Supporters wishing to raise the matter of the matter of the S2S project with politicians canvassing their support in the coming elections and may be wondering about progress, or the lack of it.  The following is the position as of the beginning of 2016- fifteen years since the idea was first proposed.

The project can be broken into three main sections- the North Bay from Sutton to East Wall, the South Bay from Sandymount to Dun Laoghaire and the City Centre section from Alfie Byrne Road to Sean Moore Road.

The North Bay.

Of the 9kms from Sutton to Alfie Byrne Road, all but 2kms of promenade and cycleway exists in some shape or form. Work started at the end of 2014 on the missing 2kms section between the Wooden Bridge and the causeway at Dollymount.  The creation of the walkway and cycleway for this section was combined with the laying of a major water main (needed to complete the north city ring main) and the improvement in the flood defences.  The works were stopped in mid-2015 following protests by local residents about the height and finish of the new sea wall.  Following discussions between representatives of the community and Dublin City Council, a further issue emerged with regard to DCC’s entitlement to continue with the works during the winter months.  It is understood that an accommodation was reached whereby work would be suspended on the sea wall but could continue on the water main and the cycleway and footpath, until the other matters were resolved.  That remains the position. It is reported in the Irish Times of 12^th Feb that in a draft report seen by that newspaper, Dr. Jimmy Murphy of University College Cork, who was engaged by the council to review the height of the flood defense wall, suggested it be reduced by 10cm-20cm.  It is also understood that sections of the concrete wall may be clad in granite.  It is hoped that the difficulties will be sorted out and the new section will be open in 2016.  This will provide a continuous traffic free cycleway from Sutton to East Wall and complete the northern section of the project which is a major step in completing the overall project.

The South Bay

It is approximately 9kms from Ringsend to Sandycove.  There is at present no seafront cycleway for approximately 4kms between Sean Moore Road and Seapoint.  The existing promenade at Sandymount, which is very popular with residents and visitors means that there is less new walkway to be provided.  The missing section has proved to be difficult, mainly because of the issues to do with the designation of the entire area of South Dublin Bay a habitat for seabirds.  At the heart of the difficulties is the discussion as to the relative importance of Dublin Bay as a habitat for seabirds as against the potential of providing a traffic-free cycleway and promenade from Sandycove to the City Centre on a miniscule part of the overall area. The project would provide significant benefits for the environment.  It would also allow the citizens and visitors to reconnect with the Bay in a manner that has not happened for 60 years.

At the end of 2014 the National Transport Authority with the support of Dublin City Council and Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council appointed consulting engineers AECOM + Roughan & O’Donovan (AECOM-ROD) along with Scott Cawley (Ecology Consultants) to undertake a new design and environment scoping study of the proposal.  It is understood that a draft report was completed and submitted to the NTA by the summer of 2015.  A presentation of the draft report was given to members of a joint committee of Councillors from DCC and DLRCC in October2015.  The report has not yet been published however and the reason is not clear.  It is to be hoped that will happen soon and that it will provide a way forward with this section of the route.

The City Centre

Dublin City Council plans to construct two new pedestrian/cycleway bridges to the east of the Samuel Beckett Bridge which will connect the North Side to the Grand Canal Docks area.  There is also the possibility of upgrading the East Link Bridge by adding a boardwalk to the upstream side of the deck. It has also been a long term objective of the Council to build a bridge across the Dodder /Grand Canal Gut, where it meets the Liffey.  A new bridge in this location would link Sir John Rogerson’s Quay with Ringsend and on to Sandymount for cycles and pedestrians.  It would also be used for public transport, but not private cars or trucks.  The Greater Dublin Area Cycle Network Plan published by the NTA has identified several potential routes in this section including through Ringsend Park and connections to the River Dodder Greenway and the Royal Canal Greenway with links through the East Wall area. There are therefore a number of possible routes to connect the North and South sections of the S2S and it is possible that DCC will provide more than one route through this section to facilitate better access for cyclists and walkers to the growing commercial centre of Dublin.

Other Developments

Aside from these developments, the proposal to develop an East Coast Greenway extending from Drogheda to Arklow (with the S2S at the heart of it), has gained widespread public support.  It is likely to be incorporated in most, if not all, of new Local Authority Development Plans which will be adopted in the next couple of years.  Plans by Fingal County Council to construct a section of this across the Malahide Estuary are already well advanced.  When completed, this will provide a significant boost to the overall vision.

In summary, progress has been painfully slow. The works to complete the northern section of the route are stalled.  While there is work going on behind the scenes to come up with practical proposals for the city centre and the south bay sections, no actual plans have been published.  The project needs all the community and political support that it can get and supporters are asked to let the politicians know their views on the importance of the project.

Michael Collins (michael@s2s.ie)

For

S2S

A group of Councillors from Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council and Dublin City Council walked a part of the possible route for the S2S near Blackrock on Saturday 19^th September at low tide. The group, all of whom are members of the Joint Committee set up by councillors from Dublin City and Dun Laoghaire, included (L-R); Cllr Barry Ward (DLRCC), Cllr Kate Feeney (DLRCC), Christopher Manzira (DCC), Cllr Melisa Halpin DLRCC, Cllr Deirdre Kingston (DLRC). They are pictured here with Anne Devine (DLRCC)be  and Clara Clarke (S2S).

The purpose of the walk was to allow the Councillors to acquaint themselves with the challenges and opportunities that the project presents in the context of the new study of the project which is being undertaken by the National Transport Authority. Members of the group expressed their support for the project, citing its attractions as a public amenity and facility for commuter and leisure cyclists. Its potential to provide members of the community and visitors with the possibility of enjoying the Bay and it birdlife without having to walk on the beach and disturb the birds. Some saw it as presenting a new beginning for Dublin and its relationship to the Bay.

Everyone is anxious to see the outcome of the study by the National Transport Authority but there is as yet no indication as to when it will be published.

The Irish Tomes reports today, 20th May, that construction of the €5 million“missing link” of the Dublin Bay cycle path is starting this week, more than a decade after planning of the route began. http://www.irishtimes.com/news/environment/work-on-5m-clontarf-section-of-dublin-bay-cycle-path-starts-1.2218425

The first actual construction since the project was first proposed in 2001.  Congratulations and thanks to Dublin City Council, the Department of Transport and Tourism and the National Transport Authority for this major step forward.

http://www.irishtimes.com/news/environment

Councillors of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council and Dublin City Council have set up a Joint Committee to promote the S2S project. 

On their own initiative, the Councillors have completed the necessary procedures to establish a joint committee to co-ordinate their actions in support of the project. The move came with the support of all of the main political parties. The purpose of the committee is to co-ordinate the response of the Councillors to the new feasibility study of the project that is being undertaken on behalf of the National Transport Authority. The study is focussed on the missing section of the Sutton to Sandycove Promenade and Cycleway between Sandymount and Seapoint. It is expected that a draft report will be published for public consultation in March 2015.

The membership of the joint committee are as follows:

The Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown members are:

Deirdre Donnelly              (Independent – Stillorgan)

Kate Feeney                      (Fianna Fáil – Blackrock)

Melissa Halpin                   (People before Profit – Dún Laoghaire)

Deirdre Kingston                (Labour – Blackrock)

Ossian Smyth                     (Green Party – Dún Laoghaire)

Barry Ward                         (Fine Gael – Blackrock)

The Dublin City members are:

Kieran Binchy                     (Fine Gael – Pembroke South-Dock)

Claire Byrne                        (Green Party  – Pembroke South-Dock)

Mannix Flynn                     (Independent  – Pembroke South-Dock)

Jane Horgan-Jones          (Labour – Clontarf)

Frank Kennedy                 (Fianna Fáil – Pembroke South-Dock)

The action by the Councillors is clear evidence of the strong support that continues to exist in the main political parties. It is to be hoped that members of the community who support this great project will indicate that to the Councillors.

S2S Admin Team

Just when it appears that everyone in authority has forgotten about the Sutton to Sandycove Promenade and Cycleway, something unexpected happens.

The National Transport Authority with the support of Dublin City Council and Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council have recently appointed consulting engineers AECOM + Roughan & O’Donovan (AECOM-ROD) along with Scott Cawley (Ecology Consultants) to undertake a new design and environment scoping study of the the proposal. The study is focussed on the only remaining 4kms which is missing on the seafront in the South Dublin Bay. It covers approximately 1km at Sandymount to link Sean Moore Park with the promenade at the Beach Road and approximately 3km from Merrion Gates to Seapoint.

The appointments follow on the completion of a study and proposals by the NTA for the future development of a network of cycleways for the whole of the Greater Dublin Region which were published in 2013 (Draft Greater Dublin Area Cycle Network Plan (NTA, 2013).  It identified a number of potential “Greenways”- routes that could be established in scenic or otherwise undeveloped areas and which could act as route for leisure as well as commuter cycling.  One such Greenway, known as the East Coast Trail is proposed to run along the coast from Drogheda to Arklow.  The section in Dublin Bay, coincides with the route of the S2S which was first put forward in 2001.

It is understood that the new study is already underway. It is expected that a draft will be published in March 2015 and members of the public will be invited to comment on the findings and recommendations.

In an unusual act of solidarity, Councillors from across the political spectrum in both Dublin City Council and Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Councils have agreed to form a joint committee to support the project.

This is a most exciting and welcome development. The issues, most particularly those to do with the designation of South Dublin Bay as a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and an Area of Special Protection (SPA), remain to be resolved. The study now commissioned by the NTA however represents the best opportunity to find solutions that will allow this wonderful project to proceed and we should be grateful to the NTA for taking this initiative. There is little doubt that a positive outcome would be welcomed by the local communities and those citizens with an interest in promoting cycling and healthy living.

S2S Admin Team January 2015

As part of National Bike Week and following on the recent Local Government elections, the event has been arranged to allow supporters of S2S to show their support for the project and to meet some of the newly elected councillors whose support is also needed to get the project going again.
Everyone is invited and asked to bring  friends and relatives. Come by Bike, Bus, Dart or Shanks Mare, whatever suits. As we do not have any tee-shirts with S2S branding, could we all wear one colour? Perhaps bright blue tee-shirts or tops would be nice? The S2S logo is blue, so blue would be good.

For further information contact:

Clara Clark – email: clara@claraclark.ie – mobile: 087 251 5439

or

Michael Collins – email: michael@S2S.ie –  mobile: 086 106 8200

S2S Support Team

Finally, over ten years after Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council first adopted the S2S proposal and included it in its development plans, the first practical steps are being taken by the Council to upgrade the cycleway along a small but important section of the route. The section of cycleway that is proposed to be upgraded goes from the Martello Tower at Seapoint to Dun Laoghaire Harbour and is approximately 2 kms long.

The proposal has been included as part of plan for an improvement in the cycle way from Booterstown to Dun Laoghaire. Details of the plan can be found on the Council’s website at http://www.dlrcoco.ie/media/media,10380,en.pdf . The Council have invited comments on the plan which should be sent to cycling@dlrcoco.ie or the main transportation section.
The improvement of the cycle network generally is to be supported and the proposal to put part of this route on the seafront at Seapoint is very much welcomed. The manner in which it is implemented is crucial and this will not become clear until the detailed design stage of the process is reached. The route has a number challenges:
• The start of the route is at Booterstown Dart Station beyond which cyclists will have to negotiate the Merrion Road.
• The section between Blackrock Park and Blackrock Dart Station is less than one meter wide and is shared with pedestrians. It is simply not viable as it stands.
• It is difficult to see how a segregated cycleway can be accommodated at Idrone Terrace without removing the existing parking facilities on one side of the road, which may be seen as detrimental to the commercial viability of Blackrock.
• The proposed section on Seapoint Avenue is part of the N31 serving Dun Laoghaire Harbour. It is narrow and carries high volumes of traffic, including large trucks and coaches accessing the Dun Laoghaire town centre and the ferry.
• The area around Seapoint Martello Tower incorporating the traditional bathing area and access to the foreshore has enormous potential as an amenity. The access to the existing cycleway at this point is very steep and the manner in which this is resolved and integrated into the existing landscape will be challenging.
• The section of the existing route alongside the Coal Harbour is a little more than 4 meters wide and currently has to cater for two way vehicle traffic, pedestrians and cyclists. It will need to be widened by means of an extended boardwalk.
• The change of level and the confluence of heavy traffic at the Coal Harbour Bridge make for a very unfriendly, if not unsafe, section for cyclists and pedestrians. The Council should be urged to utilize the disused section of railway track under the bridge to provide a level, segregated, section of cycleway and pedestrian route to resolve these issues.

Overall, it should also be remembered that this is a proposal to improve the cycle network only and does not therefore have any proposals to improve facilities for walkers who wish to enjoy the amenity of Dublin Bay, such as that provided by the Sutton to Sandycove Promenade and Cycleway. The difficulties inherent in providing level, traffic free cycleways on existing roads such as Seapoint Avenue and the Merrion Rd also reinforce the compelling case to for the S2S proposal. The point is made in the overall study of the cycle network in the County which rates the attractions of the S2S as “A1” whereas parts of this route are rated as “C”.
Overall the Council is to be commended for seeking to improve the cycle network and this proposal is welcome in that context. It should not however be seen as an alternative to the S2S project or used to divert efforts to promote that project which complete the 22 km long seafront cycleway and promenade around Dublin Bay.

The National Transport Authority (NTA) has published a draft Cycle Network Plan for the Greater Dublin Area (GDA) It is the most ambitious and comprehensive study ever undertaken of the matter and covers an area from Arklow to Dundalk along the coast and inland as far as Portlaoise, Mullingar and Virginia.
The main objective for this plan stems from the National Cycle Policy Framework’s commitment to ensuring that 10% of all journeys by 2020 will be by bicycle. This follows a concerted attempt by all government bodies and organizations to ensure that cycling as a transport mode is supported, enhanced and exploited, in order to achieve strategic objectives and reach national goals.
Three classes of cycleway are envisaged:
• An Urban Cycle Network, these cater for the main cycle arteries within the city centre, link principle and local zones and cycle routes within the local zones.
• The Inter-urban Cycle Network, connecting the urban cycle network routes (Light Blue lines on maps);
• The Green Route Network (Greenways), these predominately along the tourist/recreation routes providing for both leisure and commuter cycling.   

Supporters of the Sutton to Sandycove Promenade and Cycleway will be pleased to know that it is included in the last of these categories as the central section of a Greenway that extends from Dundalk to Arklow, almost all of it along the coast. The proposed route for the S2S in the urban area is also on the coast from Sutton to Fairview and from Sandymount to Dun Laoghaire. Instead of continuing to Sandycove however, it diverts inland along the line of the Metals (the original Dalkey rail line) and into Dalkey Village. This makes it easier to get continuity south to Killiney and on to Bray and Arklow. The plan does not preclude a short extension from Dun Laoghaire Harbour to Sandycove.

Unlike the recent proposal by Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council, the clear objective of the NTA plan is to put the cycleway on the seafront outside the Dart Line. The initial environmental screening study notes however that there may be a conflict with the designation of South Dublin Bay as a Habitat for Birds and that a detailed Appropriate Assessment will be needed to finally ascertain whether it will be permitted in this location or not. This poses the biggest risk to the completion of the seafront promenade and cycleway as curreently envisaged.

Overall the plan is welcome and the Department of Transport and Tourism and the National Transport Authority should be commended for their work in preparing it. The next stage in the process will be of great significance in determining whether the S2S project will be completed or not.

The draft Plan and associated Strategic Environmental Assessment Report and Appropriate Assessment Reports can be downloaded from the following link: http://www.nationaltransport.ie/public-consultations/current/cycle-network/ 

Written submissions and observations can be submitted using the form on the opening page. All submissions must include the full name and address of the person making the submission and where relevant the name of the body or organization represented.
Closing date for all submissions in relation to all the relevant and supporting documents is Monday 14th October 2013 at 5pm.