There is a large increase in the number of trees to be felled in the latest plan for bus corridors in Dublin.
However, the National Transport Authority says the new plan will save most of the mature trees in the city's residential areas.
The bus corridor plan is going for a third round of public consultation and over over 3000 trees are now to be felled as part of plans for 16 bus and cycleway corridors - an increase of 20% on the previous plan
However the NTA says this involves less mature trees and most of the landmark trees in areas such as Rathgar, Ballsbridge, Finglas and Glasnevin will be retained.
But the number of trees to be felled on the Lucan corridor would by 455 with hundreds going to make way for a cycleway on the ground of the Hermitage Golf Club.
Other sections involving felling of hundreds of less mature trees would be the N3 and near Shankhill.
The new proposals include a new bus gate on St Stephen's Green to create a bus and cycle only section of Lower Leeson Street.
The aim of the project, which is part of Bus Connects, is to provide 230km of dedicated bus lanes and 200km of cycle lanes on 16 of the busiest bus corridors.
The original proposal was to take part of 1,300 front gardens and fell 1,000 trees along the routes to create space for two way bus and cycle lanes along with two lanes for cars.
However, after a negative response from many residents groups - there were 13,000 submissions during the first round of consultation - the NTA has proposed more restrictions on cars rather than road widening.
This will be achieved through bus gates, one way systems and bus priority at traffic lights.
Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan said the Government is committed to a fundamental change in the transport system.
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"Sustainable modes of travel such as cycling, walking, and public transport, has an enormous potential to facilitate a large proportion of our daily trips, but only if we provide the correct environment which protects and prioritises this mode of travel", he said.
The authority had planned to have a planning application ready by the end of this year but this has been delayed because of Covid 19 and it is now expected next March.
The routes which are planned to be completed in stages by 2027 are:
Clongriffin to city centre
Swords to city centre
Ballymun to city centre
Finglas to Phibsborough
Blanchardstown to city centre
Lucan to city centre
Liffey Valley to city centre
Clondalkin to Drimnagh
Greenhills to city centre
Kimmage to city centre
Tallaght to Terenure
Rathfarnham to city centre
Bray to city centre
UCD/Ballsbridge to city centre
Blackrock to Merrion
Ringsend to city centre
The NTA is using 'virtual rooms' for consultation which went live today.
