Proposed school zone works at South City CNS

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 South City CNS, Whitefriar Place, Dublin 8

 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 Whitefriar St.

Image 2 and 3: Extent of works at South City CNS (formerly St. Endas Primary School)

What works will take place at South City CNS in Whitefriar Place?

The works will consist of:

Rigid yellow Pencil Bollards will be placed along the edge of the footpath to prevent illegal parking on the footpaths. These are depicted as yellow dots on the design drawing.

Image 4: Example pencil bollards on footpath in Cromcastle Avenue, Dublin 5

‘School Zone’ road surface signs will be painted directly on Whitefriar Street and just off Longford Street Little. This is to advise motorists they are in a School Zone and to drive accordingly.

Image 5: Example road surface siugn for School Zone, Leinster Road, Rathmines, Dublin 6

Flexible blue and green pencil bollards will be installed on the on the carriageway. This is to widen the space on the path for pedestrians and tighten the bend for cars coming into the area. These are depicted as blue and green dots on the design drawing 

Image 6: Example pencil bollards on footpath in Broombridge ET, Dublin 7

A School Ahead sign with flashing amber signals will be installed on Whitefriar Street and Longford Street Little, facing towards oncoming traffic to alert drivers that they are entering a school zone and to drive accordingly.

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

Standard Flexi Bollards will be installed to tighten the bend from Whitefriar Street into Wood Street. This will provide more safety for pedestrians in the school zone by reducing the speed of cars.

Image 8: Example ‘Standard Flexi-Bollards’ Conyngham Road

Colourful road markings consisting of yellow and red circles will be painted directly on the road on Whitefriar Street and Longford Street Little. These raise awareness of the presence of the school.

Image 9: Example 'Colourful Circle Road Markings' Scoil Fhursa Cromcastle

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:

Why are we implementing this School Zone?

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

• The area is used as a rat run which presents dangers to pedestrians and children;
• Safety issues arising from speeding cars in the area  are cause for concern;
• The lack of awareness of the presence of the school;
• The  lack of space between the school door and the road because of the narrowness of the path;
• Parents advised that crossing from any of the approach roads over to the school side presented danger for children and pedestrians;
• Heavy traffic coming into the area to and from Aungier Street

Share your thoughts from 24 June to 8 July 2024

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

• Online survey: https://consultation.dublincity.ie/ (search South City CNS) has all of the details listed here as well as a portal through which to give feedback
• Email: sustainablemobility@dublincity.ie (with South City CNS 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 08 July 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 South City CNS).

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