Proposed Front-of-School Works at Stratford College and National School, Zion Road, Dublin 6

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 schools at Stratford College on Zion Road in Dublin 6.

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 engine 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 a School Zone at Star of the Sea School, Sandymount in 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 Zion Road and Orwell Road.

Image 2: Extent of the works at St. Christopher’s Primary School, Haddington Road, Dublin 4

What works will take place at Stratford College, Zion Road, Dublin 6?

The works will consist of:

Yellow pencil bollards will be placed along the edge of the eastern and western footpaths of Zion Road and a small area of the western footpath on Orwell Road. This is to prevent illegal parking on the footpaths and to raise awareness of the presence of the entrance to Stratford College. These are depicted as purple dots on the drawing.

All residential vehicular entrances to remain unobstructed.

Image 3: Example pencil bollards on footpath, Cromcastle, Kilmore, Dublin 5

A ‘School Zone’ road surface sign will be painted directly on Zion Road on the northern side of the turn for Victoria Road. This is to advise motorists they are in a School Zone and to drive accordingly.

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

Two new ‘School Ahead’ with flashing amber signs will be installed on Zion Road on the northern side of the turn for Victoria Road. This is to advise motorists they are in a School Zone and to drive accordingly.

Image 5: Example ‘School Ahead’ flashing amber sign

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:

• Parking on footpaths on both sides of Zion Road
• Unsafe scooting and cycling conditions, especially caused by parking and driving on footpaths
• Unsafe passage of children from traffic island outside the school to the school gate
• The high volume of vehicular traffic at school drop-off and collection times
• Safety issues relating to poor visibility for school warden
• Children being dropped off in the middle of the road

Share your thoughts from 22 November to 5 December 2023

• You can share your thoughts via the survey box below
• Email: sustainablemobility@dublincity.ie (with St. Christopher's PS in the subject bar)
• Phone: Customer Services Desk (01) 222 2222 who will refer you to an available member of the School 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 December 2023.

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.

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