More measures to reduce private car use in Dublin city centre are to come into effect this summer.
Dublin City Council said the first phase of the Dublin City Transport Plan, which banned cars from parts of the north and south quays last August, has resulted in substantial and sustained reductions in traffic volumes and new restrictions will now be introduced on Westland Row and Parliament Street in the south city centre.
Late last August, the first phase of the Dublin City Transport Plan came into force following months of debate and amendments.
It saw bus gates introduced on parts of the north and south quays from 7am to 7pm, Monday to Sunday.
A report on its first six months of operation to be presented to Dublin City Council tomorrow says there has been a "substantial and sustained" reduction in traffic volumes at and around Bachelors Walk on the north quays and Burgh Quay and Aston Quay on the south quays, while the number of bus journeys has increased.
Works are now under way for the next phase of the plan, which will see only public transport and cyclists permitted to turn left from Westland Row onto Pearse Street.
A new right turn will be introduced at that junction while Pearse Street to Sandwith Street eastbound will become two-way.
The report outlining the new plans says work on the changes is now under way, is likely to take ten weeks and is due to be completed by June.
The report says: "All of Westland Row and Pearse Street will still be accessible by all modes with a different approach route being required for some areas."
Parliament Street will also become traffic free this summer following a format trialled during the last number of summers.
One section will remaining open to allow access to disabled parking and the court at Dolphin House.
The section between the quays and Essex Gate and the section between Essex Gate and Lord Edward Street will be traffic free but traffic will be allowed move east between Essex Gate and Essex Street East.
Two-way cycling will be permitted with a new link across Grattan Bridge to Capel Street.
The council said the changes will be communicated to businesses and local residents in the comings weeks.
Green Party Councillor Feljin Jose said the bus gates on the quays were the most "tricky" part of the transport plan to implement and be believes that the next phases will bring more improvements to the city and to bus travel times.
"The bus gates on the quays have been hugely successful. The figures from Dublin Bus showing bus journey times on the quays going down by a third speak for themselves.
"I think the changes to Parliament Street are a no-brainer. The street is full of cafés and restaurants that would benefit from pedestrianisation and it's a natural progression from the success of Capel Street.
"The changes in Westland Row and Pearse Street will greatly improve bus journey times in the city centre. Pearse Street is key for a lot of bus routes. A small number of cars are making that turn onto Pearse Street but it has a huge impact on buses serving areas like Cabra, Blanchardstown, Drumcondra, Lucan, Liffey Valley and Leixlip," added Mr Jose.
Menswear retailer Louis Copeland, who has a shop on Capel Street, says the impact of the Transport Plan on retailers is easing but that he would be concerned about the effect the new phase would have.
"For the first couple of months it impacted a lot because people are confused, they don't know how to get from A to B.
"Its starting to ease a bit but I still say they should hold off for the time being. Hopefully they don't close off Parliament Street because that is an artery to get to the southside."
