That this Area Committee call on the manager to please refer to the massive traffic congestion that builds up on a continuing basis on Griffith Avenue, (a) since the new road layout was introduced, (b) specifically since the new traffic light sequencing was introduced at the junction of Griffith Avenue and Swords Road and make the necessary changes to alleviate the traffic queueing/environmentally damaging/air polluting conditions that prevail on Griffith Avenue for residents and other road users as residents feel that these changes were introduced without sufficient consultation and regard for local residents. Changes are necessary, but residents feel that these have been planned and implemented without consideration for the major negative impacts that have resulted. It is resulting in ongoing stress and frustration for local residents and reduces their quality of life
Minutes:
That this Area Committee call on the manager to please refer to the massive traffic congestion that builds up on a continuing basis on Griffith Avenue, (a) since the new road layout was introduced, (b) specifically since the new traffic light sequencing was introduced at the junction of Griffith Avenue and Swords Road and make the necessary changes to alleviate the traffic queueing/environmentally damaging/air polluting conditions that prevail on Griffith Avenue for residents and other road users as residents feel that these changes were introduced without sufficient consultation and regard for local residents. Changes are necessary, but residents feel that these have been planned and implemented without consideration for the major negative impacts that have resulted. It is resulting in ongoing stress and frustration for local residents and reduces their quality of life.
Reply
The new traffic road layout along Griffith Avenue is to allow for the introduction of protected cycle lanes along a 3.5km route between Ballygall Road East and Malahide Road. The reallocation of road space to encourage active travel modes is in line with Government Policy, the City Development Plan and the Climate Action Plan. Reducing the available space for motorists may give rise to some increased congestion and the ITS Traffic Signal Response Team seeks to manage this as outlined in their response below.
Contact: Alec Dundon, Senior Executive Engineer
Email: Alec.Dundon@dublincity.ie
Dublin City Council policy priorities Active and Sustainable Travel modes across the city. In line with this policy, Active Travel measures have been implemented at the junction of Swords Rd / Griffith Avenue. An extra pedestrian crossing has been added on the south side approach and all the traffic islands have been removed.
Additionally Griffith Avenue now has protected cycle lanes in each direction. Cyclists along Griffith Avenue are offered a green ‘early start’, protecting them from left turning vehicles.
The above measures have slightly reduced the green time available to vehicles each cycle of the traffic signals (Traffic signal cycle is the time whereby all approaches and the pedestrian crossings are serviced before cycle restarts)
The Swords Road is a major city artery with heavy north / south / airport traffic and is a major public transport route. Consequently, it receives a majority of available green time and traffic signal bus priority measures also allocate extra green time to the Swords Rd on detection of an approaching bus.
These measures can result in some loss of available green time for vehicles approaching on Griffith Ave approaches to the junction, but all measures onsite are in line with Dublin City Council’s policy of prioritising active and sustainable travel modes in the city.
The traffic signals at the junction are controlled by City Council's Urban Traffic Management System, SCATS. SCATS is an adaptive traffic control system that automatically alters signal timings, in real time, based on traffic demand taken from on street vehicle detectors.
In addition, traffic in the city is monitored 24 hours a day, 365 days a year by the City Council's Traffic Control Centre, and amendments are made in SCATS in response to incidents and problems / congestion as they arise.
The ITS section will continue to monitor the junction operation and amend traffic signal timings and sequences as required, where there is scope to do so.
Contact: Seán Fallon, Executive ITS Officer, Transportation.
Email: sean.fallon@dublincity.ie
Order: Agreed.