Proposed Front-of-School Works at St Joseph’s Secondary, 3 Merville Ave and St Joseph’s Primary, Marino Park Avenue, Fairview, Dublin 3

Overview

Dublin City Council with the support of the National Transport Authority propose to implement School Zone front-of-school works to improve the safety of students and vulnerable road users accessing and exiting schools at St Joseph’s Secondary, 3 Merville Ave and St Joseph’s Primary, Marino Park Avenue, Fairview, Dublin 3.

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 of School Zone at Star of the Sea School, Sandymount, D4  

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 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 the volume of traffic at schools and vehicles with engines idling.

Where will these works take place?

These works will take place on Merville Avenue and Marino Park Avenue, Fairview, Dublin 3, outside of St. Joseph’s CBS Secondary School and St. Joseph’s CBS Primary School.

Image 2: Extent of the works at St. Joseph’s CBS Secondary School Merville Avenue

Image 3: Extent of the works at St. Joseph’s CBS Primary School Marino Mart and Marino Park Avenue

See bottom of this page to download full PDF designs.

What works will take place at St. Joseph’s CBS Secondary School and St. Joseph’s CBS Primary School?

The works will consist of:

• Yellow pencil bollards on the footpath along the edge of the eastern footpath within the school zone area on Merville Avenue (the bollards will replace the existing railing). Yellow pencil Bollards along the edge of the western footpath within the school zone area adjacent to the school on Marino Park Avenue.

• Blue and/or green flexible pencil bollards along the eastern side of Marino Mart to protect the existing cycle lane.

  (Yellow pencil bollards are depicted as pink dots on the design drawings. Blue and green flexible opneicle bollards are depicted as blue and green dots on the design drawing).

Image 4: Example Pencil Bollard on Footpath, Cromcastle, Kilmore, D5

• Lighthouse bollards along the edge of the western footpath, outside the northern part of the school zone on Marino Park Avenue. (These are depicted as black and white dots on the design drawing).

Image 5: Example Lighthouse Bollard on Footpath, Mercer Street, D2

• Colourful road markings consisting of yellow and red circles painted directly on the road outside the school on Merville Avenue and also outside the school on Marino Park Avenue

Image 6: Example Circle Road Surface Markings, Thornville Rd, Kilbarrack, D5

• School Zone road surface signs will be painted on approach from the north on Marino Park Avenue and the south from Marino Mart outside St Joseph’s CBS Primary School.

  They will also be painted on approach from the north on Merville Avenue and the south from its junction with Fairview outside St Joseph’s CBS Secondary School.

Image 7: Example Road Surface Sign For School Zone, Leinster Road, Rathmines, D6   

The existing speed ramps on Marino Park Avenue will be retained.

The existing disabled bays on Merville Avenue will be retained.

Circa 15m of existing parking, immediately north of the existing disabled bays on Merville Avenue, is to be rescinded and replaced with double yellow lines. This will help facilitate the drop-off and collection of students with additional needs.

For complete design drawings and supporting information go to the end of this page.

Drawings are available to view in hard copy poster form at the school gates. 

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/or the School Mobility Officer, including:

• Vehicle congestion outside schools presents a safety risk for students walking and cycling to the schools.
• Reduced space for students on the footpath outside the schools due to illegal vehicular parking.

The results of the Green Schools Parent Travel Survey (2022) show that the majority of students are travelling to school from within a 2km radius and that key concerns are related to crossing points and cycle lanes.  

Image 8: Results from Green Schools Parent Travel survey indicating where students travel from. 

Image 9: Results from Green Schools Parent Travel survey indicating key concerns. 

What happens next? 

We will then 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.

Further Information 

• Dublin City Council School Zones
• National Transport Authority Safe Routes To School (SRTS)
• National Transport Authority Design Guide for Safe Routes To School  September 2022
• An Taisce Green School Safe Routes To School October 2022