Design manual for Urban Roads and Streets

There is a growing appreciation that streets should not just be corridors for traffic, but rather should be places in which people want to live and spend time. Streets also need to facilitate more sustainable forms of transportation such as walking, cycling and public transport so the need for car-borne trips is minimised in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote healthier lifestyles. In recognition of these objectives, the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, together with the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government commissioned the preparation of the Design Manual for Urban Roads and Streets (DMURS).

DMURS seeks to put well-designed streets at the heart of sustainable communities and supports boarder government policies on the environment, planning and transportation. DMURS provides the practical measures to achieve:

• Highly connected street which allow people to walk and cycle to key destinations in a direct and easy-to find manner.
• A safe and comfortable street environment for pedestrians and cyclists of all ages.
• Streets that contribute to the creation of attractive and lively communities.
• Streets that calm traffic via a range of design measures that make drivers more aware of their environment.

In 2010 a Project Team, consisting of staff from Cork, Fingal, Kildare and South Dublin County Council’s was assembled to produce DMURS. DMURS was launched on 25th March 2013 by Mr. Leo Varadkar, T.D., Minister for Transport Tourism and Sport and by Ms. Jan O’Sullivan, T.D., Minister for Housing and Planning at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government at an event held at the Civic Theatre in Tallaght.

DMURS replaces existing national design standards that will be used throughout all urban areas in Ireland when designing/upgrading roads and streets. The use of DMURS is mandatory for all road authorities (Circular RW 6/2013) and (PL 17/2013) applies to all Roads and Streets in Urban Areas (except where specified).

A specific DMURS website has been developed at www.dmurs.ie

Note this website will be subject to upgrading in the near future

Latest Version of DMURS

Supplementary Material

Circulars

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Case Studies

Local authorities and private practitioners are invited to submit projects that demonstrate the application of the principles, approaches and design measures contained within DMURS. These will serve to illustrate ‘best practise’ street design and place making that will inform practitioners, students and interested persons.

There is no set format to how case studies should be presented, other than to state that submissions should illustrate (via plans, drawings and photos) and describe:

• The ‘vision’ and objectives of the project (including any design brief)

• The preceding environment (including its function and context)

• The scope of works (including the budget)

• The final design

• Any ongoing monitoring and/or issues that have arisen