Tramore Mobility & Public Realm Strategy

In partnership with dhb architects, DBFL were commissioned by Waterford City and County Council to investigate, evaluate and identify an “integrated traffic, parking and public realm solution for Tramore Town Centre”.

In response to the town centres multifunctional demands in parallel with the additional weekend and seasonal demands generated at the southeasts premier resort town, DBFL were tasked with identifying a sustainable mobility strategy which identified a range of integrated initiatives which could be implemented across an extended town centre area in the short term (18 – 24 months). Whilst seeking to accommodate the travel demand generated by the entire urban area, its rural hinterland and day-trip / seasonal resort visitors, the overriding aims of the study sought to enhance town centre accessibility, enhance connectivity with the seafront, remove ‘rat-running’ traffic from sensitive core town centre and deliver a safe, vibrant and interactive streetscape environment focused upon pedestrian requirements opposed to it being dominated by vehicular traffic.

Further to a comprehensive data collection exercise a number of potential traffic circulation strategy options were developed and subsequently appraised (multi criteria assessment) resulting in the identification of a preferred option which was disseminated as the basis of the stakeholder consultation exercise. The identified strategy included an integrated package of measures including a new urban street, new mid-levels car park, rationalisation of on-street car parking, reassignment of road carriageway, new junction configurations and one-way vehicle circulation strategy, footpath widening, formal pedestrian crossing facilities, new traffic management regulations and streetscape / public realm enhancements. It is envisioned that the identified strategy will be implemented over two phases in 2018 and 2019.