Kilcullen through-traffic a 'challenge' - Council survey

A survey of parking, traffic and pedestrian movements in Kilcullen concluded that the town’s main challenge is through-traffic pressure, not a parking shortage, writes Brian Byrne. The details were provided to Cllr Tracey O'Dwyer at the recent Kildare-Newbridge MD meeting, who said the parking component of the survey was 'flawed'.

Commissioned by Kildare County Council and carried out by IDASO Ltd, the study was conducted over four days in May 2025. The findings show a busy town centre with strong pedestrian activity and short-stay parking demand competing with significant passing-through traffic. Some 176,262 vehicles were recorded during the survey, around 85 per cent of which were private cars.

Pedestrian activity was noted to be strong throughout the town, especially along Main Street, The Square, near schools, and around commercial areas. They included children, teenagers, older people, and mobility-impaired pedestrians.

The report concluded that there is no overall parking deficit, with 680 parking spaces recorded, averaging overall occupancy of less than 40 per cent through the day. But it noted some central locations are under strain, while peripheral and off-street areas remain underused. The report suggests a need for smarter parking management, with signposting to less-used areas and better distinguishing between short-stay and longer-stay parking.

Cllr O'Dwyer described as a 'flaw' in the report that parking spaces on private properties were included, noting that the only public parking is on Main Street and the Market Square, a distinction that is 'critical for any future urban planning'. She said the findings reinforce long-standing calls for major infrastructure projects, such as a ring road and improved access to the motorway. In February, she asked what steps had been taken by the council to begin a parking strategy for the town. 

The study will guide future decisions on public realm improvements, traffic calming, pedestrian crossings, and town centre mobility in line with national and local policies, including Town Centre First and Active Travel objectives.

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