Galway City Council with the support of An Garda Siochána and schools in Galway City, have recently introduced ‘School Zones’ measures at 15 schools in the City. The purpose of the spots and road markings is to raise awareness among road users that they are entering an environment where there is a school – and to encourage awareness of children and other road users, and slower speeds.
*Pictured – Children from St Patrick’s NS on Lombard Street with their School Zones measures.
Galway City Council successfully applied for funding through the NTA Stimulus Fund 2020 to progress initial School Zones measures at a number of locations in Galway City and a tender for full School Zones designs for all schools in Galway city is also being progressed at the moment. Subject to continued funding under the NTA’s Sustainable Transport Measures Grant Programme, designs will be progressed for a number of schools each year, with a view to making the front of school environment safer for children as they arrive to school.
The initial measures comprise the laying of coloured spots and road markings outside the school location. The aim is to raise road users awareness that they are entering an environment where there is a school - and to encourage slower speeds.
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The spots and markings have been installed in locations including: Scoil Iognáid, Raleigh Row (School Streets pilot ); Scoil Bhríde, Shantalla; Radharc na Mara, Mervue; Scoil Chaitríona Junior & Senior, Renmore; Gaelscoil Mhic Amhlaigh, Knocknacarra; Scoil Naomh Iosef, Rahoon; Scoil Croi Iosa/ Presentation NS, Newcastle Road; St Patricks NS, Lombard Street; Scoil an Linbh Iosa/ Mercy NS, Francis Street; Parochial NS, Waterside; Scoil Náisiúnta Róis, Rosary Lane; Coláiste Iognáid S.J., Sea Road; Knocknacarra Educate Together NS, An Cimín Mór; Cuan na Gaillimhe CNS, An Cimín Mór.
School Zones measures were developed by the National Transport Authority in conjunction with Green-Schools. This project is funded by the National Transport Authority, and delivered with the support of the Green-Schools Travel programme, An Garda Siochána, and the wider school community.
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Scoil Chroí Íosa, Newcastle Road
School Streets Pilot – Scoil Iognáid
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In 2020 Scoil Iognáid, Raleigh Row, became the first pilot ‘School Streets’ project in Galway, and the first city centre School Streets project in the country. A ‘School Street’ is a road outside a school with a temporary restriction on motorised traffic at school drop off and pick up times – creating a safer, calmer space for children, parents and residents to walk, scoot or cycle.
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School Streets – Raleigh Row, Palmyra Park and Palmyra Avenue closed to traffic during School pick up and drop off hours.
As part of the School Streets pilot, Raleigh Row, Palmyra Park and Palmyra Avenue are pedestrianised streets from Monday to Friday, 08.15am to 9.15am, and 1.15pm to 2.45pm. During these times, Raleigh Row, Palmyra Park and Palmyra Avenue are open to pedestrians, cyclists and residents accessing their homes only. Motorists must use an alternative route during these times.
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This is the first School Street pilot located within a city centre environment, and includes other integrated complementary elements such as Park-and-Stride (relaunched in August 2020 ).
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The implementation of this scheme will inform the delivery of similar projects across Ireland in 2021 and thereafter. As this is a pilot, and the first of its kind, Galway City Council and the National Transport Authority are keen to learn from this pilot – what worked and what didn’t work so well. Residents and businesses in the area around Scoil Iognáid, and Parents/Guardians with children in the school, are now invited to share their thoughts on the pilot to date in this survey.
For more information on the School Streets project, visit www.galwaycity.ie/schoolstreets.
