Tag Archives: BusConnects

Via CassandraVoices:

The real issue is that, if realised, BusConnects will make permanent space for private motor cars. This would be achieved at the cost of the city’s built heritage and green infrastructure – including thousands of road side and privately owned trees.

As such, this element appears to contravene both the Dublin City Development Plan and the EU Habitats Directive.

Thus, Objective GIO27 commits:

To protect trees, hedgerows or groups of trees which function as wildlife corridors or ‘stepping stones’ in accordance with Article 10 of the EU Habitats Directive.’

While Policy SC15 seeks:

To recognise and promote green infrastructure and landscape as an integral part of the form and structure of the city, including streets and public spaces.’

And Policy SC12 aims:

To ensure that development within or affecting Dublin’s villages protects their character.’

It is noted that at a public meeting earlier this year in the Clayton Hotel off Leeson Street, on behalf of the National Transport Agency (NTA), Hugh Cregan, stated that plans have not yet been prepared for replacement of trees.

Given the massive scope of the scheme, it seems essential to provide plans for what will occur after the initial destructive phase – otherwise, the plan is missing key elements, and is premature.

Road-widening schemes for Dublin during the 1970s and 1980s were not a solution to our transport ills then – and do not provide one now.[More at link below]

Dubliners Deserve Better Than Bus Connects (Ruadhan MacEoin, CassandraVoices)

Top pic: Rollingnews

Meanwhile…

Further to Associate Professor at University College Dublin’s geography department Gerald Mills’s research about the number of trees that will be cut down to make way for the BusConnects programme in Dublin…

Kevin Baker, of Dublin Cycling, has responded…

FIGHT!

Yesterday: How Many?

From a report by University College Dublin Geography Associate Professor Gerald Mills

Associate Professor at University College Dublin’s geography department Gerald Mills has found there are more than 4,700 trees growing within a 20m wide corridor along the 16 bus routes earmarked for possible road-widening as part of the BusConnects project.

The project aims to deliver 230kms of dedicated bus lanes and 200kms of cycle tracks along 16 of the busiest roads in Dublin.

A synopsis….

Thousands of trees may face the chop to accommodate BusConnects routes (UCD)

This afternoon.

Baggott Street, Dublin 2

More than 3km of roads across Ballsbridge and Donnybrook in Dublin 4, stretching to Lower Baggott Street , Dublin 2 have been festooned with red ribbons to highlight the potential loss of trees as part of the BusConnects programme.

UPDATE: the trees pictured will remain.

Leah Farrell/Rollingnews

Spotted on Morehampton Road, Donnybrook, Dublin 4, at the weekend.

It follows reports that up to 130 trees may be cut in Ballsbridge and Donnybrook areas to allow for roads to be widened for the BusConnects programme.

Related: BusConnects: 130 at-risk D4 trees festooned with red ribbons (Olivia Kelly, The Irish Times)

Previously: Someone Shout Stop

Thanks Edmund McCann

 

Core blimey.

This morning.

National Transport Authority CEO Anne Graham (top) launching a discussion document on the BusConnects Dublin – Core Bus Corridors Project to “improve bus journey times and cycling priority along 16 radial core bus corridors”.

The proposals include

230kms of continuous bus priority over 16 radial core bus corridors;

200kms of cycle tracks and cycle lanes provided on the corridors segregated from the bus lanes and general traffic lanes “as far as is practicable”;

Journey time savings of up to 40%-50% across the 16 radial core bus corridors

“On each of the Core Bus corridors, we will provide high-quality cycling facilities, segregated from the bus lanes and general traffic lanes as far as is practicable.”

A full public consultation on the 16 identified corridors will be undertaken in October, which will have all the detailed impacts of the project on a road-by-road basis.

FIGHT!

BusConnects Dublin – Core Bus Corridors Project

Leah Farrell/RollingNews