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Dublin City Council is now proposing permanent pedestrianization of the streets in the Grafton Street area.
This follows a series of weekend tests over the summer, which were supported by 95% of respondents in an online survey.
A total of four streets – South Anne Street, Dame Court, Drury Street, and South William Street – will be fully or partially pedestrianized starting at 11 am.
The portion of South William Street that will be pedestrianized will be limited to a section from the Exchequer Street crossing to the Brown Thomas parking lot exit, with traffic on the street restricted to cars exiting the parking lot.
Duke Street will be non-pedestrian as access to a private parking lot, delivery yard, and construction site is needed.
In its report, Dublin City Council said the highest numbers of footfalls on Grafton Street since March occurred during the six weeks of pedestrian testing.
All streets will receive resurfacing work during November and some will build temporary walkways similar to one on South Anne Street.
The traffic changes will be submitted for public consultation this month.
A poll by Dublintown found that 15% of businesses were against pedestrianization, 49% were in favor and 35% wanted it only on weekends.
The smaller group Dublin Can Be Heaven stated in its presentation that car facilitation should not be ruled out and wants the city council to subsidize its scheme by offering customers a limited amount of free parking.
Cllr Mannix Flynn (Ind) welcomed the inquiry, but expressed concern for small businesses.
South William Street could not be fully pedestrianized because Brown Thomas said changing its exit to the street for an entrance would pose “insurmountable” difficulties, according to the report.
Cllr Janet Horner (Green) said this was a concern, adding that “we are sacrificing a basic human right to safely access the street for some and a significant benefit for smaller businesses to facilitate a luxury business.”
The detailed plans are:
Anne Street South: Pedestrianize. Relocate the handicap bay to Molesworth Street.
Duke Street: No pedestrianization. Re-emerge.
Dame Court: Pedestrianize. Re-emerge. Provide pedestrian path on east side. Pedestrian from the Exchequer Street junction.
Drury Street: Pedestrianize. Re-emerge. Provide trail construction on the east side. Pedestrianization from the underground car park to the castle market.
South William Street: Pedestrianize. Re-emerge. Trail constructions to replace the current line of bollards on both sides. Pedestrian from Exchequer Street to the exit of the car park. Parking traffic only after 11am.
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