New bus lane on Dublin's quays comes into effect

A new Quality Bus Corridor (QBC) that will reduce long stretches of the north quays in Dublin to single-lane traffic comes into effect this morning.

Dublin City Council is promising the new QBC, on St John's Road West, Parkgate Street, Ellis Quay and Arran Quay and operating from 7am to 7pm Monday to Friday, will reduce bus journeys by up to 15 minutes at peak times.

"This will mean there will be a continuous bus lane to the city centre from the Celbridge junction on the N4 to O'Connell Bridge," said a spokesman for the council.

According to Dublin Bus, 1,275 buses, provided by a variety of operators, will use the QBC every weekday.

"On average there will be a minimum of one bus every minute availing of this bus priority during the morning peak hours," said the council.

"Currently, during the morning peak, there are five times as many people using the bus rather than a car as their mode of transport on the quays.

"The new bus lanes will give the added incentive to car users to reduce their commuting times if they change their mode of transport to the bus."

Ciarán de Burca, project manager of the Quality Bus Network Project Office, said he hoped traffic congestion would be reduced by people opting to use public transport rather than their cars on this route into the city.

He said that by next year there would be another 60 bus journeys made along the north quays each weekday morning - an increase of 20 to 25 per cent.

The council says the banning of five-axle heavy goods vehicles from the city centre in February has reduced congestion on the quays. However, AA Roadwatch reports continued congestion.

Seán Kenny, chairman of Dublin City Council Transport and Traffic Strategic Policy Committee, said the new Lucan/north quays QBC would produce "significant benefits for cyclists, pedestrians and other vulnerable road users".

"This important initiative goes a considerable way in implementing the Dublin City Development Plan objectives of promoting public transport as a primary means of accessing Dublin city centre," he said.