It has been announced the towns that have been designated ‘Ireland’s Active Travel Towns’.
The initiative sees eleven successful Irish towns granted funding for local cycling and walking strategies – including new cycle-lanes, provision of walkways and behavioural change initiatives in local schools and workplaces to encourage people to switch their transport mode.
Active Travel is an initiative by the Department of Tourism and Sport to support people to switch their mode of travel away from cars and towards walking and cycling.
Towns named in the grant scheme were:
Sligo
Population 19,154
Grant: €955,000
Application places a focus on the provision of cycling infrastructure on “spine “ routes from residential area to the town centre and links these routes to the main employment centres and school in the area. It also proposed to develop a route around the town centre itself making it an Active Travel town. The application also includes a range of measures to encourage behavioural change including traffic calming measures mapping of routes, and a clear plan for the assessment and evaluation of deliverables.
Carlow
Population 23,030
Grant: €939,850
The application outlines a plan for the implementation of a walking and cycling strategy for Carlow town and Graiguecullen Village. The proposal is designed to integrate, link and provide walking and cycling infrastructure the whole town of Carlow (including Graiguecullen) with school shops leisure facilities, colleges and transports hubs. It places a focus on the provision of high quality links from core centres to residential areas. The plan also includes a range of behavioural change measures and links to an improved transport hub. Local business and community support is evident in the application.
Carrick on Shannon
Population : 5,000
Grant: €400,000
A good balanced mix of infrastructural projects coupled with softer measures to encourage modal shift. It proposes a number of infrastructural projects including a cycle route linking the railway station on the west of the river to the town centre. It also proposes the extension of existing routes thereby linking residential area to the town centre. The plan also includes a number of softer measures are also proposed to encourage behavioural change and it has the support of the local business sport and school communities.
Cavan
Population 9,819
Grant: €675,000
The vision for the town is to “ensure that walking and cycling become the first preference short commuter and leisure trips in Cavan town” Specific aim of bringing about the necessary changes to make Cavan an Active travel town.
The application proposes the delivery of phase 1 of a planned Cycle routes network for the Town of Cavan. The route will be on road running along the spine of the town linking residential areas with educational and commercial facilities within the catchment areas. In addition, the proposal will be supported by the implementation of a range of soft measures to encourage modal shift including workplace travel plans and it has the support of the local businesses and community
Clonmel
Population 17,087
Grant: €456,276
The project area is divided between the retail park on the southside and two significant residential areas on the eastern side of the corridor with nearly 2,000 households, school, church, playing pitched and railway station. The proposal proposes to provide a dedicated cycle track and pedestrian corridor along the N24 Clonmel Inner Relief Road to link the business areas to the residential areas.
The project will be supported through widespread collaboration with target groups e.g. schools, cycle clubs and employers; local print and radio media, public meeting and surveys; focussed school cycle training, support for workplace and personal mobility management plans.
Castlebar
Population 10,835
Grant: €120,300
The project consists of linking all existing cycle lanes and the provision of cycle links to bus and train stations and then promoting cycle to work and school. Some infrastructural work will be undertaken together with interventions to support behavioural change and achieve modal shift. The projects also hopes to achieve a link to 60% of residential areas from schools and GMIT by either a cycle route or a greenway route.
Oranmore
Population: 4,517
Grant: €100,000
Proposal is to link the Gaelscoil and housing areas with the town centre to allow school children to walk safely to school. Oranmore is included in the draft Galway City and Environs Walking and cycling Strategy. By providing the footpath and footbridge this route to school for pedestrians will improve road safety. This enabling action will act as a catalyst and provide good example for school to encourage children to walk to school safely. Authority will engage with schools and communities to encourage behavioural change. Requested grant €100,000.
Letterkenny
Population: 19,363
Grant: €232,120
The proposal includes elements of walking and cycling, increased use of public transport and a town centre parking strategy but the principal emphasis is on behavioural change given the dramatic growth in industry, retail and cultural infrastructure since 2002. The proposal includes all elements of the community and has a strong sense of local support and enthusiasm for the changes proposed.
Nenagh
Population: 8,000
Grant: €290,000
This proposal combines ambitious behavioural change interventions with good linkage with existing cycle routes. The application includes details of proposals for the development of 5 cycle lanes and footpaths linking the residential areas in the north and west of the town to the town centre schools and employment centres. Walking and cycling are under‐used forms of transport in Nenagh at present. Focus is also placed on behavioural change interventions, such as contra flow for cyclists on one way streets, reduction in speed limits and other measures to encourage modal shift
Kilkenny
Population 26,000
Grant €400,000
The Quaylink pedestrian bridge has been included as an objective in the Kilkenny City and Environs Development Plan and is a vital component of the Mobility Management Plan. It will link the cycling and pedestrian infrastructure which has already been provided by Kilkenny Borough Council (The River Route) and the Department of Transport’s Jobs Initiative funding 2011. The objective is to complete the Pedestrian and Cycle Link Retail Centre and Transport Hub to the City Centre Retail Area.
Mullingar
Grant: €20,000
Application is for funding of a feasibility study on e-working for the town. Given that Mullingar is expanded in size in recent years and is now an established commuter town, a study on e-working is considered to be a worthwhile project and is recommended for funding.
Related posts: