A debate has been raging in recent days over the impact of cycle lanes and traffic calming along a residential road in Ennis.
Bollards separating the lanes from the route between the Kilrush Road and the St Flannan’s roundabout are causing particular concern for residents. After a studio discussion on Monday’s Morning Focus, producer Fiona McGarry went out to meet some of those affected including former Mayor of Clare, Tommy Brennan. Listen back below:
Here’s what Clare County Council told Morning Focus in response to local concerns:
A 1.2km traffic calming and cycle lanes scheme linking the Kilrush Road to St Flannan’s College Roundabout, as well as connecting to the Ennis Active Travel Town Scheme network of cycle lanes, has been completed.
The scheme, which encourages more environmentally friendly transport modes and provides improved access for cyclists and pedestrians to St Flannan’s College and Ennis NS, also includes a new zebra crossing near Éire Óg GAA, new uncontrolled crossing points, an extended bus parking area at St Flannan’s College and a two-way cycle lane from the new zebra crossing to the Kilrush Road. Light segregation between drivers and cyclists is being provided by placing reflective bollards and lane separators on the cycle lane white lines.
Clare County Council asks that drivers note the new layout and look out for cyclists and pedestrians along the route. It is an offence for motorists to park or drive where there is a solid cycle lane line. It also is an offence to park where there is a broken cycle lane line. The Council’s Traffic section assisted by An Garda Traffic Corps are monitoring the scheme since its introduction.
The scheme is funded by the Department of Transport, Tourism & Sport (DTTAS) and has been approved by the Members of Clare County Council’s Ennis Municipal District in response to concerns about speeding on a residential road with a 1300-pupil school.
ORIGINS OF THE SCHEME:
The current scheme was developed on foot of a Notice of Motion submitted by Councillor Clare Colleran Molloy in 2017: “To address safety concerns, which are particularly acute from 8:15-9:00am and 3:00pm-4:00pm, that traffic calming, road narrowing, and cycle lane, be considered from St. Flannans to Eire Og”
At the time, the Council responded as follows: “Some years ago a traffic calming scheme was implemented on the section of road referred to in this NOM with measures such as buildouts and “Road Narrows” signage. A pedestrian crossing with associated buildouts was also installed. Therefore, the Road Design Office would have to conduct a speed survey to establish if any further measures are necessary.”
FUNDING THE SCHEME:
In October 2017, Clare County Council requested the Mid West National Road Design Office to consider this scheme for application to the Department of Transport, Tourism & Sport as a Low Cost Safety Scheme. Funding was subsequently approved and the scheme proceeded to design and Section 38.
DESIGNING THE SCHEME:
A speed survey of 6249 vehicles undertaken on 30/31 May 2018 indicated that 15% of traffic using this 50kph speed zone was travelling over 60 kph with 52% of traffic travelling over the speed limit of 50 kph. Following discussions with Transport Infrastructure Ireland in early 2018, it was proposed that a light segregation scheme be considered as it would provide traffic calming by narrowing the lanes and also providing cycle lanes both sides. The narrowing of road width is recognised as being a very effective means of slowing down traffic. It was proposed to reduce the road width to 5.5m. Under the guidelines set out in the Department’s Design Manual for Urban Roads & Streets (DMURS), “local streets should be between 5 – 5.5m”.
CONSULTATION AND SECTION 38:
The TII was consulted during the design process while information on the scheme was also provided to the Principals of St Flannan’s College and Ennis National School. Following this, the Section 38 process was advertised and publicised as per the Road Traffic Act 1994. A number submissions were received – Cumann Luthchleas Gael Éire Óg , Inis, Senior Health Promotion Officer, HSE Health Promotion & Improvement Department, Health & Wellbeing Division and Clare Sports Partnership all asking that the scheme be extended further. Individual meetings were held with a number of the those who made submissions as part of this process. Elected Members also attended some of these meetings. Some alterations/additions to the scheme design were made as a result of the process.
A report was prepared for submission to the Elected Members of Clare County Council’s Ennis Municipal District as the decision on a Section 38 proposal is a reserved function. The section 38 was approved by Councillors at the October 2018 meeting of Ennis MD.
