Consultation on options for public realm improvements to Dame Street as part of the College Green project

Overview

College Green, concept view of public space in use

Dublin City Council is progressing an ambitious plan to rediscover and reinvent the historic College Green as the major public space at the heart of the city.

Following the unsuccessful application to An Bord Pleanála (ABP) in 2018,  Dublin City Council held a series of trial traffic-free events in College Green including Summer Sundays, Culture Night and Car Free day. The lessons learned from these events have guided the Council in both reviewing the previous proposal and in preparing a number of new options.

More recently, the Covid-19 pandemic has served to reiterate the importance of pedestrian friendly outdoor public open spaces to the ongoing vitality, economy and health of the city.

In September 2020, the National Transport Authority published the final version of the Bus Connects Network Redesign which proposes to significantly reduce the numbers of routes and buses in the College Green area. In addition the Bus Connects Network Redesign includes an option and a network map with buses rerouted out of College Green and Dame Street (between Anglesea Street and South Great George’s Street). As the relocation of bus routes and bus stops was a significant issue in the 2018 College Green planning decision, the Council is being informed by the Bus Connects Network Redesign in further developing proposals for the area.

The removal of buses from this area as part of the Bus Connects Network, once College Green is traffic free, would create an opportunity to significantly improve the public realm along Dame Street between South Great George’s Street and Anglesea Street, as part of the College Green Plaza project.

Why your views matter

The lessons learned from the events held at College Green facilitated an appraisal of what was previously proposed in the original planning application. It was decided that a number of new options should be prepared to consider alternative traffic management proposals and to investigate the potential of enhancing the public realm opportunities of this space further.

A Multi Criteria Appraisal (MCA) by a Transportation consultant was carried out on 5 options (report available on the consultation hub also). The two highest scoring options were Option 3 and Option 4.

Option 3:

This option has vehicular deliveries and access maintained on a 24 hour basis to Dame Street between South Great George’s Street and Anglesea Street. A segregated 2 way cycle lane is provided along the entire section.

24 hour vehicular deliveries and access from Dame Street: between South Great Georges Street and Anglesea Street area (MCA Option 3). Concept illustration of space in use, looking east along Dame Street towards Trinity College

24 hour vehicular deliveries and access from Dame Street: between South Great Georges Street and Anglesea Street area (MCA Option 3). Concept aerial view of space in use, looking west over College Green and Dame Street

Option 4:

Vehicular deliveries and access provided from 6am to 11am to Dame Street: a similar arrangement is in place on Grafton Street and Henry Street. The entire area from South Great George’s Street to College Green is traffic-free outside these hours. A segregated 2 way cycle lane is provided along the entire section.

Vehicular deliveries and access from Dame Street: between South Great George’s Street and Anglesea Street area from 6am to 11am, and traffic-free after 11am (MCA Option 4). Concept illustration of space in use, looking east along Dame Street towards Trinity College

Vehicular deliveries and access from Dame Street: between South Great George’s Street and Anglesea Street area from 6am to 11am, and traffic-free after 11am (MCA Option 4). Concept aerial view of space in use, looking west over College Green and Dame Street

The conclusion of the MCA analysis was that both of these options should be investigated further.

The purpose of this consultation is to gain the views of citizens and local businesses about the opportunities that these two options present for the area, with the intention of progressing a proposal. We are seeking your input on a number of questions:

1. Which option 3 or 4 would work best for you and for this area of the city?
2. Do you see any positives or negatives in Option 3?
3. Do you see any positives or negatives in Option 4?
4. If you are a business-owner, which option would better support you and the area?
5. Do you have any suggestions for how these options could be enhanced?

Please share your response by clicking on the survey link below.

Related documents are available at the bottom of this page.

Please note this current consultation process is non statutory at this early stage, and a full statutory consultation will be held on the final design.