Kildare Chamber of Commerce

Traffic Management Study for Kildare Town

Dear

19/09/2007

Ref: Traffic Management Study for Kildare Town

The Kildare Chamber of Commerce and Representatives from the Primary schools parents association would make the following observations for consideration.

The following areas were taken into consideration:

Market Square (Town Centre)
St. Brigid’s Square
Approach Roads
Side Streets
Loading Facilities
HGV Strategy
Bus Parking
Cycle Paths

1. Market Square

We propose that the pedestrian area be extended to cover all of the Market square; however we recognise the requirement for an alternative site for off-street parking to be first identified and secured and that bye-laws governing casual trading be implemented to prevent the miss-use of this valuable community amenity.

Reason: To improve the visual amenity and to enhance the heritage buildings in and around the market square thus making the area safer and more attractive for shoppers, tourists and visitors to Kildare town.

Notes:
We recognise the efforts made by Kildare County Council in providing new car parking facilities in recent years; however local businesses in the town require the provision of further all day parking within a reasonable distance of the town centre.

“Fire Castle Lane” adjacent to St. Brigid’s Cathedral

We propose that vehicle access on to “Fire Castle Lane” from the Market Square and visa-versa should be prohibited. The laneway is wide enough for one vehicle and is currently a two way street. There are residential units on the lane that can be accessed from “White Abbey Road and “Chapel Hill”.

2. St Brigid’s Square

We have in consultation with representatives of the parents association of the local national schools recognised a number of issues relating to safety in this area for both pedestrians and motorists and school children.

Poor visibility and sight lines from Meadow road left onto the Tully road and also from St. Brigid’s Square right onto Tully road and left onto Grey Abbey road.

There is major concern regarding the safety of school children, particularly at 2.40pm when children are leaving both of the primary schools situated in close proximity to St. Brigid’s Square.

Buses currently park opposite the CYMS main doors, leaving school children an unsafe distance to walk, given the nature of the existing footpath and the number of vehicles using the road at that time.

Proposals

Short term –

To provide traffic calming measurers at Y junction adjacent to sweet shop and Aras Bride, by way of a raised speed ramp.

Amber lights at pedestrian crossing at CYMS hall

To provide a safe corridor for school children to and from pick-up points

To provide up to five bus parking spaces to facilitate schools

See attached sketch No.1

Long Term –

A one way system similar to that proposed under the “O’Neill Plan” circa 1999, with traffic flow from Meadow road to Academy street

Increase the parking triangle at St. Brigid’s Square to incorporate the short roadway separating the car park and St. Brigid’s Church

See section of “O’Neill plan” enclosed

3. Approach Roads

Dunmurry Road –

Short term resurfacing of roadway and road markings required
Reason: To improve motorist and pedestrian safety

Rathbride Road –

Upgrade of Railway Bridge, roadway resurfacing and installation of footpath pathway and road markings
Reason: To improve motorist and pedestrian safety

4. Side Streets

4a. Pigeon Lane – Requires resurfacing plus there are poor sightlines at either end of the street

4b. Railway Station – Inadequate parking facilities
There is currently a round-about inside the entrance wall at the railway station; we would propose that you recommend the removal of the entrance wall and the installation of a round-about on the external public road.

Reason: To improve motorist and pedestrian safety

Road adjacent to Railway Car Park and Fairview cottages –
Poor sightlines onto Dunmurry road
Cars parked on roadway when CIE car park is full can lead to access problems and congestion on public road.

Possible solutions
1. One way system
2. Widening of road

4c. Fire Castle Lane – Propose to close Market Square entrance to motor traffic.
Leave local access only from Chapel Hill and White Abbey Road

5. Loading Facility and HGV strategy

5a.Nugent Street – Unloading of delivery Lorries in this area is creating traffic congestion and is a safety hazard

Solution: To provide adequate loading bays for trucks in Market Square area to facilitate this activity

5b. Grey Abbey Road – Use of public road for loading and un-loading trucks is creating traffic congestion and is a safety hazard for motorists, school children and pedestrians.

Solution: To recommend suitable off road loading bays

We feel that loading strategy for Kildare town should recognise that businesses in the area are predominantly small in nature and are unable to dictate delivery and loading times, however ever effort should be made to ensure there are adequate loading facilities so that trucks and delivery vans do not obstruct traffic flow and in turn become a safety hazard

6. Bus Parking

School Buses – We recommend up to five bus spaces to service both primary schools

Tourist Buses – Kildare is a heritage town, with tourists visiting the many outlying attractions by bus. We feel there is a need to have a set-down area in the town centre and a designated bus park, possibly located in the old Magee Barracks or on Council property opposite Roanvilla’s estate on the Dublin rd., or some such suitable location.

7. Cycle Paths

We recommend that cycle paths be taken into consideration that radiate from the Market Square to link centres of residential population, schools and tourist attractions.

Reason: To develop the green environment and to provide safe corridors for those who wish to use this mode of transport.

8. Summary

There is an immediate concern for the safety of school children in the vicinity of St. Brigid’s Square, when leaving both primary schools at 2.40pm, to such a degree that perhaps short term measures such as that suggested in our submission could be implemented.

Other short term objectives would be to resurface approach roads and side streets as suggested above with clearly defined road markings, giving consideration to sightlines and public safety.

Our long term objective is to free the town centre of traffic congestion and to unveil the visual amenity of our heritage buildings by increasing the pedestrian element of the Market square and St. Brigid’s Square. We recognise the need for Kildare County Council to first secure suitable and accessible off-street parking that will dovetail with this objective.

The implementation of a one-way system would in our view provide a safer environment for all road users, which would in turn free-up road space to incorporate the provision of cycle-paths, thus providing people with an alternative to using motor transport and improving the green environment.

Brendan Guilfoyle
Chairman Kildare Chamber of Commerce Tel: 045 526891
Kildare Town Mobile: 086 2670162