Phoenix Park Transport and Mobility Options Study Table of Contents Executive Summary ................................................................................... 1 Local Policy and Guidance ................................................................................................. 60 Existing Transport Proposals ............................................................................................ 63 Background ............................................................................................................................. 1 Understanding Park Visitors’ Views ................................................................................. 65 Key Drivers for the Study ...................................................................................................... 1 Case Studies ......................................................................................................................... 69 Study Governance .................................................................................................................. 2 Context Summary ............................................................................................................... 73 Study Methodology ................................................................................................................ 4 The Preferred Strategy ........................................................................................................ 11 Options Development .............................................................................. 74 Implementation of the Strategy ......................................................................................... 17 Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 74 Introduction ............................................................................................. 19 Principles and Objectives ................................................................................................... 74 Appraisal Framework .......................................................................................................... 76 Background ........................................................................................................................... 19 Option Identification ............................................................................................................ 78 Key Drivers of the Study ...................................................................................................... 19 Public Transport ................................................................................................................ 101 Study Methodology .............................................................................................................. 20 Options Development Summary .................................................................................... 105 Report Structure ................................................................................................................... 20 Options Refinement ...............................................................................106 Baseline Assessment .............................................................................. 21 Overview .............................................................................................................................. 106 Overview ................................................................................................................................. 21 Options Assessment Review........................................................................................... 106 Study Area ............................................................................................................................. 21 Emerging Preferred Strategy ........................................................................................... 106 Existing Transport Network ................................................................................................ 23 Option Refinement ............................................................................................................ 115 Understanding Movement in the Park .............................................................................. 32 Baseline Assessment Summary ....................................................................................... 51 The Preferred Strategy ...........................................................................119 Context .................................................................................................... 52 Walking and Cycling .......................................................................................................... 119 Access and Roads ............................................................................................................. 119 Overview ................................................................................................................................. 52 Public Transport ................................................................................................................ 120 Legislation, Policy and Guidance Context........................................................................ 52 Implementation of the Strategy ...................................................................................... 125 International and European Policy .................................................................................... 53 National Legislation ............................................................................................................. 53 National Policy ...................................................................................................................... 54 National Guidance ................................................................................................................ 57 Regional Policy ..................................................................................................................... 59 Phoenix Park Mobility Plan | December 2020 Background Key Drivers for the Study Executive The Phoenix Park is located at the western edge of At a time when the value of our urban green spaces Dublin City Centre, just north of the River Liffey. It is ever more keenly felt and appreciated, it is extends over 700ha and is enclosed by 11km of imperative that we are proactive in their perimeter wall. It was originally established as a management. The Phoenix Park, often referred to as Summary Royal Deer Park in the 17th Century and is one of the the ‘green lung’ of Dublin City, provides an oasis largest designated landscapes in any European city. within the hustle and bustle of Dublin City and It is an historic natural and cultural landscape of a suburbs. The long-term vision is to protect and conserve the significant international importance and was Research undertaken by the Economic and Social historic landscape character of The Phoenix Park designated as a National Historic Park in 1986 to Research Institute (ERSI) found that two trips a and its archaeological, architectural and natural recognise the Park’s listing by I.C.O.M.O.S, an week to a park has significant health benefits. The heritage whilst facilitating visitor access, education international organisation dedicated to heritage environmental values of parks, such as the Phoenix and interpretation, facilitating the sustainable use of conservation. Park are immense and increasingly significant in our the Park’s resources for recreation and other appropriate activities, encouraging research and The Park is a complex place comprising many urbanized world. They provide ecosystem services, components that serve a variety of functions. protect and conserve unique species and as climate maintaining its sense of peace and tranquillity. Likewise, the Park is an important location for change takes hold, parks grow in value by biodiversity, recreation and home to a number of protecting carbon. Trees reduce air pollution by The Phoenix Park Conservation Management Plan important institutions and visitor attractions. It is intercepting airborne particulates and absorbing 2011 used by large numbers of people and is also a gaseous pollutants. The Park also plays a vital role heavily trafficked route between the centre of the in reducing storm water runoff. city and outlying suburbs. In recent decades, the During the first three decades of the 21st century, growth of Dublin has significantly altered the the world’s population is predicted to rise from 2.9 position and use of the Park and affected its role billion to 5 billion. This has the potential to and potential. Moreover, growing environmental negatively impact Ireland’s Phoenix Park through challenges represent both an opportunity and a excessive demands on scarce resources and threat. infrastructure. What we must seek to do is manage this unique resource to meet the public's needs while recognizing the need to care for this finite resource sensitively through sustainable resilient management and conservation practices including multimodal transport options. The Phoenix Park is a vital part of our local, national and international heritage, encompassing more facets of our culture and social history than any other art form. 1 Phoenix Park Mobility Plan | December 2020 Furthermore, cities across the globe are beginning Study Governance A key challenge in delivering the Transport and to