West; Littlepace/Castaheany, Rosedale/Hazelbury, Manorfields and Blackwood/Ongar roundabouts to be redisgned to improve cyclist and pedestrian movement.

Royal Canal cycling €500,000
Proposed use of Royal Canal within the FCC area as a pedestrian and cycle route. The allocation is for construction of the canal towpath to a high quality walking and cycling route between Ashtown and Blanchardstown

D15 Primary cycle routes €100,000

Design and Development of 2 strategic cycle routes in Blanchardstown/D.15 environs:

Route 1 €“ commences at Blanchardstown Road North and encompasses the Waterville housing development/Mill Road, Main Street Blanchardstown, Castleknock Road, Laurel Lodge Road, Carpenterstown Avenue, Carpenterstown Park East, Carpenterstown Road, Riverwood Road, Old Navan Road, the Navan Road, and Auburn Avenue.

Route 2 €“ commences at Littlepace Road and encompasses Huntstown Way, Blakestown Way, Blanchardstown Town Centre, Grove Road, Coolmine Road, Carpenterstown Road, College Road and White’s Road.

Dublin €“ Maynooth Rail Level Crossing Project €200,000

Design of replacement transport links and traffic management proposals required for the permanent closure of five rail level crossings on the Maynooth rail line and the completion of the part 8 process for the closure of the Porterstown level crossing including planning approval for a new footbridge at this location.

MID/Toucan crossing, Jamestown Road/St Margaret’s Road €45,000

Planning, design and construction of new signalised crossing for Mobility-Impaired/Disabled users, pedestrians and cyclists at this junction in the Finglas area

Footpath Improvements, Carrickbrack Road, Howth  €40,000
Footpath Improvements, including relocation of bus stop to improve safety at Fintan’s National School.

Footpath Accessibility, Howth Village €40,000
Dishing of footpaths and minor improvement works along the existing footpath newtork on Main Street, Abbey Street, Harbour Rd

Pedestrian Crossing, Porters Road, Blanchardstown €35,000

New crossing in Coolmine Industrial Estate to serve general pedestrians.

Toucan Crossing Hansfield Road, Ongar €45,000

Planning, design and construction of toucan crossing at the new Hansfield station access road.