Chapter 6 Infrastructure and Services 6.1 Introduction One of the strategic aims of the Development Plan is to facilitate the development of County Monaghan through the provision of essential infrastructure and services, while minimising the adverse impacts of development on the environment. This aim provides the framework for the formulation of the policies and objectives set out in this section. Improved national, regional, county and local infrastructure and services are essential to improve the economic competitiveness and quality of life within the county. Basic infrastructural development and investment in areas such as roads, water, energy, waste and telecommunications are required to promote balanced and sustainable economic development and to improve the quality of the built and natural environment, throughout the county. Investment in infrastructure is heavily reliant upon investment at national government level. Investment in infrastructure is channelled through the National Development Plan 2007-2013, with an overall investment of €184 billion in five infrastructural sectors, national roads, public transport, environmental infrastructure, sustainable energy, housing and health facilities. However this level of investment is now uncertain given the fiscal constraints upon the state over the coming years. Monaghan in common with other border counties has a deficient infrastructure. The road network, which is the only mode of transport in the county, requires additional upgrading at all levels. However, the Waste Management Strategy has resulted in major reductions in waste levels, while the county’s drinking water requirements for the medium term have been secured. It is the aim of this draft plan to improve infrastructure for the county so that it will be an attractive location for new commercial and residential development. Key to the effective provision of infrastructure and services in the county is the consolidation of new and existing development. This will minimise the need to travel, encourage a modal shift to public transport, and cycling and walking, will protect existing and proposed investment in public infrastructure and will ensure that infrastructure and services are delivered in an effective manner. 125 Transportation 6.2 Transportation 6.2.1 Smarter Travel One of the five high level goals of the Department of Transport, as outlined in the Statement of Strategy 2008-2010, is to advance the development of an integrated and sustainable transport system for Ireland. This high level goal has since been further strengthened through the development of a sustainable travel and transport policy for Ireland. This policy, Smarter Travel A Sustainable Transport Future, was published in February 2009, and represents a new transport policy for Ireland for the period 2009-2020. The policy recognises the vital importance of continued investment in transport to ensure an efficient economy and continued social development, but it also sets out the necessary steps to ensure that people choose more sustainable transport modes such as walking, cycling and public transport. The policy is a response to the fact that continued growth in demand for road transport is not sustainable as it will lead to further congestion, further local air pollution, contribute to global warming, and result in negative impacts to health through promoting increasingly sedentary lifestyles. The aims of Smarter Travel are as follows: To improve quality of life and accessibility to transport for all and, in particular, for people with reduced mobility and those who may experience isolation due to lack of transport To improve economic competitiveness through maximising the efficiency of the transport system and alleviating congestion and infrastructural bottlenecks. To minimise the negative impacts of transport on the local and global environment through reducing localised air pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions. To reduce overall travel demand and commuting distances travelled by the private car To improve security of energy supply by reducing dependency on imported fossil fuels. These aims will be achieved through 49 specific actions, which can be broadly grouped into four key areas: Actions to reduce distance travelled by private car and encourage smarter travel, including focusing population growth in areas of employment and to encourage people to live in close proximity to places of employment and the use of pricing mechanisms or fiscal measures to encourage behavioural change, Actions aimed at ensuring that alternatives to the car are more widely available, mainly through a radically improved public transport service and through investment in cycling and walking, Actions aimed at improving the fuel efficiency of motorised transport through improved fleet structure, energy efficient driving and alternative technologies, and Actions aimed at strengthening institutional arrangements Further information on the development and implementation of this policy is available at www.smartertravel.ie 6.2.2 Transport 21 and Sustainability Transport 21 provides for total capital funding of over €34 billion in transport over the next ten years, with about €16 billion dedicated to investment in public transport, although the fiscal constraints upon the state over the coming years may severely 126 restrict this investment. The proposed level of investment in public transport will provide choice and an alternative to the private car, particularly in the major urban areas, thereby encouraging a modal shift from the private car to less polluting and less energy intensive forms of transport such as public transport. It is proposed to significantly upgrade the national road network under Transport 21, removing bottlenecks, reducing congestion and improving journey times. If this level of investment remains committed to by the government, it will play an important role in improving the efficiency of the transport sector, and will be positive from an energy-use and an emissions perspective. 6.2.3 National Cycle Policy Framework 2009-2020 Reducing dependency on the car is one of the main objectives necessary for achieving more sustainable travel and transport patterns in Ireland. Public transport will play a major part in ensuring such modal shift occurs, but the full potential of walking and cycling will have to be realised to address the negative social, economic and environmental impacts of ever increasing volumes of road transport. Ireland’s First National Cycle Policy Framework was launched in April 2009 sets out nineteen specific objectives that will meet the vision of creating a strong culture of cycling in Ireland:- 1: Support the planning, development and design of towns and cities in a cycling and pedestrian friendly way. 2: Ensure that the urban road infrastructure (with the exception of motorways) is designed / retrofitted so as to be cyclist-friendly and that traffic management measures are also cyclist friendly. 3: Provide designated rural cycle networks especially for visitors and recreational cycling. 4: Provide cycling-friendly routes to all schools, adequate cycling parking facilities within schools, and cycling training to all school pupils. 5: Ensure that all of the surfaces used by cyclists are maintained to a high standard and are well lit. 6: Ensure that all cycling networks - both urban and rural - are signposted to an agreed standard. 7: Provide secure parking for bikes. 8: Ensure proper integration between cycling and public transport. 9: Provide public bikes in cities. 10: Improve the image of cycling and promote cycling using “soft interventions” such as promotional campaigns, events etc. 11: Improve cyclists’ cycling standards and behaviour on the roads. 12: Improve driver education and driving standards so that there is a greater appreciation for the safety needs of cyclists. 13: Support the provision of fiscal incentives to cycle. 14: Provide appropriate levels of, and timely, financial resources towards implementing the NCPF. 15: Introduce changes to legislation to improve cyclist safety. 16: Improve enforcement of traffic laws to enhance cyclist safety and respect for cyclists. 17: Develop a structure that can coordinate the implementation of activities across the many Government Departments, Agencies and NGO’s. 18: Provide design professionals with suitable training / guidance to develop and implement the policies of the NCPF. Support the deepening of knowledge of the subject of planning for cyclists in Ireland. 19: Evaluate the cycling policy and monitor the success as the measures are implemented. 127 6.2.4 Green Schools Travel Module The Green Schools Travel Module is funded by the Department of Transport, and is run by An Taisce through the Dublin Transportation Office (DTO).The Module aims to reduce dependency on car transport for journeys to and from school (and create a life- long culture of using alternatives to the car) and is an important element of implementing the Smarter Travel policy and the National Cycle Policy. In 2010 the Green-Schools Travel Module involved 140,000 pupils around the country in some 450 schools. 6.2.5 Biofuels and Alternative Fuels Biofuels offer the potential to reduce the Greenhouse Gas Emissions associated with the transport sector, reduce Ireland’s reliance on imported fossil fuels, and stimulate the agricultural sector which can potentially grow and provide the raw materials for biofuels production. The Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (DCENR) is responsible