Private vehicles are now permanently barred from Dublin's College Green

Starting today, the Dublin City Council has barred any car or private vehicle traffic through College Green in an effort to improve public transportation times.

It's a more restrictive ban than what was previously in place . Before, cars and other private vehicles were only barred from the area between 7AM and 7PM, Monday through Friday, but now they're incapable of passing through the space located outside of Trinity College at all.

All vehicles that passed through College Green as a part of their regular commutes will now have to find alternative routes as the new measures redirect them away from College Green.

On Twitter, the Dublin City Council posted a graphic highlighting new traffic management measures for the area as a reminder of the new rules. On it, purple arrows show the redirection of traffic for Dame Street, describing it as "local access only, entry and exit via Dame street." In orange, arrows redirected "general traffic" away from southbound travel at the Trinity tram station as well as eastbound from the intersection for Dame Street and Trinity Street.

The new Bus Gate expansion was outlined in a green circle and included taxis and cyclists in the list of what was still allowed to pass through the area between south of the Trinity tram station on College Street and the end of Dame Street.

Don't forget! As of this morning, the expansion of the College Green Bus Gate begun this morning, 29th May 2023.

Find out more here https://t.co/SDbAsQqmv9#Dublin #CollegeGreen pic.twitter.com/2Uc56YO271

— Dublin City Council (@DubCityCouncil) May 29, 2023

The Dublin City Council also listed the key elements of the Traffic Management Measures on their page, adding that the taxi spaces will be reduced at Foster Place and increased at the College Green taxi rank.

Additionally, Foster Place's disabled parking bay will stay.

In the lead-up to the change, footpath widening works were reported early last week in preparation for the new 24 hour bus gate. It's part of an effort to make the area more welcoming to pedestrians. Further efforts might see planters and public seating added as well.

Online, reception to the expansion of the College Green Bus Gate seems to be mixed. Some people seem to believe that it will create more congestion elsewhere, while others express distaste for the appearance of construction in the space. Others expressed concern for local businesses near College Green and how they might be affected. More still debated about the inclusion of taxis in the Bus Gate.

The change to the College Green hasn't been the only change made to transportation in Dublin. Earlier this month, the Dublin Bus app was replaced by TFI live, an app presented by the National Transit Authority. As the Dublin Bus hadn't been updated in at least six years, it was a welcome change to Dubliners' commuting lives.