Lands on University College Dublins campus and between there and Sandyford, which have long been reserved for the Dublin Eastern Bypass, should be designated for a potential Luas line, greenway beside it, and a mix of residential development and parkland, according to details of a study presented to councillors. The proposed Luas line would link Dublin City Centre at St Stephens Green to Bray via UCD and Sandyford. The new study examines the preferred option for what to do with the land previously reserved for the Dublin Eastern Bypass. Cllr Conor Dowling (Green Party) said: For years, this corridor was tied to plans for a motorway into Dublin Bay, a proposal that simply doesnt stand up in a climate crisis, and it wouldnt solve the congestion it was designed to address.He said: This study shows a Luas via UCD could cut journey times by up to 52%. With the land already protected, this is a project we can actually deliver.The Luas route to Bray via UCD and Sandyford was chosen as the preferred option after a number of different options were looked at, including a shorter tram route from St Stephens Green to Sandyford, and Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) from the city centre and then along the Eastern Bypass corridor, and other bus options. No orbital route that continued westwards around the M50 was considered. Motorway already abandoned in transport strategy After decades of work and studies on the motorway, the bypass plan was officially abandoned in the National Transport Authoritys Greater Dublin Area Transport Strategy 2022-2042. The same strategy outlined the need for the new assessment to be carried out, and what to do with the Dublin Eastern Bypass Corridor between Booterstown and Sandyford. The southern section of the Eastern Bypass motorway was to run through part of Dublin Port and the edge of the Docklands before crossing the Liffey on a new bridge, and being routed along the side of the Glass Bottle site development to Sandymount Strand. The motorway would be bridged across part of Dublin Bay from Sandymount to Booterstown. At the coast, just before Booterstown marsh, the road would be tunnelled under the marsh and under residential areas before surfacing north of the R138 (N11) at the south-east corner of the UCD Campus.It would then run through the south end of the UCD campus to Roebuck Road, then along a reservation area to Drummartin Road, where it would continue along that route to Sandyford and then link to the M50 at its existing junction beside the business park. The lands between the R138 (N11) and Sandyford are covered by the new study.IMAGE: An artists impression of the bridge over the Liffecy and and then over Dublin Bay from Sandymount to Booterstown Marsh.The new study, the Dublin Eastern Bypass (DEBP) Sustainable Transport Options Assessment, was carried out by sustainable transport consultants Systra for Dn Laoghaire Rathdown County Council.The report said that the Reservation lands could support a light rail solution including the potential for supporting Active Travel facilities from the city centre to Bray via Sandyford.IMAGE: An indicative route map for a Luas route via the old Eastern Bypass reserved lands. The phase one recommendation is to retain a portion of the DEBP reservation lands for future potential light rail use, in accordance with Measure ROAD4 and in broad alignment with the objectives of the GDA TransportStrategy 2022-2042 and as may be required as part of its review and update.ROAD4 is a measure in the NTAs Greater Dublin Area Transport Strategy 2022-2042, which outlines that: The NTA will collaborate with Dn Laoghaire Rathdown County Council in undertaking an assessment of the potential for the southern section of the former Eastern Bypass corridor reservation as provided for in the County Development Plan to accommodate a sustainable transport link. Pending completion of this assessment, the existing reservation should be retained.IMAGE: Map showing the corridor in the 2011 Dublin Eastern Bypass Corridor Protection Study report. In a press release, Cllr Dowling added: A Luas line serving UCD, Sandyford and Bray would provide the level of capacity and reliability needed for a growing city. The priority now is to move this forward.Cllr Feljin Jose, transport spokesperson for the Green Party, said the findings underline the need to prioritise public transport over additional road capacity.You cant solve congestion by building more roads. The evidence here is clear: expanding road space does not resolve congestion in the long term. You solve it by giving people a fast, reliable alternative and thats exactly what this Luas line will deliver, he said.IMAGE: A map from the new study showing the Study Area Lands and an indicative Luas/Active Travel routeThe presentation to councillors outlines that the next steps are to gather feedback from councillors and include it in the DEBP Study, develop assessments for land use along the corridor, and then publish the final study. From the presentation to councillors:Characteristics of preferred option, Option 5b: Luas St Stephens Green to Bray + Greenway:The proposed Luas line begins at St Stephens Green.It runs along Leeson Street and the N11 corridor up to UCD.Near the Stillorgan Road/Foster Road junction, the Luas line joins the DEBP corridor.It follows the DEBP corridor to Kilmacud Luas Stop.At Kilmacud, the line connects with the existing Green Luas line and continues up to Sandyford.From Sandyford, the Luas continues towards Bray after the planned Green Luas extension from Brides Glen to Bray.UCD: two stops: UCD & UCD Nova.Fulfils post-2042 objective to deliver a second Luas line to Sandyford via N11 corridor as per the GDA Transport Strategy 2022-2042. It also aligns with the extension of the Green Line to Bray.This option is supported by incorporating Active Travel along the route within the DEBP lands by combining options 1b and 5.Potential cross-sections: