Parking spots in Limerick city centre up for the chop under new transport plan
Biggest shake-up to traffic system in a generation is planned
AROUND 200 car parking spaces could be axed from city centre streets in what is the biggest shake-up to Limerick’s traffic system in a generation.
On top of this, a number of city centre streets are earmarked to switch from one-way to two-way traffic, with several also designated as priority bus routes.
O’Connell Street looks set to be completely transformed under a new transport strategy unveiled by Mayor John Moran, who is aiming to create “15 minute neighbourhoods” across Limerick.
In his long-awaited transport plan, the directly elected mayor has set out a strategy aimed at “removing the dominance of the car from Limerick city centre” in order to create “a more prosperous Limerick”.
The strategy estimates around 200 on-street parking spaces could ultimately be removed from the city centre road network.
As part of this, not only does Mayor Moran plan to reduce the number of parking spaces, but he is also weighing up measures to discourage drivers from coming into the city centre by hiking the costs of on-street parking.
In the strategy, out for public consultation, he has also outlined how there should be “gradual increases” for parking permits in the city centre, particularly in areas where off-street options are readily available.
In the plan, Mayor Moran acknowledged removing on-street parking can prove “contentious”.
"However, it needs to be considered in order to deliver high-quality public transport and active travel infrastructure. The Limerick City Centre Travel Plan may present challenges in terms of reducing on-street parking capacity, however, access to city centre car parks will still be maintained,” the plan states.
Mayor Moran pointed to examples across Ireland and Britain where reducing on-street parking had led to improved trading conditions.
The first citizen has announced plans to bring back two-way traffic in some city centre streets – notably at Henry Street and William Street.
"I’m old enough to remember when Limerick decided to go with one-way streets, and that was because we were on the main road from Dublin to Kerry. You had to get that traffic through the city,” he told the Limerick Leader.
He added he believes two-way streets are far safer.
"If you take William Street – at the moment, when you drive up William Street, and a car stops in front of you: what do you do? You jump into the other lane and you speed up. That’s really unsafe for a city. As soon as you turn a street into a two-way, it slows it down,” added Mayor Moran.
The plan proposes turning O'Connell Street, from Arthur's Quay to Shannon Street, into a bus-only corridor.
Parts of Roches Street, Shannon Street and Sexton Street would be reserved for buses only, as would a portion of Glentworth Street.
Henry Street would also become a priority route for buses while remaining open to general traffic.
As for the main thoroughfare, O’Connell Street, this would undergo what is described as a “transformative change”.
Improvements to the existing pedestrian and cycling infrastructure is proposed. A shared street environment is planned between O’Connell Street and Newenham Street, with a bike lane.
A two-way bus-only corridor would be implemented for the core city centre area, the plan states.