Limerick City Green Routes Limerick City Green Routes Corridor Selection StudyCorridor Selection Study

Presentation to Limerick City Council

14th February 2008

Introduction

Limerick City Council aim to improve accessibility to the city centre for specified modes of transport through the construction of Green Routes on the approaches into the city.

Arup/ DBFL Consulting Engineers were appointed to carry out a Corridor Selection Study aimed at identifying the best routes in the city for the provision of Green Routes.

What is a Green Route?

A Green Route is a road (or corridor) on which specified modes of transport are promoted, for example public transport, bicycle use and walking; through the redistribution (or addition) of road space from the motor car.

What is a Green Route?

Green Routes are a means of achieving:

Service punctuality and reliability;

Quick journeys at peak times;

Good quality shelters and safe stops; and

Accurate service information.

Design Principles The design principles for the corridors

are as follows: Improved bus service through the

provision of bus priority and improved bus stopping facilities.

Improved facilities for bicycles through the provision of cycle lanes (where feasible).

Improved facilities for pedestrians by providing enhanced footpaths and additional crossing points.

Improved road safety provisions.

Design Objectives Improve accessibility to the city centre Deliver a sustainable transport system Linkage to other transport nodes (rail,

bus station and park and ride sites) Deliver a choice of transport modes to

the public Target bus speed of 22kph (currently

10 kph) Min. increase of 25% in overall bus

journey times Min. increase of 20% in person

carrying capacity

Whole Journey Concept

Find information

Travel to destination

Alight from bus

Travel in bus

Board bus

Wait for bus

Travel to bus stop

Find information

Travel to destination

Alight from bus

Travel in bus

Board bus

Wait for bus

Travel to bus stop

For a potential or existing bus passenger a journey comprises the following elements: 

 

Providing an excellent bus service that is largely inaccessible will not promote bus use (if it’s not where people want it to be or on routes that people do not want to travel it will remain empty).

Travel Surveys Numerous surveys have been carried out:

Journey time surveys by bus and car; Traffic counts at junctions; and Parking surveys along the corridor (06:00 -19:00) Topographical surveys

Outbound Traffic Speeds (Bus)

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

Upper GeraldGriffin Street

CathedralPlace

Market Fields St. Patrick'sRoad

TipperaryRoad

Roudabout

ParkwayRoundabout

GroodyBridge

Tra

ve

l Sp

ee

d

*Limerick County Council recorded a 12 minute reduction in peak hour journey times following the introduction of the Green Route to Raheen

All practical routes entering the city centre from the North, East, South and West of the city centre were investigated.

The assessment concentrated on the following criteria in determining the advantageous and disadvantages associated each option. Current City Bus Service Length of Route Length of routes within the area of another Local Authority Catchment Area Served Congestion Typical Cross Section Existing Bus Priority Potential for bus priority Off-street Parking Traffic Calming Split Routing

Corridor Option Assessment

Corridor Option Assessment

Corridor Selection Ranking

The corridor selection process was ranked based on the following procedure:

Green – Fulfils the criteria;

Amber – fulfils some of the criteria but not all; and

Red – does not fulfil the criteria.

The overall ranking is subjective, based on the information assembled but is primarily based on the number of positive (green) criteria achieved.

Southern Corridor Assessment

A total of five routes were investigated:

1. Ballinacurra Road2. Dock Road3. South Circular Road4. Propsect Hill5. Hyde Road

Route Suitability

Short Term (0-2 years) Ballinacurra Road

Medium Term (2 to 5 years) Hyde Road

Long Term (>5 years) Dock Road

.

Southern Corridor Assessment

Ballinacurra Road R5261. The provision of an inbound bus lane from

South Circular Road to Childers Road junction

2. Co-ordination of traffic signals at Punch’s Cross to allow a green wave for public transport vehicles.

O’Connell Avenue (Inbound and Outbound) N201. The provision of an inbound bus lane

approaching the junction of St Gerard Street

2. Introduce bus detection at the junction of St Gerard Street / O’Connell Avenue

3. The provision of an inbound bus lane approaching the junction of Mallow Street/ O’Connell Avenue.

4. The provision of an outbound bus lane on the O’Connell Avenue approach to Punch’s Cross.

Western Corridor Assessment

A total of three routes were investigated:

1. Ennis Road2. Northern Ring Road3. Condell Road

Route Suitability

Short Term (0-2 years) Ennis RoadNorthern Ring Road

Medium Term (2 to 5 years) Condell Road

Western Corridor Assessment

North Ring Road R445/ Cratloe Road 1. The provision of an inbound bus lane on the

Northern Ring Road from Ivan’s Cross to Cratloe Roundabout.

2. The provision of an inbound bus lane on the Northern Ring Road, Cratloe Road approaching the signalised junction at Hassetts Cross.

Sexton Street (North) R4451. The provision of an inbound bus lane along

Sexton Street (North) into High Road Thomondgate.

Ennis Road (Inbound) R8571. The provision of an inbound bus lane along

Ennis Road between Pairc na nGael and Belfield Gardens..

Eastern Corridor Assessment

A total of two routes were investigated:

1. Childers Road/ Ballysimon Road2. Dublin Road

Route Suitability

Short Term (0-2 years) Childers Road

Medium/ Long Term Dublin Road (2 to 6 years)

Eastern Corridor Assessment

Childers Road R5091. The provision of an inbound bus lane from

Parkway Retail Park along Childers Road to Kilmallock Road Roundabout.

2. The provision of an outbound bus lane approaching the Parkway roundabout on Childers Road.

Kilmallock Road1. Provide a contra-flow bus lane along

Kilmallock Road at Bengal Terrace to facilitate inbound buses

2. Revise the road layout at the Pike to allow buses to travel outbound on Kilmallock Road via a contra-flow bus lane.

Mulgrave Street R5271. The provision of an inbound bus lane along

Mulgrave Street to Cathedral Place

Next Steps

Launch Draft Corridor Selection Report

Invite comments from the public and other interested bodies on the Draft Corridor Selection Report

Prepare Final report in response to the submissions received on the Draft Corridor Selection Report