CHAPTER 5 Movement Strategy 2 Movement Strategy 5.1 Introduction (RSES) are to be consistent with the National Transport Authority’s Transport Strategy as are Transport is fundamental to how we live and Local Authority Development Plans and Local work. The maintenance and delivery of an Area Plans. efficient, integrated and coherent transport network in line with national and regional policy is fundamental to the future economic, social 5.3 Policy Context and physical development of the County. Failure There are a number of National and Regional to facilitate efficient transport creates costs policy documents which provide the basis for for society and acts as a barrier to economic Meath’s transportation strategy as follows: growth. A key priority for this Plan is the development of a sustainable transport system, National Planning Framework and National promoting measures to increase the use of Development Plan- Project Ireland 2040 public transport, while also increasing the modal The National Strategic Outcomes of Compact share for walking and cycling in towns and Growth (NSO 1), Enhanced Regional Accessibility villages across the County. (NSO 2), Strengthened Rural Economies and National and regional transport policy Communities (NSO 3), Sustainable Mobility (NSO recognises that current transport trends in 4) and Transition to a Low-Carbon and Climate- Ireland and the GDA, in particular with regard to Resilient Society (NSO 8) and a Strong Economy levels of car use, are unsustainable. A transition supported by Enterprise, Innovation and Skills towards more sustainable modes of transport is (NSO 5) are all of relevance to this Movement essential to reduce Ireland’s carbon emissions Strategy. and reach the Government’s goal of an 80% The NPF focus is on delivery of compact growth reduction in carbon emissions by 2050. with the emphasis on an efficient public While the emphasis in this chapter is to transport systems thereby reducing reliance encourage this modal shift it is also important on the private car which will reduce emissions, to recognise that some essential travel will improve air quality etc. continue to be made by cars and goods vehicles Implementing the Ireland 2040 Framework will and the Plan also facilitates improvement in be guided by targeting the following national road infrastructure to cater for the required strategic outcomes: improved efficiencies. Compact, Smart Growth: ‘Carefully managing the sustainable growth of 5.2 Statutory Context compact cities and towns adds value and should create more attractive places for people to live Legislation in the form of the Dublin Transport and work in. All our cities and many rural towns Authority Act 2008 and the Planning and contain large potential development areas, Development Act 2000 (as amended) centrally located and frequently publicly owned, established the role of the National Transport that are suitable and capable of re-use to provide Authority (NTA)1 in the planning process for the housing, jobs, amenities and services, but which GDA. Regional Spatial and Economic Strategies 1 The NTA is the transport authority for the Greater Dublin Area and the public licensing agency for Ireland. It was established under the provisions of the Dublin Transport Authority Act 2008 and the Public Regulation Act (2009), on 1st December 2009. Movement Strategy 3 need a streamlined and co-ordinated approach prioritise projects which are proceeding to to their development, with investment in enabling construction in the National Development Plan, infrastructure and supporting amenities, to realise these projects include: N3 Clonee to M50, N2 their potential. Activating these strategic areas Rath Roundabout to Kilmoon Cross, N2 Ardee to and achieving effective density and consolidation, south of Castleblayney and N2 Clontibret to the rather than more sprawl of urban development is a Border. top priority.’ A number of local roads are listed in the NDP Enhanced Regional Accessibility: for progression over the life of the plan the ‘Once the core areas in key cities and urban Bettystown/Laytown Spine Road is included. areas have been mobilised, the next priority is to The NDP states that Local Authorities are enhance accessibility between key urban centres planning to progress a wide range of regional ofpopulation and their regions such as the key and local roads projects across the country. cities of Cork and Limerick and through the Atlantic These projects are at various stages of planning Economic Corridor to Galway as well as access and appraisal. Examples of projects currently to the larger urban centres in the North-West. subject to appraisal include the R157 Maynooth Investment in connectivity first without urban Road, Dunboyne (safety upgrade) and the R162 consolidation measures will likely worsen the Navan to Kingscourt road (safety upgrade). current trends towards sprawl.’ National Transport Authority - Transport Sustainable Mobility: Strategy for the Greater Dublin Area 2016- 2035 ‘in line with Ireland’s Climate Change mitigation plan, we need to progressively electrify our mobility This transport strategy provides a framework systems moving away from polluting and carbon for the planning and delivery of transport intensive propulsion systems to new technologies infrastructure and services in the Greater such as electric vehicles and introduction of electric Dublin Area over the next two decades. The and hybrid traction systems for public transport strategy has identified that since the 1990’s fleets, such that by 2040 our cities and towns car ownership in Meath has consistently risen will enjoy a cleaner, quieter environment free of even through the recession years and is now combustion engine driven transport systems.’ reaching saturation point. Cycling mode share in the County is low. The strategy emphasises National Strategic Outcome 2 refers to the need for additional walking and cycling enhanced regional accessibility. The N52 Ardee infrastructure in the region and outlines the Bypass and the N2 Slane Bypass are projects improvements required to achieve this. The listed as part of the programme of investment NTA’s Transportation Strategy is required by set out in the National Development Plan, and legislation to be consistent with the RSES. as illustrated by figure 5.2, aims to achieve these objective the objective of enhanced regional Building on Recovery: Infrastructure and connectivity. Capital Investment 2016-2021 (Department of Public Expenditure and Reform) A number of sections of the national road network will be progressed through pre- The Capital Plan presents the Government’s €42 appraisal and early planning during 2018 to billion framework for infrastructure investment 4 Movement Strategy in Ireland over the period 2016 to 2021. The Smarter Travel – A Sustainable Transport plan is committed to the provision of high Future – A New Transport Policy for Ireland, quality infrastructure. It outlines allocations 2009-2020 (Department of Transport, Tourism for new projects across a number of key and Sport) areas and funding to ensure that the present This strategy aims to deliver a sustainable stock of national infrastructure is refreshed transport system which is fundamental to and maintained. In particular it mentions the the climate change agenda. The Government commencement of the Slane By-Pass and the reaffirms its vision for sustainability in transport Laytown – Bettystown link road. and sets out five keys goals: (i) reduce overall Investing in our Transport Future - A travel demand, (ii) maximise the efficiency of Strategic investment Framework for Land the transport network, (iii) reduce reliance on Transport (Department of Transport, fossil fuels, (iv) reduce transport emissions and Tourism and Sport, 2015) (v) improve accessibility to transport and thus improve our quality of life. This document considers the role transport should play in the future of the Irish Economy National Cycle Policy Framework 2009-2020 and seeks to identify a strategy for the (Department of Transport, Tourism and development and management of Irelands Sport) land transport network. The framework is The National Cycle Policy Framework (NCPF) intended to guide key land transport investment 2009-2020, uses the targets outlined in Smarter decisions over the next number of decades. The Travel and focuses more specifically on cycling document also provides a set of criteria against as a sustainable transport mode. The document which to assess national and regional land use sets out the stated aim of creating a strong planning policy, including the development of cycling culture in Ireland making cycling the a possible new spatial planning framework. norm, rather than an exception, for all short It also functions as a filter for new transport trips undertaken. investment projects prior to their appraisal for suitability for inclusion in national or regional Dublin Area Cycle Network Plan 2014-2024 schemes. This document focuses on establishing an Spatial Planning and National Roads inventory of cycling facilities in Dublin, Kildare, Guidelines for Planning Authorities Meath and Wicklow and identifies potential cycle (Department of Environment, Community routes such as greenways, cycle paths, cycle and Local Government 2012) lanes, and roads. The plan sets out a ten year strategy to guide investment into cycling in the These guidelines set out planning policy GDA and seeks to increase the regions cycle considerations relating to development affecting network fivefold in