Proposed Front-of-School Works at St. Paul's Primary and CBS

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 St. Paul's Primary School and St. Paul's CBS. 

 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 at 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 Brunswick Street N from the junction with Red Cow Lane to the end of the eastern school perimeter.

Image 2: Extent of works at St. Paul's Primary School and CBS

What works will take place at Brunswick Street North, Dublin 7?

The works will consist of:

Blue and green pencil bollards along the southern roadway edge on approach to the pedestrian crossing outside the prim ary school and along the length of the secondary school building. These are depicted as blue and green dots on the design drawing.

All vehicular entrances to remain unobstructed.

Image 3: Example pencil bollards in Broombridge, Dublin 7

School Zone road surface signs will be painted directly on the road on the western end of the school permiter of the school on Brunswick Street North. These are to advise motorists they are in a School Zone and to drive accordingly.

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

A build-out will be constructed outside the primary school gate where the existing pedestrian crossing is. This will facilitate parents and children waiting to enter the school grounds or waiting for school to finish. It will also increase visibility of groups of people for drivers through the area. 

Image 5: Example footpath build-out, South William Street, Dublin 2

Tactile paving will be added to footpaths on the southern side of Brunswick Street North at the exiting pedestrian crossing where the build-out is to be instaleld. 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 6: Example tactile paving, Donnycarney, Dublin 9

School Ahead signs with flashing amber signals will be installed on both sides of the road on North Brunswick Street. These are to alert drivers they are entering a school zone and to drive accordingly.

Image 7: Example 'School Ahead' sign with flashing amber signal

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:

• The high volume of vehicular traffic and related congestion at school drop-off and collection times
• A lack of visibility of the pedestrian crossing, particularly with people parking on it at collection and pick-up times
• A lack of space for students and parents congregating at collection and pick-up times
• To improve overall safety for the large number of students cycling, walking and scooting to school

Share your thoughts from 17 to 30 June 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 St. Paul’s in the search bar
• Email: sustainablemobility@dublincity.ie (with St. Paul’s Brunswick Street 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 30 June 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 St. Paul’s).

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