Swords/Airport to City Centre Route Options Assessment Volume 1: Main Report October 2014 National Transport Authority Swords / Airport to City Centre Swiftway Route Options Assessment: Volume 1 Main Report Contents Page Executive Summary 1 Swiftway BRT 1 Scheme Objectives 1 The Study Area 2 Route Options Assessment Process 2 The Preferred Route 3 Next Steps 7 Glossary of Terms 10 Definitions 11 1 Introduction and Background 12 1.1 Preamble 12 1.2 Report Structure 12 1.3 Swiftway BRT Network 13 1.4 Swiftway BRT Concept 14 1.5 Swiftway BRT Network Launch 16 2 Transport Planning and Policy Context 19 2.1 Introduction 19 2.2 Greater Dublin Area Draft Transport Strategy 2011-2030 (2030 Vision) 19 2.3 Infrastructure and Capital Investment 2012-16: Medium Term Exchequer Framework 20 2.4 Study of Transport Options for Fingal Corridors 21 2.5 Bus Rapid Transit Core Dublin Network 24 2.6 Integrated Implementation Plan 2013 – 2018 25 2.7 Greater Dublin Area Cycle Network Plan 26 2.8 Conclusion 26 3 Objectives and Alternatives 27 3.1 Introduction 27 3.2 Objectives for the Swords Road Corridor 27 3.3 Alternatives to BRT 27 3.4 Project Objectives 28 4 Study Area 29 4.1 Introduction 29 4.2 Study Area Sections 29 | Issue | 23 October 2014 \\DUBNTS03\DUBLIN_JOBS\225000\225244-10\4. INTERNAL PROJECT DATA\4-04 REPORTS\4-04-02 CONSULTING\REP005 - OA\ROUTE OPTIONS ASSESSMENT ISSUE - 24 OCT 2014.DOCX National Transport Authority Swords / Airport to City Centre Swiftway Route Options Assessment: Volume 1 Main Report 4.3 Physical Constraints and Opportunities 36 4.4 Integration with Existing and Proposed Public Transport Network 37 4.5 Compatibility with Other Road Users 38 5 Assessment Methodology 39 5.1 Assessment Process 39 5.2 Stage 1: Route Options Assessment – Sifting Stage 39 5.3 Stage 2: Route Options Assessment – Detailed Assessment 42 6 Study Area Section 1: Swords North to Dublin Airport 54 6.1 Terminus Options Assessment 54 6.2 Stage 1: Route Options Assessment 56 6.3 Stage 2: North-West Swords Route Options Assessment 62 6.4 Stage 2: Swords Central Route Options Assessment 76 7 Dublin Airport 82 7.1 Introduction 82 7.2 Airport Travel Demand 82 7.3 Service Options 83 7.4 Airport Route Options 83 7.5 Assessment Methodology 91 7.6 Airport Route Options Assessment 92 7.7 Service Options Testing 93 7.8 Conclusions and Recommendations 97 8 Study Area Section 2: Dublin Airport to Royal Canal 98 8.1 Stage 1: Route Options Assessment 98 8.2 Stage 2: Santry Route Options Assessment 100 9 Study Area Section 3: Royal Canal to St. Stephens Green 108 9.1 Introduction 108 9.2 City Centre Route Corridors (Bridge Crossings) 108 9.3 Stage 1: North City Route Options Assessment 111 9.4 Stage 2: North City Route Options Assessment 118 9.5 City Centre Turnaround Options Assessment 128 9.6 Stage 1: South City Route Options Assessment 133 9.7 Stage 2: South City Route Options Assessment 145 10 Transport Demand and Economic Appraisal 158 10.1 Introduction 158 10.2 Transport Modelling 159 11 Proposed Scheme 190 11.1 Introduction 190 | Issue | 23 October 2014 \\DUBNTS03\DUBLIN_JOBS\225000\225244-10\4. INTERNAL PROJECT DATA\4-04 REPORTS\4-04-02 CONSULTING\REP005 - OA\ROUTE OPTIONS ASSESSMENT ISSUE - 24 OCT 2014.DOCX National Transport Authority Swords / Airport to City Centre Swiftway Route Options Assessment: Volume 1 Main Report 11.2 Route Options Assessment Conclusions 190 11.3 Recommended Preferred Route 190 11.4 Preferred Route 192 11.5 Proposed Stop Locations 194 11.6 Provision for Cyclists 200 11.7 Interaction with Other Buses 201 12 Next Steps 202 Appendices Appendix A Route Options Assessment Summary Tables | Issue | 23 October 2014 \\DUBNTS03\DUBLIN_JOBS\225000\225244-10\4. INTERNAL PROJECT DATA\4-04 REPORTS\4-04-02 CONSULTING\REP005 - OA\ROUTE OPTIONS ASSESSMENT ISSUE - 24 OCT 2014.DOCX National Transport Authority Swords / Airport to City Centre Swiftway Route Options Assessment: Volume 1 Main Report Executive Summary This report presents the route options assessment work undertaken for the Swords / Airport to City Centre Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) scheme and makes a recommendation on a preferred route. Swiftway BRT The proposed scheme forms part of the planned ‘Swiftway’ BRT Network for Dublin which was launched by the National Transport Authority (NTA) in February 2014. The Swiftway BRT Network will comprise of three new BRT routes as follows: Swords / Airport to City Centre (the proposed scheme); Blanchardstown to UCD; and Clongriffin to Tallaght. BRT is a high quality form of bus transport that is similar to light rail (Luas) in terms of quality of service. Its features include: Modern, attractive, multi-door vehicles; Use of own BRT lane or shared Bus/BRT lane; BRT vehicle given priority at traffic signals; Conveniently located stops with optimal spacing; High quality stops and level boarding on and off vehicles; and Off-board fare collection (tickets purchased in advance or use of Leap card). Scheme Objectives The following scheme specific objectives have been set for the proposed scheme: To deliver a high quality public transport service along the Swords/Airport to City Centre corridor, encompassing all aspects of BRT, including BRT lanes and associated pedestrian and cycle facilities along the route, Swiftway vehicles, operational standards and customer service; Journey-time reliability and consistency of bus speeds along the Swiftway route. BRT lanes is to be provided ensuring whole route Swiftway vehicle priority where practical; To deliver overall enhancements and benefits to pedestrians and cyclists travelling along or intersecting the Swiftway route; To provide a high frequency service between the City Centre and Dublin Airport; To deliver an enhanced urban environment at stops and along the full length of the route; | Issue | 23 October 2014 Page 1 \\DUBNTS03\DUBLIN_JOBS\225000\225244-10\4. INTERNAL PROJECT DATA\4-04 REPORTS\4-04-02 CONSULTING\REP005 - OA\ROUTE OPTIONS ASSESSMENT ISSUE - 24 OCT 2014.DOCX National Transport Authority Swords / Airport to City Centre Swiftway Route Options Assessment: Volume 1 Main Report To minimise adverse impacts on the natural and built environment; To minimise impacts on general traffic where practicable; To provide a clear and legible bus system which avoids where possible, splitting of the northbound and southbound services onto different roads; and To establish the standard for BRT schemes in Ireland. The Study Area The proposed Swords / Airport to City Centre Swiftway will serve a busy transport corridor with several key destinations along, or close to, the route. These include Dublin Airport, Santry, Dublin City University, St. Patrick’s College, several hospitals as well as the major growth area of Swords itself. The corridor is already a busy transport artery, with additional capacity required to cater for travel growth predicted. While a rail based solution may be required in the long term, Swiftway can provide an attractive public transport service for the short and medium term. It is not practical that the proposed scheme would directly serve all destinations within the broader corridor, and maintain a core scheme objective of journey time reduction and reliability. As such, the introduction of proposed scheme will also result in a rationalisation of the wider bus network and service provision within the corridor. This network rationalisation will both complement the proposed scheme and improve overall transport accessibility and level of service provision for existing and new public transport users. Route Options Assessment Process A two-stage assessment was adopted: An initial ‘Stage 1’ high-level route options assessment or ‘sifting’ process which appraised routes in terms of ability to achieve scheme objectives and whether they could be practically delivered; and Routes which passed this initial stage were taken forward to a more detailed Stage 2 assessment. The Stage 2 assessment comprised a ‘Multi-Criteria Analysis’ (MCA) of route options under the following main criteria: Economy; Integration; Accessibility and Social Inclusion; Safety; and Environment. An appreciation of the constraints and opportunities within the study area, as well as the defined project objectives, led to establishment of project-specific route options assessment sub-criteria under each of the main criteria listed above. | Issue | 23 October 2014 Page 2 \\DUBNTS03\DUBLIN_JOBS\225000\225244-10\4. INTERNAL PROJECT DATA\4-04 REPORTS\4-04-02 CONSULTING\REP005 - OA\ROUTE OPTIONS ASSESSMENT ISSUE - 24 OCT 2014.DOCX National Transport Authority Swords / Airport to City Centre Swiftway Route Options Assessment: Volume 1 Main Report The Preferred Route As part of the initial scheme planning for the proposed scheme, a Corridor Assessment study was undertaken. This included the development of the ‘Swiftway’ concept, establishment of objectives for the proposed scheme, generation of initial patronage demand forecasts, establishment of an outline business case for the provision of a Swiftway service and an initial assessment of route options along the Swords corridor. The purpose of the initial corridor assessment studies was to establish the viability of the scheme and that a technically feasible route was available within the broad Swords to City Centre corridor. Early outputs from this study informed the establishment of an initial emerging preferred route (EPR) for the proposed scheme which was used to launch the Swiftway BRT Network in February 2014. This route options assessment report effectively