A Dublin City Council presentation to local area councillors wrongly outlined that Golden Lane is a secondary route in the statutory-backed Greater Dublin Area Cycle Network when it is designated as a primary cycle route with the policy expectation that it would be upgraded to that level.In the GDA plan, Golden Lane (highlighted on the map in a yellow box below) is a Primary Orbital route the same status as routes such as the quays, Dame Street, and the North Circular Road. The difference is important because while cycle paths can be included on secondary routes, a higher level of service is expected on primary routes. At last weeks South East Area Committee meeting, Golden Lane route was incorrectly described as a secondary route during a presentation to councillors on a new plan to add greening and provide water management.Dublin City is following a national and international trend to better manage rainwater with nature-based solutions, including sustainable drainage systems (SuDS). This includes slowing water so that systems and streets are not overwhelmed by high rainfall, and filtering it.IMAGE: An extract from the GDA Cycle Network plan. The on-street water systems are meant to slow or reduce water, improve water quality, and, where possible, add both amenity and biodiversity.However, other cities are providing these water and greening solutions alongside a faster rollout of safer streets and cities like Paris are even implementing these measures as part of a massive systematic programme to remove parking spaces. Paris has examples of parking removed along the full length of some streets for greening, and also of greening large areas that were previously used for traffic movement. IMAGE: Examples of street changes in Paris for greening and water solutions. A drawing and verbal description given to councillors state that no cycle path or other cycling space is planned for the street, despite the street being a Primary Orbital route of the Greater Dublin Area Cycle Network. With areas impermeable for cycling such as Dublin Castle north of it and the Grafton Street area to the north east of it, Golden Lane forms a key part of the east-west route in the area, which links primary radial routes (shown in lighter red below) and secondary routes (shown in blue) into the Grafton Street and St Stephens Street areas and beyond. Its an objective of Dublin City Councils own development plan a legally binding planning document To support the development of a connected cycling network in the City through the implementation of the NTAs Greater Dublin Area Cycle Network Plan, subject to environmental assessment and route feasibility.Roy OConnor, a senior engineer who leads the councils Protection of Water Bodies Office, explained that the main goal of the project is to both reduce and slow the volume of surface water going into the historic sewer system, which discharges into the River Liffey. Replying to councillors, he said: Youre right, we see nature-based solutions, for want of a better description, a glorified gully. Theyre taking in surface water, cleaning and filtering it, and reducing the volume that ultimately goes into the system.OConnor said that in the draft drawing, the green colour represents greening, which will collect and filter water from the hard surfaces on the street, such as the footpaths (light grey) and carragway (dark grey). He said the brown or brick-like colour is planned to be permeable paving, also designed to collect surface water rather than let it run off into the existing sewer system. He said that foopaths would be partially renewed, and the colour does not indicate full replacement. There is also planned to be road narrowing and buildouts.He said his section of the council has engaged in informal consultations in the neighbourhood last year and with other departments within Dublin City Council, which he outlines that there are planned to be minor changes to the plan following the input from those. OConnor said the project will continue to maintain the current traffic movements and the capacity as well the idea and the objective that we gave to our consultant is to ensure that we maximise the management of surface water, runoff, from intercepting it at various interventions.Were trying to ensure that we change as little as possible in terms of the function of the area, were being consistent with policies such as the Greater Dublin Area Transport Strategy, to which there is a secondary cycle route, flowing west to east on this image, he said incorrectly, as it is a primary route. The Greater Dublin Area Transport Strategy, which is the parent policy of the GDA Cycle Network, also supports the development of the cycle network. The Design Manual for Urban Roads and Streets was also named-checked in the presentation, but this, too, supports giving priority and space to cycling. He said that the improvements from the mobility aspect being delivered by the project include the tightening of corners, and radius, all contribute towards calming traffic speeds.He also said that the pedestrian crossings will be both controlled and uncontrolled, although all are currently marked as uncontrolled crossings. He said that the school, South City Community National School, on one of the side streets included in the plan, also needed a better school zone treatment and that they would be working with the school on that. The presentation also outlined a plan to change the surface of the cycle lanes and car parking bays on Eglington Road so that they are permeable for water without changing the traffic lane layout, and a plan for the Portobello.The Portobello area scheme is designed to tackle part of the system of water feeding into what Irish Water / Uisce Eireann has determined is one of the most prolific combined sewer overflows in Dublin City. Portobello is at the starting end of the network of pipes which discharged into the River Liffey at Wood Quay.What is being called the iMend Project for the Lennox Street Environs, this project will also include a long-planned neighbourhood traffic scheme for Portobello, but few details were given on the traffic side of this.Currently, in the public space in Portobello, the council said that the surfaces are around 90% impermeable for water.