An Bord Pleanála Inspector’s Report DETAILS OF THE APPLICATION Case Reference No: 29N.NA0004 Proposed Scheme: St. Stephen’s Green to Broombridge Light Railway – Line BXD Applicant: Railway Procurement Agency (RPA) Planning Authority: Dublin City Council (DCC) Application Type: Railway Order (RO) under Section 37, Transport (Railway Infrastructure) Act 2001 [as amended by the Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Act 2006]. Submissions/Observations: Yes. Site Inspections: Various dates/times. Inspector: B. Wyse. ___________________________________________________________________________ PL29N.NA0004 An Bord Pleanála Page 1 of 274 TABLE OF CONTENTS SECTION PAGE 1.0 INTRODUCTION 3 2.0 PROPOSED SCHEME 3 3.0 THE PLANNING FRAMEWORK 47 4.0 SUBMISSIONS/OBSERVATIONS 49 5.0 ORAL HEARING 119 6.0 ASSESSMENT 217 7.0 RECOMMENDATION 268 ___________________________________________________________________________ PL29N.NA0004 An Bord Pleanála Page 2 of 274 1.0 INTRODUCTION 1.1 The Application This is an application under Section 37 of the Transport (Railway Infrastructure) Act 2001 [as amended by the Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Act 2006] for a Railway Order (RO) to authorise the Railway Procurement Agency (RPA) to provide for the construction, operation and maintenance of a light railway from St. Stephen’s Green to Broombridge, a distance of approximately 5.6 kilometres. The RO sought would, if granted, have a lifespan of 10 years from the date on which the RO comes into operation except in relation to the possible future stop within the Broadstone Bus Depot where it would have a lifespan of 15 years. The application documentation comprises the following: - • Draft Railway Order (Draft RO) • Plans of the proposed railway works. • Book of reference to the plan (indicating the identity of owners/occupiers of lands described in the plan). • Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). 1.2 Pre-Application Consultation As required under Section 47B of the Act the proposed scheme was subject to pre-application consultations with the Board. Issues identified are set out in the records of the meetings held and summarised in the Inspector’s Report – see file ABP Ref. 29N. NC0005 attached. 1.3 Scoping of EIS The preparation of the EIS for the proposed scheme was the subject of a request to the Board under Section 39(3)(a) of the Act for a written opinion on the information to be contained in the EIS and a written opinion was subsequently issued by the Board – see file ABP Ref. 29S.NS0004 attached. 2.0 PROPOSED SCHEME 2.1 Scheme Description By reference to the public notice the proposed scheme includes the following main elements: • Twin track light railway line routing from St. Stephen’s Green West (the current LUAS Green Line terminus) along St. Stephen's Green North, Dawson Street, Nassau Street, Grafton Street Lower, College Green, ___________________________________________________________________________ PL29N.NA0004 An Bord Pleanála Page 3 of 274 dividing to a single track loop outbound along Westmoreland Street, O’Connell Street Lower, O’Connell Street Upper, and inbound along Parnell Street (east of O’Connell Street), Marlborough Street, crossing the Liffey via the proposed Marlborough Street Public Transport Bridge, Hawkins Street, College Street, and continuing as a twin track line along Parnell Street (West of O’Connell Street), Dominic Street Lower, Dominick Street Upper, across Constitution Hill to route along the western perimeter of the Broadstone Bus Depot in Grangegorman into the former Broadstone railway cutting and onto Broombridge passing under the road bridges of North Circular Road, Cabra Road and Fassaugh Road. • Approximately 4.6 kilometres of twin track line and approximately 2.5 kilometres of single track line. • Approximately 100 metres of single track siding at St. Stephen's Green North east of Dawson Street. • A total of 13 light railway stops of which 8 are located on-street, at Dawson Street, Westmoreland Street, O’Connell Street Lower, O’Connell Street Upper, Parnell Street, Marlborough Street, College Street, and Dominick Street Lower. The remaining stops are located at Broadstone adjacent to Constitution Hill, along the western perimeter of and within the Broadstone bus depot (a possible future stop), within the former Broadstone railway cutting between North Circular Road and Cabra Road, within the former Broadstone railway cutting north of Fassaugh Road and adjacent to the Irish Rail Broombridge railway station. • The extension of the existing LUAS Green Line stop at St. Stephen's Green West. • Overhead line equipment including poles and building fixings to support the overhead conductor system (OCS). • The relocation of existing utility apparatus and the removal of bus stops and taxi ranks to accommodate the provision of the light railway lines. • Electricity substations located at O’Connell Street Lower north of Middle Abbey Street, within the Broadstone bus depot and at south end of the proposed light railway depot. • A light railway depot at Broombridge and comprising a part two-storey maintenance building, operations and maintenance staff facilities, light rail vehicle sanding and wash plant, light rail vehicle stabling lanes, access roads, staff car parking, and mast or telecommunications antennae. • A pedestrian overbridge and lift structure to facilitate interchange between the Irish Rail services and LUAS services at Broombridge Railway Station. Vehicular and pedestrian access off Broombridge Road into the proposed ___________________________________________________________________________ PL29N.NA0004 An Bord Pleanála Page 4 of 274 stop at Broombridge and including set down for bus, taxi and ‘kiss and ride’ as well as bicycle stands. • An underpass of the existing bus parking at the Dublin Bus Phibsborough bus garage. • A new access off Constitution Hill to Temple Cottages. • Demolition of: - Buildings at Constitution Hill. - Chassis wash building and replacement with new chassis wash building at Broadstone Bus Depot. - Storage building and temporary portacabin offices at Broadstone Bus Depot. 2.2 The EIS The main issues/impacts arising from the EIS are summarised in the following sections. It should be noted that the overall approach here is to focus on the issues raised in the observer submissions and on issues of particular interest for the Board in gaining an understanding of the proposed scheme and which are likely to inform the determination of the case. In relation to environmental impacts the focus is primarily on identified significant negative impacts. 2.2.1 Description of the Scheme (EIS Chapter 7.0, Book 1) For ease of identification within the EIS the proposed scheme is divided into two areas, Area 29 – St. Stephen’s Green to the former Broadstone railway cutting, the city centre area, and Area 30 – the former Broadstone railway cutting to Broombridge. See also Description of the Scheme Maps in Book 4. This chapter includes a detailed description of each element of the proposed scheme. The following is a summary of elements or aspects of the scheme over and above those identified in the public notice and already set out at Section 2.1 above. Operation Includes: - • Maximum speed of 70 kph will be confined to the off-street sections north of Broadstone. ___________________________________________________________________________ PL29N.NA0004 An Bord Pleanála Page 5 of 274 • Metro North entails a relocation of the existing LUAS Red Line underground substation on O’Connell Street Lower to north of Middle Abbey Street and this is to be sized to meet the requirements of the proposed scheme. In the absence of Metro North a smaller substation would be constructed at this location. • The signalling control system will be integrated into the existing Dublin City Traffic Control System SCATS. • Proposed trams will be similar to those currently in use on the LUAS Green Line. These are 43 metres long articulated units with flexibility to extent to 53 metres. They can negotiate horizontal curves of minimum 25 metres radius. • Journey time St. Stephen's Green to Broombridge expected to be approximately 24 minutes. • Initial peak service frequency of 1 tram every 3 minutes in each direction. • This service pattern will provide capacity for 6,200 passengers per direction per hour. • Hours of operation are 5.00 a.m. – 12.30 a.m. Monday – Friday, 6.30 a.m. – 12.30 a.m. Saturday and 7.00 a.m. – 11.30 p.m. Sunday and bank holidays. • Service frequency of 1 tram every 6 minutes during off-peak periods. • A track turnout onto the proposed LUAS Lucan line will be provided at College Green to facilitate future works without disruption to traffic in this area. Construction Includes: - • Prior to commencement of construction the following additional surveys/activities will be undertaken: - Detailed topographical survey. - Further slit trenching and additional radar mapping to confirm presence of utilities below ground. - CCTV survey of condition of larger diameter sewers. - Further geotechnical investigations. - Archaeological excavation where required. ___________________________________________________________________________ PL29N.NA0004 An Bord Pleanála Page 6 of 274 - Building condition surveys prior to any works on cellars are undertaken. - Surveys to identify suitable fixing points on buildings for OCS supports. - Additional structural surveys of the former Broadstone railway cutting walls. - Surveys of the road bridges at North Circular Road, Cabra Road and Fassaugh Road. •