Swords Masterplan - Fingal County Council

7.4.3 BUS INTERCHANGE
CHARACTER
● Local feeder bus services to be developed that will extend the effective
catchment area of the Metro. The delivery of a QBC from west Swords into
Main Street and the Swords Metro Stop (via The Rise) is an important
element of proposed improvements to the bus network.
● In addition to the bus lay-by proposed at grade adjacent to the Stops, at the
Swords Stop bus interchange facilities shall also be provided at the Plaza level.
● The bus stops in Metro Quarter will be located to provide convenient
interchange with Metro-North. The character will place a large emphasis on
amenity and public realm. It is not envisaged that the bus interchange will
be a bus terminal.
DESIGN
● The bridge over the R132 will be level to allow for buses to stop and pick up
passengers arriving by metro.
● The bus stops will be set down only. There will be no terminus provided at
this location. Road engineering should discourage buses from stopping for
prolonged periods of time.
● Adequate shelter will be provided for passengers waiting on buses. These
shelter facilities should not adversely interrupt the flow of pedestrians
moving along this bridge.
● Interchange facilities are to be designed in such a way as to make way
finding between bus and metro as well as between transport modes and the
Town Centre a priority.
● Adequate signage, bus route information and digital waiting time displays to
be provided.
● The Metro plaza/podium and the vehicular conduit under the R132 should
ideally be constructed by the time Metro North is commissioned, having
regard to practical constraints associated with Metro North construction.
● Independent of arrival of Metro North these elements of infrastructure will
be required when development east of R132 takes place.
● The completed plaza and bus-only route should be construsted in tandem
with Barrysparks development to ensure links east and west.
7.4.4 R132 AND METRO SETTING
CHARACTER
● The existing landscaped/parkway character of the R132 is to be maintained.
● This area will provide 24 hour access to adjoining areas. It will be distinguished
from all other stretches of the R132 as being part of the Metro Quarter and a
gateway to Swords.
● The space will include a uniform landscape treatment to both sides of the
road tying into the Metro Quarter as a whole.
● The development lands adjacent the Metro Stop require a dedicated
vehicular access system. The major impact on the Metro Quarter is the
addition of twin vehicle access/egress ramps on either side of the R132 and
their associated slip roads.
DESIGN
● Both Pavilions and Barrysparks development façades shall have active/
transparent frontage at R132 level around the Metro Plaza. In all other areas
S W O R D S M A S T E R P L A N
the landscape will be brought up the plinth to continue the landscaped setting.
● The public realm at the R132 level will be naturally lit. Crossing points at the
upper level are required however the creation of an “undercroft” situation will,
as far as possible, be avoided.
● Bus stops on each side of the R132 will provide adequate shelter and seating
and allow for an easy transition to other transport modes.
● An uninterrupted cycle route will be provided running alongside the footpath.
● A landscape strip of minimum 13.5 metres (including footpath and cycle
lane) will separate the R132 from the façades of the adjoining developments.
The parkway condition of the R132 will become more formalised in the Metro
Quarter to reflect its civic role.
● Vehicle access ramps will, as far as practically possible, be hidden within
landscape strips.
● Appropriately scaled landscape and built form is envisaged to mitigate the
impact of the infrastructure and avoid a highway or functional road
engineering logic creating a place inhospitable to pedestrians.
Specific Local Objectives:
● Metro Plaza will be directly accessible to all public transport modes.
● Building façades should be set back a minimum of 13.5 metres
from the R132 to achieve a meaningful parkway condition.
● Vehicle access ramps to be hidden, as far as possible, within
landscape strips.
● All buildings addressing the Plaza must provide direct active
frontage to the plaza.
● Plinth condition along R132 will carry landscape up the building
façades as far as Metro Plaza height (+7.5m).
● Semi mature trees, 10m in height when planted, will be used along
the R132 to create an immediate continuity of the parkway condition.
● Arcade treatment will be provided along plaza level until arrival of plaza.
● Metro Plaza and Platform will be protected from adverse effects of
noise and wind.
● Adequate shelter is to be provided on the Metro Platform.
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7.5 Land Use
The Metro Quarter will provide opportunity for active and recreational uses as well
as public gatherings, about a major public space. The land use mix within this area
will reflect the civic importance of the space as a major transport interchange.
Furthermore, there will be opportunity for extended hours of use and activity.
TRANSPORT
The main land use in this area is a multimodal transport interchange at the
Swords Metro Stop location. This will form the focus of an integrated public
transport system for the town as a whole, involving the establishment of a network
of safe and efficient pedestrian, cycle and bus routes all connecting to the Metro.
RETAIL
Retail frontages with frequent access points will be provided along the east and
west side Metro Quarter at R132 level and Plaza level to provide active frontage.
Non retail services (including cafes, sandwich bars etc) are required to act as
key focal points of attraction. These may be in the form of small kiosk type
buildings or be part of the active frontage adjoining the metro quarter.
OFFICE DEVELOPMENT
It is envisaged that there will be significant office development around the Metro
Quarter. Lobbies fronting the Metro Quarter will be active in nature and promote
evening activity. The integration of high density employment generating uses
adjoining the metro is in support of sustainable development.
PARKING PROVISION
Parking will be primarily located underground within the Pavilions and
Barrysparks schemes.
Specific Local Objectives:
● Metro Quarter will provide for fully accessible interaction between
all forms of public transport.
● All buildings addressing the Metro Plaza must provide direct active
frontage to the Plaza and well designed frontage onto the R132 and
Metro Platform.
● Shopfront signage shall integrate with the character of the Metro
Plaza and promote the formation of a legible urban environment
● Parking shall be primarily located below ground level.
● Office development will be facilitated within Metro Quarter area.
Offices must provide generous active lobbies to Metro Plaza and
onto R132 level as appropriate.