Bonneagar Iompair Eireann Transport Infrastructure Ireland Draft Limerick | Shannon METROPOLITAN AREA TRANSPORT STRATEGY 2040 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS National Transport Authority: Limerick City and County Council: Jacobs: Hugh Creegan Brian Kennedy John Paul FitzGerald David Clements Dan Slavin Kevin Burke Michael MacAree Maria Woods Marjely Caneva Jari Howard Jennifer Egan Transport Infrastructure Ireland: Robert Gallagher Sarah Cooper Martin Bourke Dara McGuigan Stephen Johnson Michael McCormack Tim Fitzgerald Colm Kelly Tara Spain Clare County Council Systra: Carmel Kirby Ian Byrne Liam Conneally Allanah Murphy Sean Lenihan Paul Hussey Ann Cronin Andrew Archer Brian McCarthy Sinead Canny John Leahy Tadgh McNamara Dolphin 3D Photomontages: Philip Watkin Date of publication: June 2020 Draft Limerick | Shannon METROPOLITAN AREA TRANSPORT STRATEGY The Strategy will deliver a high-quality, accessible, integrated and more sustainable transport network that supports the role of the Limerick-Shannon Metropolitan Area as the major growth engine of the Mid-West Region, an internationally competitive European city region and main international entry to the Atlantic Corridor. CONTENTS 01 Introduction 03 02 Policy Context 09 03 Study Area & Transport Context 19 04 Land Use 25 05 Strategy Development 29 06 Walking 33 07 Cycling 43 08 BusConnects 51 09 Rail 59 10 Roads and Streets 65 11 Parking 73 12 Freight, Delivery and Servicing 79 13 Supporting Measures 83 14 Implementation 91 15 Strategy Outcomes 95 2 LIMERICK SHANNON | METROPOLITAN AREA TRANSPORT STRATEGY 01 INTRODUCTION The Limerick-Shannon Metropolitan To mitigate this, land use and transport planning A flexible strategy with the ability to scale up Area Transport Strategy will be will be far more closely aligned. This will public transport capacity and frequencies as instrumental in the regeneration discourage the use of the private car, particularly necessary in response to changing for short trips, in order to fundamentally change circumstances; and and transformation of Limerick City how people move around the LSMA. This requires A framework plan with which other agencies and the wider Limerick-Shannon a more efficient use of valuable street and road involved in land-use planning, environmental Metropolitan Area. space and a prioritisation of walking, cycling and protection and the delivery of other infrastructure Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy for the Southern Region public transport. and services such as water, housing and community facilities can align their plans and The National Planning Framework 2040 (NPF) The Limerick-Shannon Metropolitan Area Transport investment priorities. envisages that the Limerick-Shannon Metropolitan Strategy 2040 (LSMATS or the ‘Strategy’) has been Area (LSMA) will become the growth engine of the developed by the National Transport Authority CURRENT CHALLENGES in collaboration with Limerick City and County Mid-West Region with projected growth of at least There are several challenges across the wider Council, Clare County Council and Transport 50% during the period up to 2040. This projected LSMA that were considered in the preparation of Infrastructure Ireland (TII). It has also been informed population, employment and education growth this Strategy. In summary, planning and transport by pre-consultation submissions from a number brings with it opportunities for the development of policy and investment in the LSMA will need to: the LSMA. of stakeholders. Support a vibrant and accessible Limerick City Centre and identified regeneration areas, This projected population and associated economic LSMATS represents: metropolitan urban centres; growth will also result in a significant increase in The transport sector’s response to the LSMA’s Support a vibrant and accessible Shannon Town, the demand for travel. This demand needs to be requirements in relation to climate change; Airport and Freezone; managed and planned for carefully in order to An integrated transport strategy for walking, safeguard and enhance the LSMA’s attractiveness cycling, bus, rail and road to support planned Better integrate land use, and transport planning to live, work, visit and invest in. growth up to 2040; and investment; A strategy to facilitate compact growth; Support increased population, employment and In common with the other regional metropolitan educational densities in accessible centres and A framework for the planning, investment and areas of Cork, Galway and Waterford, there is along public transport corridors; delivery of transport infrastructure and services a legacy of car dependency in the LSMA. This to guide the LSMA’s development up to 2040 in Re-allocate road space to support more walking, has contributed to a wide range of economic, line with the National Planning Framework 2040, cycling and public transport; environmental and social issues including longer National Development Plan 2018-2027 and the Improve public transport through increased commutes, declining urban centres, poor public Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy for the priority and higher frequency services operating health, reduced air quality and noise pollution. Southern Region; with greater speed and journey time reliability with complementary facilities such as Park and Ride; LIMERICK SHANNON | METROPOLITAN AREA TRANSPORT STRATEGY 3 Minimise severance created by the River VISION AND PRINCIPLES These are as follows: Shannon, railway infrastructure and road network; The proposed Vision for LSMATS is as follows: Baseline Conditions & Policy Review Report; Reduce the impact of transport on the The Strategy will deliver a high-quality, Demand Analysis Report; environment, health, wellbeing and safety of accessible, integrated and more sustainable Transport Options Development Report; residents; transport network that supports the role of the Limerick-Shannon Metropolitan Area as Transport Modelling Report; Maintain and enhance the strategic function of the the major growth engine of the Mid-West National road network to cater for the movement Advance Consultation Report; and Region, an internationally competitive European Supporting Measures Report. of strategic traffic and discourage sprawl; city region and main international entry to the Maximise the potential of the existing transport Atlantic Corridor. infrastructure including the InterCity rail network, The strategy is also subject to the provisions Shannon Airport, the Port of Foynes and Ennis as STRATEGY DEVELOPMENT of the SEA and AA Directives, and associated national legislation. As such, it is accompanied a connecting hub; and Extensive technical analysis has been by an Environmental Report and a Natura Impact The need to achieve efficiency and resilience undertaken to inform the development of Statement. within Limerick-Shannon Metropolitan Area’s LSMATS. A number of supporting technical transport network across all modes. documents have been prepared which present Further information on the development process is the work undertaken and the evidence base for its outlined in the ‘Strategy Development’ chapter. Chapter 3 ‘Study Area and Transport Context’ proposed networks and measures. provides further detail on the existing transport LSMATS is considered to be a ‘live’ document and infrastructure and services in the LSMA. will be subject to a periodic review every 6 years. To achieve this vision, the guiding principles upon which LSMATS is based are: RINCILE RINCILE RINCILE RINCILE RINCILE RINCILE RINCILE 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 T T T T o vel T tify To enhance the To increase at gro f LSMA transport to reduce car of public transport protect key strategic public realm through transport capacity by thr o dependency; connectivity to key rout or traffic management wher velopmen of an efficient destina movemen f achieve the Strategy tr twork; high demand corridors; freight traffic; interven outcomes. 4 LIMERICK SHANNON | METROPOLITAN AREA TRANSPORT STRATEGY STRATEGIC ENVIRONMENTAL The SEA has evaluated the provisions of the ASSESSMENT (SEA) AND APPROPRIATE Strategy for potential significant effects against ten ASSESSMENT (AA). strategic environmental objectives (SEOs) set out in the table below . LSMATS will provide a framework for future projects which are likely to have a significant effect on the SEO LINKED SEA TOPICS environment, and therefore falls under the scope of the European Directive 2001/42/EC “on the Protect and enhance quality of life in relation to transport • Population, Socio-economics, Access, and Human Health. • Tourism and Recreation. assessment of the effects of certain plans and while increasing accessibility to economic, employment and community facilities. programmes on the environment” (known as the Avoid damage to recreation and amenity facilities through • Tourism and Recreation. ‘SEA Directive’). The SEA Directive is implemented construction of new transport infrastructure and support and enhance • Population, Socio-economics, Access, and Human Health. in Ireland via the European Communities (EC) access for tourism recreation. • Land Use and Material Assets. (Environmental Assessment of Certain Plans and Prevent damage to, and where appropriate enhance, terrestrial, • Biodiversity, Flora and Fauna. Programmes) Regulations 2003, as amended by aquatic and soil biodiversity, particularly EU and national designated • Landscape and Visual Amenity. sites and protected species. • Geology and Soils. the EC (Environmental Assessment of Certain Plans • Land Use and