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CONSTRUCTION OF TEMPORARY bus stops along Chesterfield Avenue in Dublin’s Phoenix Park has begun today.
The Office of Public Works (OPW) said that anyone travelling through the park should expect slight delays due to the construction, which will last for around four weeks.
The Phoenix Park Transport and Mobility Options Study, which was commissioned by the OPW, recommended that a public bus linking the Phoenix Park to other transport hubs in the city in 2021.
The OPW said the National Transport Authority (NTA) recently confirmed that it would be in a position to provide a pilot bus service from Heuston Station to the Phoenix Park Visitor Centre.
It said it has appointed Hegarty Building Contractors to undertake the construction of temporary bus stops along Chesterfield Avenue and at the Phoenix Park Visitor Centre.
There will be a total of seven stops within the Phoenix Park, including stops at Dublin Zoo, Phoenix Roundabout, Phoenix Park Visitor Centre and at the People’s Gardens, Parkgate Street Entrance.
Traffic management will be in place for the duration of the works, with slight delays expected for anyone travelling through the park.
Signage will be in place to direct cyclists, walkers and car users around the temporary works.
Once the necessary infrastructure is in place, Dublin Bus will operate a new bus route through the park later this autumn.
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The 99, which mirrors the Phoenix Park’s initials, will operate a daily shuttle service from 9am to 6.30pm.
‘Park for everyone’
Speaking to The Journal, Green Party councillor for Dublin’s South West Inner City Michael Pidgeon said he’s “delighted” the pilot route is getting underway and hopes it will be a success.
“It’s been a bugbear of mine for a long time that you weren’t able to access the park by public transport. You could get to the edges, but you couldn’t get into the middle to Dublin Zoo or to the Visitor Centre or the Áras,” he said.
“It was just totally the wrong signal to be sending around a park- that if you can, you can cycle or walk, but if you can’t, the car is the only option. That’s not right. There should be a park for everyone.”
Pidgeon said this is the latest in a series of changes that have been implemented in the park.
“A lot of this has its roots in Covid when some of the gates were closed and we saw what the park could be like with reduced car traffic,” he said.
“There’s been a lot of steps – the new speed limits, more cycling and walking trails, more parking for the disabled, and taking back some areas away from car traffic in the park.”
He said his main priority is redesigning Chesterfield Avenue to make it more friendly towards pedestrians.
“Dublin City Council are working with the NTA and the park management to come up with a new route that’s much easier for people walking. There’s currently no pedestrian crossings over the entire road, which is madness when you think about it for a park. Especially at the zoo, there’s no way to legally cross that road as a pedestrian,” he said.
“Getting pedestrian crossings in, getting proper bike lanes in, being able to have safe cycling without the ugly bollards that are there at the moment, that’d be real progress. For me, the next focus is getting that project done and the bus is part of that.”
Further details will be made available by the NTA closer to the launch of the service.
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@Brian: they are just putting in the infrastructure for the housing estates they are going to build in the park in years to come … The FF/SF coalition in the next government will solve the housing crisis….
An exclusive park, while removing parking may single handedly solve the world’s climate crisis it also hinders those who do not live within walking distance from using the park and it’s amenities with future bus facilities only benefiting certain parts of the city. The OPW must have met up with DCC for pints before implementing their strategy.
@The Green Monkey: I live on the other side of the city and traffic is always nuts around the park so if I want to go there I go to city centre and take a bus, or I cycle there. I don’t expect to be able to drive and park wherever I want, you should adopt a similar attitude.
@eoin fitzpatrick: No i disagree. I drive there from approx 5km away and bring my dogs. Am i not entitled to? I can’t bring them on a bike or bus. I’ve been going there for almost 50 years. Why am I punished? I thought the park was for everyone?
@Pat Redmond: That’s not much help to people here! On the other hand, I’ve met Irish senior citizens on buses because they can stay warmer in winter on a bus.
@eoin fitzpatrick: Go somewhere else ? Why should I? Im a good decent hard working person and The Phoenix park is a great place to get away from the stresses of my job in a hospital where i work long long hours. Why should I be deprived? Am i less worthy than a cyclist? The park is huge and allows space to not deal with large groups of people.
@Lilly Lalogue: it’s not for absolutely everyone . For those who comply with the rules . Are there no greens or park within your area to take your dog ? 5 and 10 Km walks aren’t that much once a week , but I suppose you will have an excuse for that Too
@Christy Dolan: Aww, so because it’s 5km away i need to be only walking my dogs in parks closest to me? I use this park to get away from the stresses of work and it’s easier to remove myself from people. And the park is for absolutely everyone, to say otherwise is discrimination. Who’s not entitled to the phoenix park?
More bus stops, more traffic lights equal more traffic equal bigger gridlocks. this gov is determined to make people so fed up with traffic that they will get rid of their cars and rely on public transport instead, this election can’t come sooner.
It’s all about exclusivity. Driving through the Park recently confirms my view. The lack of walkers was blatant evidence of pandering to the lucky few living within walking distance. Congratulations OPW ,fixing something that wasn’t broken.
@Donal Ronan: I haven’t disagreed with anyone but I’m sick of entitled motorists whingeing when people are trying to improve public transport, it has held the city back for long enough
@eoin fitzpatrick: Big bad entitled motorists! Awww, i mean there’s murderers and people committing serious crimes but it’s the car driver, who is working hard, paying their taxes, contributing to society, and having to drive due to long hours and rubbish transport that are the problem!? Wake up. If we’ve to accept all that’s being done for cyclists then cyclists can accept that people NEED and yes are ENTITLED to drive.
It is a joke and when the traffic intop and out of town for large parts of the northwest of the city and country.. Ask the councillor to come down and sort it out. Also the rise in polution will be horrific as has been seen in Lodon where they have done siimlar.They take half an idea from one place, Copenhagen or Holland usually and add it to anothe idea fron the UK or the USA and tell people it will work. In one wy they are right, it works for them for the 40 min a day they need it too. However it screws up the roads and access includingh the safety of everyone else.
Can someone do something about those bloody squirrels? My dog just keeps getting darned distracted and just won’t come back when called. Maybe a good auld cull?
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