Proposed Front-of-School works at Glasnevin National School

Overview

Dublin City Council with the support of the National Transport Authority proposes to implement front-of-school works to improve the safety of students and vulnerable road users accessing and exiting Glasnevin National School, Botanic Avenue, Glasnevin, Dublin 9. 

What are School Zones?

School Zones are built infrastructural upgrades that are designed to give priority to students at the school gate by freeing up footpaths and reducing vehicle drop-offs, pick-ups and idling. The aim is to increase safety at the front of school and prioritise active travel (walking, cycling, wheeling and scooting) to and from school.

Image 1: Example School Zone, Star of the Sea School, Sandymount, Dublin 4

 School Zones are implemented around the world in order to: 

• Increase student safety
• Reduce vehicle drop-offs, pick-ups and idling outside the school gate
• Reduce congestion and prioritise active travel (walking, cycling, wheeling and scooting) to and from school
• Encourage slow, safe driving in the area of the school
• Promote considerate parking
• Reduce emissions and pollution, and improve air quality and noise quality by reducing volume of traffic at schools and vehicles with engines idling

 Where will these works take place?

These works will take place on Botanic Avenue from the junction with Glasnevin Hill/Botanic Road to the junction of Addison Place.

Image 2: Extent of works at Glasnevin National School

What works will take place at Botanic Avenue, Glasnevin, Dublin 9?

The works will consist of:

Lighthouse bollards will be installed along the northern footpath on Botanic Avenue. These are depicted as black and white dots on the drawing.

Blue and green pencil bollards will be installed along the edge of carriageway outside and opposite the school. These are depicted as blue and green dots on the design drawing.

All vehicular entrances to remain unobstructed.

Image 3: Example lighthouse bollards on footpath

School Zone road surface signs will be painted directly on the road on the eastern end of the school and the western end of Botanic Avenue. These are to advise motorists they are in a School Zone and to drive accordingly.

Image 4: Example of road surface sign for School Zone, Leinster Road, Rathmines, Dublin 6

Colourful road markings consisting of yellow, orange and red circles painted directly on the road between the School Zone road markings on the eastern end of the school and the western end of Botanic Avenue.

Image 5: Example colourful road markings, Thornville Road, Kilbarrack, Dublin 5

The existing ‘Double D’ island at the Glasnevin Hill end of Botanic Avenue to be demolished and replaced with a new, larger island for greater comfort crossing the road.

Image 6: Existing 'Double D' on Botanic Avenue

The junction of Botanic Avenue and Glasnevin Hill will be tightened on the northern and southern sides. This is reduce motorsts' speed on Botanic Avenue and to raise awareness of the presence of a school. 

The existing speed bump outside the pedestrian school gate to be removed and replaced with a raised crossing between the two school gates. This is to reduce motorists’ speed and to facilitate children crossing the road safely.

Image 7: Example raised crossing, Broombridge, Dublin 

Tactile paving will be added to footpaths on the northern and southern sides of Botanic Avenue in line with the new ‘Double Ds’. This paving prevents trips and slips and is more user-friendly for people with mobility and visual impairment needs. They are depicted as orange hatching on the path in the design drawing.

Image 8: Example tactile paving

A School Ahead sign with flashing amber signals will be installed on Botanic Avenue facing Glasnevin Hill/Botanic Road beside the existing Sheffield bicycle stands.

Image 9: Example 'School Ahead' sign with flashing amber signals

Why are we implementing this School Zone?

Traffic related safety concerns have been reported and observed by the school, parents, neighbours, Dublin City Council’s School Warden Service, Parking Enforcement and School Mobility Officer, including:

• Parking on footpaths along Botanic Avenue causing problems for pedestrians and children cycling or scooting to school
• Safety issues arising from the poor visibility of the school
• The high volume of vehicular traffic and related congestion at school drop-off and collection times
• Safety issues arising from speeding cars on Botanic Avenue

Share your thoughts from 22 April to 5 May 2024

If you would like to share comments or thoughts on these works please contact us via:

• Online Survey: available at https://consultation.dublincity.ie/ - search for Glasnevin National School in the search bar
• Email: sustainablemobility@dublincity.ie (with Glasnevin National School in the subject bar)
• Phone: Customer Services Desk 01 222 2222 they will refer you to an available member of the Sustainable Mobility team
• Postal Address: School Mobility Programme, City Centre Transports Projects, Block 2, Floor 7, Civic Offices, Wood Quay, Dublin 8, Ireland, D08 RF3F

This period of non-statutory consultation closes at midnight on 5 May 2024.

What happens next?

We will review all the comments and observations and, where appropriate, make required changes to the design. Works will then be scheduled for installation.

For the School Zone front-of-school treatment to work effectively, parents who need to drive must be willing to change their drop off and pick up habits. Parents and guardians will be encouraged not to collect and drop off within the School Zone. They must park respectfully and legally outside of the School Zone by not blocking other entrances, mounting footpaths or double parking.

Full drawings and School Zone guidance documents are available online at https://consultation.dublincity.ie/ (search Glasnevin National School).

A hard copy poster of the design will be on view at the school gate.