A new draft transport plan for Dublin city centre has been published which, if implemented, would see cars banned from new areas and significant road space given over to pedestrians, public transport and cyclists.
The proposals include making Parliament Street traffic-free, while traffic will also be removed from College Green and Dame Street from the junction with George's Street eastwards.
A new plaza area would also be considered for Custom House Quay or Beresford Place.
While sections of the north and south quays at Bachelors Walk and Aston Quay could be reallocated for public transport, pedestrians and cyclists, it says.
New traffic arrangements are also suggested for Westland Row, which would see only public transport and cyclists allowed to turn left onto Pearse Street.
A new right turn for general traffic will be introduced at this junction and the section of Pearse Street from Westland Row to Sandwith Street would be made two-way.
Westland Row would no longer be a through route to Pearse Street, but would allow access towards the Samuel Beckett Bridge instead, it states.
Together this would all allow for space to be reallocated on Pearse Street, Tara Street, Beresford Place and Gardiner Street.
Overall, the draft Dublin City Centre Transport Plan 2023, drawn up by Dublin City Council in partnership with the National Transport Authority (NTA), envisages making the city centre area a low-traffic environment.
This would involve taking out two out of every three cars in the centre that do not have a destination there, the council and NTA say.
If implemented, it would see traffic management measures put in place to give priority to those on foot, in buses and on the Luas and on bicycles.
The plans also aim to ensure existing and planned forms of public transport in the city centre area are able to operate with minimum delay and sufficient space.
The draft proposals are being made as part of the objectives of the Dublin City Development Plan 2022-2028.
It includes a target of reducing general traffic by 40% and increasing the numbers of people using public transport, walking and cycling.
Dublin City Council said the plan draws lessons from the Covid-19 pandemic, where ambitious changes were implemented in some areas due to the low volume of traffic.
In the last year, cars have been banned from College Green to allow the bus gate to operate on a round-the-clock basis, while cars were removed from Capel Street last year.
The proposals have now opened to public consultation, to which the public and other interested parties can contribute up to close of business on 1 December.
