About 70 per cent of commuters travelling into the Spencer Dock development would use public transport at peak morning times, with 30 per cent using private cars, according to Mr Brian McCann, traffic consultant for the developers.
Mr McCann, in his submission to the Bord Pleanala hearing, said that 6,805 parking spaces would be allocated within the development. In addition, more than 63,000 trips would be made by car into and out of the development daily.
Mr McCann said that seven bus routes, two Luas lines, DART and Arrow services would operate within, or close to the area. If one or two elements of this public transport did not come on stream during the forecasted time, other elements of public transport, within or near the development, could be used.
In addition to public transport developments by CIE, other external infrastructure projects would be "completed on a parallel time-scale" by CIE and Dublin Corporation, Mr McCann said. The Dublin Port Tunnel would provide an alternative access to Dublin port for heavy vehicles.
A proposed dual carriageway on East Wall road between Sheriff Street Upper and Tolka Quay road would also be built. The Macken Street Bridge completion and the Eastern Relief Route would also help to ease congestion. Mr McCann said an estimated 629 cars would travel into Spencer Dock for work, while 417 residents would leave. While he estimated 1,907 people would use public transport to get to work in Spencer Dock, Mr McCann said 1,264 residents would leave using public transport. An estimated 10,088 people would work in Spencer Dock, with 7,229 people residing there.
Of the 6,805 car parking spaces available, more than 3,000 would be provided to residents, more than 1,500 for offices and over 1,400 for the NCC. The Technopole (technological/research area) hotels and retail offices would be provided with the rest.
Mr Michael O'Donnell, for Mr Dermot Desmond, asked Mr McCann if the Spencer Dock consortium could sort out traffic problems".
"Yes, as long as the problems were in the area red line application," Mr McCann replied.
He added that the perception was that parking equated to traffic, but with the implementation of a mobility management plan both traffic and parking would be managed. When questioned about the effect of the 6,805 parking spaces on traffic in the area, Mr McCann said there would be no free parking for commuters at Spencer Dock, car sharers would have parking spaces specifically reserved for them, and residents would have to pay for the one or two spaces allocated to each apartment.