Development plan · Cork County Council
Cork County Development Plan 2022–2028 – Volume One: Main Policy Material
The council's development plan written statement: its strategy, policies, objectives and development standards. Variations adopted since are not in this text.
Cork County Council · 2022–2028 · 564 pages
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- 251 CHAPTER 12 TRANSPORT AND MOBILITY Aim of Chapter To support the delivery of an efficient transport system in the County, supporting connectivity and competitiveness, and to make sustainable travel modes an attractive and convenient choice for as many people as possible in order to deliver economic, social, health, wellbeing, environmental and climate action benefits.
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- 253 CONTENTS Contents 12.1 Introduction 254 12.2 Transportation and Land Use Strategy for County Cork 254 12.3 Climate Action and Resilience – Decarbonising Transport 255 12.4 Integration of Land Use and Transport Planning 255 12.5 Avoid-Shift-Improve Framework 259 12.6 Transport Demand Management 263 12.7 Active Travel Choices 265 12.8 Public Transport 269 12.9 Cork Metropolitan Area Transport Strategy 272 12.10 Remote Working 272 12.11 Traffic/Mobility Management and Road Safety 272 12.12 Parking 273 12.13 Park and Ride 275 12.14 Smart Mobility 276 12.15 EV charging 276 12.16 Strategic Road Infrastructure Investment 276 12.17 Freight and Ports 279 12.18 Rail Freight 279 12.19 Road Freight and Logistics 280 12.20 Port of Cork 280 12.21 Other Ports and Harbours in the County 281 12.22 Water Based Transport 282 12.23 Cork International Airport 282 12.24 Parking Standards 284
- 254 12.1 Introduction 12.1.1 Transport is a key enabler of all economic and social activities and it is closely linked to quality of life, health and wellbeing. Our transport policy needs to facilitate efficient development of the economy, enhance quality of life and social inclusion, reduce both demand for travel and dependence on the private car for transport, and support high frequency public transport services. The Council’s transport policy relates to active travel, road transport (including public transport) and rail transport as well as freight, ports and airport. 12.1.2 Our current transport patterns have been largely shaped by our population distribution and the level of investment in infrastructure provision. Data tells us that, at a County level, modal shift away from car use is not being achieved in Cork. Sustainable travel mode usage is falling and car usage is increasing. Census data shows that among employees living in Cork County less than 1% of commuters cycled to work, less than 3% used public transport and less than 6% walked to work in 2016. 12.1.3 Ireland supports the adoption of a net zero greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) target by 2050 at EU level. In view of the GHG emissions from transport (which are second only to agricultural emissions) and the energy use for transport (highest energy use by sector accounting for 40% of energy related CO2 emissions in 2018) we need to achieve a significant change in how we travel. Nationally, transport accounted for 20.1% of Ireland’s GHGs in 2018 with 96.6% of our transport energy demand in 2018 served by fossil fuels. The current Programme for Government sets out national commitment to an average 7% per annum reduction in overall greenhouse gas emissions from 2021 to 2030 (a 51% reduction over the decade) and to achieving net zero emissions by 2050. 12.1.4 The National Planning Framework and its compact growth objectives, and the increased urgency for action in addressing climate change, as highlighted in the Government’s Climate Action Plan, provide the substantive context for sustainable transport policy. It is worth noting that a shift to sustainable transport modes, and climate action generally, will have a considerable economic benefit. 12.1.5 This plan emphasises sustainable, and particularly, active travel. However, providing for the sustainable movement of goods, services and people will necessarily include some travel by road. Maintaining, improving and protecting the strategic function of the road network is therefore critical to the County’s economic and social health. Additionally, strategic road infrastructure investment projects are necessary to unlock certain development opportunities. This plan therefore facilitates improvements in road infrastructure and safeguards efficiency in the network. 12.1.6 Cork is a spatially large County and as such it is acknowledged that personal transport by car will continue to be a feature of longer trips despite the significant mode shift to sustainable transport that this plan seeks to achieve. 12.2 Transportation and Land Use Strategy for County Cork 12.2.1 The vision for transport in the County is to support the delivery of an efficient transport system supporting connectivity and competitiveness, and to make sustainable travel modes an attractive and convenient choice for as many people as possible in order to deliver economic, social, health, wellbeing, environmental and climate action benefits. 12.2.2 In alignment with National policy and the goal of achieving sustainable development and compact growth, and in the interest of a vibrant economy, a healthy environment and enhanced wellbeing, transport policy in the County will seek to achieve the following: • Compact growth and the transition to a low carbon society - support the transformational change required to implement the National Planning Framework and the Southern Region Spatial and Economic Strategy particularly relating to compact growth and the transition to a low carbon society; • Transport oriented development - influence transport demand and reduce the need to travel; promote land use patterns that support sustainable transport investment; • Sustainable travel choices – need to provide for and prioritise sustainable modes of transport, acknowledging the wider benefits to society and minimising the environmental impacts of travel; • Enhanced connectivity and permeability – need to promote walking/cycling between homes and areas of employment, schools, public transport, retail and other services; • Clear transport investment priorities – need to set out investment priorities that will be progressed during the plan period; • Implementation of transport demand management measures – these measures are required to complement investment in transport infrastructure; • Support for competitive economies - need to facilitate reliable and resilient connections within and external to Cork County and internationally and need to protect the strategic capacity and safety of our transport infrastructure, including planning for future capacity enhancement, and supporting and maximising transport infrastructure investment. 12.2.3 Key concepts that underpin these objectives are: • An integrated approach to land use and transport planning in the form of a core strategy, settlement hierarchy, housing densities, location of employment and zoning of objectives based on sustainable settlement patterns and maximising sustainable transport opportunities. • Implementation of the Avoid-Shift-Improve approach to transport policy, including through the promotion of the 10-minute town/neighbourhood. 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- 255 12.3 Climate Action and Resilience – Decarbonising Transport 12.3.1 The policies outlined in this chapter support the shift to sustainable transport with a lighter carbon footprint and a reduced impact on climate change. Key to achieving this are the key concepts outlined above - integrating land use and transport and the creation of liveable settlements as part of an avoid-shift-improve transport framework. This is crucial given the current levels of GHG emissions from transport. 12.3.2 In addition to these mitigation measures we need to consider climate change adaptation measures to increase our resilience to climate change. The Council’s Climate Change Adaptation Framework sets out measures to minimise the disruption to transport systems caused by climate events. 12.3.3 Additional adaptation measures can include implementing best practice in Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) and considering native planting and natural borders or buffers in the context of transport infrastructure provision (roads and greenways) with benefits to communities in improving air quality, offsetting carbon emissions, promoting biodiversity, limiting flood risk, reducing urban heat, as well as aesthetic value. It is important that appropriate buffer zones are provided, maintained and protected to avoid individual impacts on designated species area habitats, and to protect and enhance wider biodiversity. 12.4 Integration of Land Use and Transport Planning 12.4.1 The aim of integrated land use and transport planning is to influence travel behaviour and to reduce the overall need to travel. This is achieved by promoting a more efficient land use pattern where suitable land uses are located closer together and by promoting high quality urban permeability. 12.4.2 The integration of land use and transport planning aligns with the National Strategic Outcomes of the NPF and its priority to achieve compact growth. It is a key principle outlined in the Government’s ‘A New Vision for Sustainable Mobility – A Review of Ireland’s Public Transport and Active Travel Policy’ (2019) which restates that a number of key objectives of the NPF support better integration of land use planning and transport planning – a concept which informs investment priorities to 2040. 12.4.3 Planning and transport policies are highly interdependent and the integration of land use and transport planning is a key principle of the national and regional policy which informs the policies and objectives of this plan. This approach will promote the development of mixed use, higher density communities which in turn will support the viability of local services and transport. 12.4.4 This Plan, in alignment with these policies, supports comprehensive public transport and active travel programmes which have been committed to in Project Ireland and the Cork Metropolitan Area Transport Strategy (CMATS) including walking and cycling networks and enhancements to bus infrastructure and the commuter rail service. CMATS proposes significant investment in public transport and supporting measures including enhanced public realm, walking and cycling infrastructure, light / suburban rail and bus connects corridors etc. for the Cork Metropolitan Area. The success of CMATS will depend on it being underpinned by a greater alignment of land use and transport and enhancing the attractiveness of sustainable travel options. 12.4.5 This Plan recognises that successful implementation of national policy on density across the county is very much dependent on a satisfactory level of public transport service provision in towns which are outside of County Metropolitan Cork and, application of similar level of densities to those required to be achieved in County Metropolitan Cork may support enhanced public transport provision in those towns outside the Metropolitan area. 12.4.6 In order to secure the growth potential of the County in a manner which is consistent with climate policy and achieves the ambitions of national climate policy, the Council will pursue the following Integrated Transport Strategy. Table 12.1 Integrated Land Use and Transport Strategy Avoid Shift Improve Framework Transport Demand Management Active Travel Public Transport Road infrastructure improvements to facilitate sustainable transport and sustainable development. Public transport infrastructure improvements to facilitate sustainable transport and sustainable development. EVs charging GO TO CONTENTS
- 256 Table 12.1 Integrated Land Use and Transport Strategy Avoid Shift Improve Initiatives Remote working Compact Growth 10-minute town concept Enhanced mix of land uses including location of employment and residential development. Active travel as a realistic choice: Compact Growth. 10-minute town concept. Enhanced mix of land uses including location of employment and residential development. Permeability and connectivity – safe, convenient and attractive routes to facilitate sustainable transport. Road upgrades/realignment to facilitate sustainable transport and sustainable development. Attractive public realm. Support viability of Bus, including Local Link, and Rail. Locate development to maximise the opportunity of Bus, including Local Link, and Rail. Park and Ride. Maximum car parking standards. Enhanced access to public transport. Multi modal connectivity Provision for transport multimodal interchange. EV charge point provision in new developments. EV charge point provision in public realm. Renewable energy. GO TO CONTENTS
- 257 Table 12.1 Integrated Land Use and Transport Strategy Avoid Shift Improve Plan Response Objectives CS 2-3, CS 2-5, CS 2-6, CS 2-7, CS 2-8 (see Chapter 2 Core Strategy). Objectives PL 3-1; PL 3-2; PL 3-3 (See Chapter 3 Settlements and Placemaking). Objectives HOU 4-7, HOU 4-8 (see Chapter 4 Housing). Objectives RP 5-1, RP 5-2, RP 5-3, RP 5-4, RP 5-5, RP 5-6, RP 5-7, RP 5-9 (see Chapter 5 Rural Cork). Objectives SC 6-1, SC 6-3, SC 6-8; SC6-10 (see Chapter 6 Social and Community). Objectives EC, EC 8-5, EC 8-12 (see Chapter 8 Economic Development), EC 8-8-16 Objectives TCR 9-1, TCR 9-2, TCR 9-13, TCR 9-16 (See Chapter 9 Town Centres and Retail). Objectives TO 10-1, TO 10-11 (see Chapter 10 Tourism) Objectives TM 12-1 to TM 12-2 (this chapter). Objective CA 17-3 (see Chapter 17 Climate Action). Objective ZU 18-9, ZU 18- 17 (see Chapter 18 Zoning and Land Use). Objective CS 2-3, CS 2-4, CS 2-8 (see Chapter 2 Core Strategy). Objective PL 3-1, PL 3-3 (see Chapter 3 Settlements and Placemaking). Objective SC 6-8 (see Chapter 6 Social and Community). Objective TCR 9-17 (see Chapter 9 Town Centres and Retail). TO 10-7, TO 10-8, TO 10-9 Objectives TM 12-1 to TM 12-11, TM-12-13 (this chapter). Objective ZU 18-9 (see Chapter 18 Zoning and Land Use). Objectives TM 12-12 (this chapter). GO TO CONTENTS
- 258 Table 12.1 Integrated Land Use and Transport Strategy Avoid Shift Improve Programmes and Measures €15.8 million NTA funding to Cork County Council for sustainable travel projects. CMATs Midleton to Youghal Greenway Eastern Corridor: Inter- Urban Cycle Route/ Greenway Cork Harbour Greenway Project ACT (Activating County Towns) Little Island Transport Strategy Castletownbere Transport Strategy residential development. Bandon Transportation and Public Realm Enhancement Plan, 2016 Carrigaline Transportation and Public Realm Enhancement Plan (in preparation). Bus shelter programme: over €1.2m of NTA funding between 2020 and 2021 will see the upgrade of 44 no. bus stops countywide, 35 no. to accessible standard. EV pilot programme. Targets and Monitoring Commuting to work and school by sustainable mode at countywide and main town level. Active travel infrastructure usage. Active Travel Projects delivered. Public transport usage. Delivery of road investment. Bus shelter enhancement programme. EV purchase Local Transport Plans 12.4.7 Local Transport Plans will guide the future development of towns in a manner which effectively integrates the functions of land use and transport planning, supporting objectives relating to sustainable transport and supporting the consolidation of future development within a more compact urban form. They will be informed by the NTA/TII document Area Based Transport Assessment and NTA/TII supplementary How to Guide Guidance Document Pilot Methodology (2021) and will be prepared for towns in accordance with objective TM 12-1 Integration of Land Use and Transport . It is intended that Local Transport Plans would: • Maximise the opportunities for the integration of land use and transport planning; • Assess the existing traffic, transport and movement conditions within the Plan area and in its wider context; • Plan for the efficient movement of people, goods and services within, to and from the Plan area; • Identify the extent to which estimated transport demand associated with local development objectives can be supported and managed on the basis of existing transport assets; and • Identify the transport interventions required within the Plan area and in the wider context, to effectively accommodate the anticipated increase in demand. • Local Transport Plans should optimise the potential for climate change mitigation and adaptation, providing protection for biodiversity and enhancing public realm. GO TO CONTENTS
- 259 12.4.8 The following land use and transport integration policy objectives will guide development in County Cork: County Development Plan Objective TM 12-1: Integration of Land Use and Transport Support and facilitate the integration of land use with transportation infrastructure, through the development of diverse, sustainable, compact settlements, to achieve sustainable transport outcomes, with the pattern, location and design of new development in the County to support existing and planned well-functioning, integrated public transport, walking and cycling transport modes. a) The Council will support delivery of transport programmes and policies that have been committed to in Project 2040 and the Cork Metropolitan Area Strategic Plan as they apply to County Cork. b) Residential development will, where possible, be carried out sequentially, whereby lands which are within or contiguous with the existing urban areas, and which are, or will be, most accessible by walking cycling or public transport - including infill and brownfield sites – are prioritised. c) Future developments will be planned and designed to maximise their accessibility by public transport, walking and cycling and in particular, larger scale, trip intensive developments, such as offices and retail, will generally be focused into central locations highly accessible by sustainable transport modes; d) New employment and residential development will be consolidated and intensified in a manner which renders it serviceable by public transport and ensures that it is highly accessible, by walking, cycling and public transport. Within Metropolitan Cork, trip intensive developments or significant levels of development will occur in locations which are well served by existing or proposed high capacity public transport; e) Development in smaller rural towns will optimise public transport and sustainable travel integration within settlements. Public transport interchanges will be supported to encourage modal shift to public transport and sustainable travel between settlements and on approach to settlements. f) Higher residential development densities will be promoted in settlement centres benefiting from high quality provision of public transport services. g) Local Transport Plans will be prepared for key towns and larger towns with a population at or approaching 10,000 in order to maximise the integration of land use and transport planning. The preparation of Local Transport Plans will include a detailed analysis of permeability to facilitate the delivery of the 10-minute town concept optimising the potential for climate change mitigation and adaptation, providing protection for biodiversity and enhancing public realm. Local Transport Plans will be prepared in consultation with NTA and TII and will have regard to NTA/TII Area Based Transport Assessment (ABTA) Advice Note (2018 or any subsequent revision) and supplementary ABTA How to Guide, Guidance Document, Pilot Methodology (2021). h) The Council will promote coordination between all agencies involved in the provision of transport services. i) The design of all roads and streets within the urban areas, including suburbs, towns and villages within the 60 kph zone shall be as per the Design Manual for Urban Roads and Streets, being the designated appropriate road design standards for such locations. DMURS will be implemented in the preparation of all statutory and non-statutory plans and through the development management process. j) The strategic transport function of national roads will be maintained and protected in accordance with national policy. k) See also TM 12-7 CMATS 12.5 Avoid-Shift-Improve Framework 12.5.1 The integration of land use and transport is fundamental to delivering the Avoid-Shift-Improve approach to transport policy. This well established, best practice framework refers to the need to increase efficiency of the transport system by reducing both the need to travel and by reducing trip lengths, the need to shift from use of the private car to sustainable transport modes (particularly walking and cycling), and the need to improve energy efficiency of transport modes and enhance the attractiveness of public transport. The A-S-I framework follows a hierarchy: “avoid” measures having the greatest focus, secondly “shift” and finally the “improve“ measures. This approach will alleviate congestion so that economic growth is not undermined by transport inefficiency, it will reduce emissions and it will create more liveable towns. 12.5.2 Using the Avoid-Shift-improve approach to transport policy Cork County Council will seek to reduce the need to travel and promote the use of sustainable transport modes – walking, cycling and public transport – for entire journeys or at least part of journeys. In this context this plan promotes a 10 minute neighbourhood concept whereby a large portion of the population may choose to walk to access many of their everyday needs within a safe, attractive and convenient 10 minute walk of their home. GO TO CONTENTS
- 260 12.5.3 The approach is supported by public transport and active travel programmes committed to in Project Ireland 2040 and CMATS, including walking and cycling networks, enhancements to bus infrastructure and the commuter rail service etc. 12.5.4 Smarter Travel (2009-2020), the Government’s sustainable transport policy, set mode share targets for work related commuting – targets which are reflected in the Regional, Spatial and Economic Strategy for the Southern Region (RSES). The Smarter Travel policy document is currently under review and should the updated policy set sustainable transport targets these will apply in County Cork. CMATS also included am peak mode share targets to 2040 for the entire Metropolitan Area. CMATS sets out that the daily demand for travel in 2040 will have increased by 56% over 2011 levels. 12.5.5 The 2028 mode share target for commuting to work table below takes walking targets for Metropolitan Cork published in CMATS as a starting point and establishes a walking mode share target for each town by applying the CMATS 21% 2040 metropolitan cork target to each town. The individual town target for walking varies depending on the town’s 2016 baseline. 60% and 4% mode shares from ‘driving a private car’ and ‘cycling’, respectively, are generally applied for each town. Assuming that the census modes of travel of ‘passenger in a car’, ‘lorry’, ‘van’ or ‘other’ remain relatively static the balance in each town will need to be met by public transport. These targets represent minimum targets and it is hoped that an even greater modal shift, particularly to cycling, will be achieved with the increased level of recent investment in active travel infrastructure and with future investment. This is particularly important given the scale of the impact of transport on climate change. While ultimately it is hoped to achieve the targets for private car and sustainable travel mode shares set out in Smarter Travel, the town targets identified here seek to be realistic, reflecting the very high 2016 level of car use in the County. Table 12.2 Relevant Existing Modal Shift Targets Smarter Travel National Sustainable Transport Policy Cork Metropolitan Area Transport Strategy Outcomes AM Peak Mode Share 2011-2040 45% of work related commuting by private car by 2020 Car: 66% 2011 49.3% 2040 55% of work related commuting by sustainable transport by 2020 Walking: 21% 2011 21% 2040 Public Transport: 10% 2011 25.7% 2040 Cycling: 1% 2011 4% 2040 12.5.6 Currently, monitoring of modal shift is largely dependent on Census data which details commuting patterns to work and education. More timely data, ideally in relation to a range of trip purposes, will be required to fully assess progress over the lifetime of this plan. The CSO National Travel Survey, 2016 showed that 71% of adult daily journeys are not for work purposes. Modal shift for other trip purposes, and not just commuting to work (or school), is the desired outcome of transport policy. The Council currently monitors usage of its active travel infrastructure and it will continue to ensure that sustainable transport infrastructure use is regularly monitored as this will provide a measure of change of transport culture in the County. Increases in active travel, even for recreational purposes, can ultimately lead to increases in active travel choices for other trip purposes. In recognition of the importance of monitoring and the need to build on our evidence base going forward the Council will explore other data sources including the generation of additional primary transport data. It will also monitor use of digital/remote working hubs. Air quality measures will also be of relevance to modal shift monitoring. 12.5.7 Progress at County and main town level will be measured against the baseline data and targets set out below. Policy will be kept under review to ensure consistency with development plan guidelines and national sustainable transport policy. Oversight arrangements that will be put in place for periodic monitoring of CMATS (including mode share and air quality) will provide additional data inputs. GO TO CONTENTS
Source Cork County Council: Cork County Development Plan 2022–2028 – Volume One: Main Policy Material (2022–2028) · Licence the publisher's termsText read from the publisher’s PDF; tables, maps and drawings do not survive as text, and page numbers are the PDF’s (its first page is 1). Check the original before relying on a passage.