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Dublin Bus rows back on support for pedestrianised College Green plaza

Dublin Bus has confirmed that it has rowed back on its support for plans to pedestrianise College...
Newstalk
Newstalk

14.37 16 Aug 2017


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Dublin Bus rows back on suppor...

Dublin Bus rows back on support for pedestrianised College Green plaza

Newstalk
Newstalk

14.37 16 Aug 2017


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Dublin Bus has confirmed that it has rowed back on its support for plans to pedestrianise College Green in Dublin.

The transport company had previously publicly supported plans to create a pedestrian friendly space in the centre of the capital.

In a submission to An Bord Pleanála, bosses claimed the plan would be socially regressive.

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The submission insists that 10 million passengers would be affected – many of whom are resident in low-income areas where there are already few public transport options.

In a statement this afternoon, the company said it supports the “improvement of Dublin City Centre Public Realm” but had put forward recommendations "to allow for accessible public transport" at College Green.

Dublin City Council had initially hoped the new plaza would be up and running ahead of the new Luas Cross City in September, however a delay in lodging the planning submission means no decision is now expected until November at the earliest.

The new “pedestrian priority” space will see a 7,300 square metre area around College Green closed off to traffic – with two-way traffic routes for taxis, buses and the new Luas Cross City running across the front of Trinity College.

The civic space has been designed to facilitate major public gatherings and events and has the capacity to host up to 15,000 people.

Local Dublin City Councillor Dermot Lacey isn't impressed with the late intervention from Dublin Bus:

Dublin Bus rows back on support for pedestrianised College Green plaza

00:00:00 / 00:00:00

“It is a very small segment of the city centre which will mean buses will have to redirect,” he said.

“This is the same sort of argument people made when we pedestrianised Grafton Street.

“The world did not fall apart; the traffic continued to flow.”


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