Regional strategy (RSES) · Northern and Western Region
Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy 2020–2032
The regional strategy for the Northern and Western Region, including the Galway Metropolitan Area Strategic Plan.
Northern and Western Regional Assembly · January 2020 · 320 pages
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- 6.2 Transport Economic activity is a driver of demand in the regions transport system, whether it be for the local, regional, inter-regional, inter-island or international movement of people and goods. Our landscape and dislocation from cities of scale present challenges of transport connectivity. People moving to, from or between workplaces, and the movement of commodities and products are important components of the regional economy and how these needs are met has implications for productivity, community wellbeing and will be a catalyst in this strategy being effective. An attractive, effective transport infrastructure system can also be a key factor in attracting (and retaining) skilled labour to the region, both in terms of the overall amenity of public spaces but also the ease with which people can get around for leisure, education and work purposes. Our demographic profile suggests the attraction and retention of skilled labour to support economic growth will be an important component of the overall strategy to secure the future ambition of this RSES. This region is highly dependent upon the private car for travel to work and education, with approximately 70% of the population having commuted by private car according to the Census 2016, up from 66% in 2011. This is reflective of the low level of alternative suitable transport modes available within the region and the dispersed and low level of urbanisation. In addition to this high dependency in road transport travel, there are significant gaps in the quality of the transport network across the region, which require prioritised investment to bring it up to a comparable standard with the rest of the country and this has been highlighted as a key concern throughout the consultation undertaken in developing this Strategy.Northern & Western Regional Assembly 211 6 Growth Ambition 3: Connectivity - Connected Region
- KEY CHALLENGES: 1. Maintaining and enhancing accessibility. 2. Managing the Environmental impacts of transport. 3. Providing transport options both within and between our urban/rural centres. 4. Building on this region’s freight capacity 5. Utilising our access points to grow domestic and overseas visitors. 6. Integrating NSOs to improve health, well being and work-life balance for our communities. 7. Meeting the transport needs of our peripheral and island communities. 8. Availing of transport opportunities associated with projected population growth. Transport has a major impact on the quality of life, the level of community interaction, the economic prosperity and the environmental quality of the region. To enable effective regional development, it will be necessary for prioritised investment in roads and environmentally sustainable public transport that will provide for high-quality inter-regional and intra-regional connectivity to places and markets, including international accessibility. The completion of the TEN-T route from Derry, Letterkenny, Sligo to Galway and from Limerick to Cork is an example of how this may be achieved. International connectivity via port and airport locations within the region and those in the Eastern and Midland and Southern Regions, together with those in Northern Ireland will also be critical to regional development in the Northern and Western Region. There is also a challenge for the region to navigate the shift towards alternatives to the fossil-fuelled private car and to promote greater efficiency in the use of our transport networks. As such, it is of fundamental importance that this distribution of activity is planned in a manner which reduces both the impact of the need to travel on people’s lives and to enable travel via high-quality transport networks and non-fossil fuelled vehicles, thus contributing to the economic, social and cultural progress of the region and the protection and enhancement of the environment. SUSTAINABLE TRAVEL The close integration of transport spatial and economic planning provides the opportunity to deliver improved sustainable transport options for people and reduce dependency on the private car. This includes promoting walking, cycling, public transport, car-sharing and reducing travel time through the use of technology or linked trips. Sustainable travel can have significant benefits for individuals, workplaces and educational facilities in terms of health and wellbeing, costs and time associated with travel. It has the potential to reduce congestion and emissions and to exploit investment in sustainable transport. A best practice example of where the integration of transport, spatial and economic planning is to be delivered, is the Galway Transport Strategy (GTS). The GTS should be used as a template elsewhere and initially, a similar approach should be adopted as a priority in Sligo, Athlone and Letterkenny (incorporating an overall cross-border Transport Assessment (multi-modal) with Derry). The GTS provides a framework for the planning and delivery of transport infrastructure and services in the greater Galway City area. It also provides a transport planning policy framework within which other agencies involved in spatial and economic planning, environmental protection, and delivery of other infrastructures such as housing, water and power, can align their investment priorities. The GTS is incorporated into the current suite of Development Plans for both Galway City and Galway County and includes significant investment in both physical infrastructure, public transport. It is a unified plan.Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy 2020-2032 212 6 Growth Ambition 3: Connectivity - Connected Region
- OUR CONNECTED PLACE The region’s use of sustainable modes of transport was 21.3%, which is almost 8% less than the State average in 2016. Region-wide there was a decrease of 2.5% from 2011 to 2016 in self-declared commuting less than 30 minutes to work or education – comparing favourably to the State decrease of 4.4%. Region-wide there was an increase of 14% from 2011 to 2016 in self-declared commuting more than 60 minutes to work or school – comparing favourably to the State increase of 16%. All counties in the region had a reduction in self-declared commuting less than 30 minutes with counties Mayo and Sligo showing the least decreases while County Roscommon and Galway City showing the largest decreases. All counties in the region had an increase in self-declared commuting over 60 minutes with counties Donegal and Mayo showing the least increases while counties Cavan and Monaghan showing the largest increases. Just over 23% of residents in the NWRA stated they did not have access to broadband in 2016, compared to 18.4% across the State. Of the main urban centres is the region, Letterkenny, Cavan and Monaghan are the only towns without a rail service. Intra-regional public transport is heavily reliant on busses, often using indirect national roads, particularly for north-south travel. Counties Galway and Cavan were the only counties that recorded an increase in the use of sustainable transport modes from 2011 to 2016. + 60 mins Donegal Sligo Mayo Galway Roscommon Leitrim Cavan Monaghan More than 60 MINUTES Less than 30 MINUTESNorthern & Western Regional Assembly 213 6 Growth Ambition 3: Connectivity - Connected Region
- THE ROLE OF TRANSPORT This strategy facillitates the delivery of a more socially inclusive society through the improvement of the built environment through better design, greater integration and accessibility across all societal needs and physical abilities. Transport is one of several key policy areas through which social inclusion can be effectively addressed in this manner. The delivery of co-ordinated and integrated transport, spatial and economic planning, which guides effective future investment decisions, requires clear objectives to be set and guiding principles understood and implemented across the region. High-level Transport Principles are to: g Support improved strategic and local connectivity; g Expand attractive public transport and other alternatives to car transport; g Recognise the role of the car and cater appropriately for it; g Reduce congestion; and cater to the demands associated with longer-term population and employment growth, in a sustainable manner. Given the diverse character of the region and the variation in the range of travel modes available at different places, the region should target a range of outcomes that are tailored to the specific needs of our people and places. The capacity and safety of the region’s strategic land, air and water transport networks and how they are managed, enhanced and upgraded are important considerations to be taken, including through the management of travel demand, to ensure their optimal use. Difficult choices will need to be taken for the common good, so that regional, national and international accessibility is enabled. Thus, the priority core outcomes to be delivered across the region shall include: g Supporting the achievement of ‘compact, smart growth’ through the achievement of ‘mutual consistency’ between land use and transport planning/investment/service provision; g Promotion of higher development densities in appropriate locations with an associated consideration being given to reduced constraints on building height; g Strengthening public transport, walking and cycling accessibility/connectivity within Galway City and environs; g Strengthening public transport connectivity between Galway City, Dublin and the other regional cities with improved services and reliable journey times; g Strengthening inter-regional connectivity, through the improvement of inter-urban road and rail connectivity, with a particular emphasis on improved connectivity between the largest urban centres and access to ports and airports, for the movement of both people and goods; g Protecting the capacity of inter-urban road connectivity within and around the largest cities, ports and airports, through effective traffic management and transport demand management; g Strengthening public transport connectivity between the Assembly Area’s city and large towns, and between the large towns, with improved services and reliable journey times; g Providing public transport infrastructure and services to meet the needs of smaller towns, villages and rural areas; and g Developing a comprehensive network of safe cycling routes in the three Regional Growth Centres and providing similar facilities in other towns and villages, where appropriate.Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy 2020-2032 214 6 Growth Ambition 3: Connectivity - Connected Region
- 6.3 Transport Investment Priorities Major transport infrastructure investments, identified in the National Development Plan, have an important role in enabling the sustainable and balanced development of the region over the period of the RSES. High-quality accessibility to international gateways, located both within and outside of the region, for people and internationally traded goods/services is of fundamental importance to economic competitiveness at regional and national levels. The achievement of this will be contingent on the development and improvement of critical enabling road and rail infrastructure, and public transport services, for the movement of people and goods, as provided and managed through the relevant delivery agencies and service providers, including Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), Irish Rail, local authorities and licensed public transport providers. The RSES’ Transport Investment priorities for the region are presented below, under the following headings: g International Connectivity g Road Network g Rail Network g Bus Network g Rural Transport g Walking and Cycling g Enabling Plans – Local Transport PlansNorthern & Western Regional Assembly 215 6 Growth Ambition 3: Connectivity - Connected Region
- INTERNATIONAL CONNECTIVITY The National Planning Framework includes High-Quality International Connectivity as a National Strategic Outcome and recognises the crucial role that the provision of high-quality international connectivity has for overall international competitiveness and addressing opportunities and challenges from Brexit through investment in our ports and airports, in line with sectoral priorities already defined through National Ports Policy and National Aviation Policy. The development of the EU TEN-T network is desirable for international connectivity and the integrated performance of the road, rail, maritime and air transport networks. The EU TEN-T network has a dual-layer structure; The comprehensive network provides for connectivity of all regions of the EU, whilst the core network consists of those parts of the comprehensive network that are of the highest strategic importance. Within this region, the comprehensive network includes all our rail network and our airports at Ireland West Airport Knock, Donegal and Inis Mór. It also includes some of our National Road Network but our maritime ports do not form part of the TEN-T Port network, although the further examination of the feasibility for pursuing the designation of Galway Port and Killybegs Port as EU TEN-T Comprehensive Ports is supported in this RSES. It is acknowledged that there are significant nature conservation concerns, particularly around Galway Port and these must be addressed within the feasibility study and any subsequent proposals to ensure compliance with the EU Habitats Directive (see Growth Ambition 1 - Marine Infrastructure). AIRPORTS International air connectivity is provided at Ireland West Airport Knock (IWAK), and Donegal Airport, with other airports being easily accessible at Shannon and Dublin in addition to Derry and Belfast airports in the North of Ireland. Sligo Airport no longer provides passenger flights but continues to operate an important function as the North- West base for the Irish Coast Guard Search and Rescue, with potential to further reimagine its service delivery to the region. The Regional Airports Programme provides financial support towards safety and security projects at Ireland West Airport Knock and Donegal Airport. The potential of IWAK has been enhanced by the approval of a Strategic Development Zone (SDZ) abutting the airport, which is located along the Atlantic Economic Corridor. The SDZ provides the opportunity to expand as a key employment centre and industrial hub for a large hinterland, encompassing East Mayo, North Galway, Leitrim, Sligo, and North Roscommon. It shall be informed by the Health and Safety Zone for the Airport and shall necessitate the provision of a range of infrastructure services to enable its future development. REGIONAL POLICY OBJECTIVE RPO 6.1 Support the development of the SDZ at IWAK to make it attractive for aviation-related industries to be created and prosper.Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy 2020-2032 216 6 Growth Ambition 3: Connectivity - Connected Region
- SEA PORTS Ireland’s port and shipping services play an important role as enablers of economic growth. The National Ports Policy 2013, reference three Ports of Regional Significance within the region, namely, Galway, Sligo and Killybegs. Galway Harbour is a bulk port which caters primarily for liquid-bulk products and it is an important strategic regional hub for petroleum importation, storage and distribution and it serves the expanding tourism industry. Killybegs is Ireland’s leading fishing port, accounting for over one-third of all fish landings in the country and services other commercial activity associated with the oil and gas industry, the tourism industry and the on-shore renewable energy industry. The significance of Sligo Port in national terms may be quite low but it remains important in the regional and local economy, supporting local industry and providing an import/export transportation facility. The primary cargoes shipped to Sligo Port are coal, slack, timber and fish meal, with metal scrap being the main export. Although Ros An Mhíl is not identified in the National Ports Policy 2013 as a Port of Regional Significance, it is designated as one of the country’s six Major Fishery Harbour Centres and it is an important ferry port for passengers and goods for the Árann Islands. Therefore, it is another of the Key Ports for the region, which are all supported by a range of ports, harbours and piers that play an important function at a county and local level. Figure 56: Sea Ports Ros an Mhíl Galway Port Sligo Port Killybegs Greencastle PortNorthern & Western Regional Assembly 217 6 Growth Ambition 3: Connectivity - Connected Region
- Greencastle, like Ros An Mhíl, is one of the country’s top ten ports for fish landings, is an important ferry port to Northern Ireland, and is home to BIM’s National Fishery College. It also provides cruise liners with a safe and accessible location for berthage that provides access to the North West Region, including north Donegal and the North West City Region (Letterkenny/Derry/Strabane). Foyle Port in Derry, lies at the heart of the North West City Region and is a port of regional significance for the North West of Ireland, however, it operates independently of Government. Foyle Port is by far the largest cargo port serving the region, handling over €1 billion worth of commodities annually. It also serves the rapidly expanding international cruise sector, primarily through Greencastle in Co. Donegal and Lisahally in Co. Derry and operates a marina near Derry city centre which provides a hub for water sports activity within the North West City Region as well as a regional base for independent marine tourism. In terms of our port facilities, National Ports Policy and the national hierarchy or tiering of ports recognise the long-term international trend in ports and shipping towards increased consolidation of resources to achieve optimum efficiencies of scale. This has knock-on effects in terms of vessel size, the depths of water required at ports and the type and scale of port hinterland transport connections. National Ports Policy seeks to ensure that the strategic development requirements of ports and smaller harbours are addressed to ensure their effective growth and sustainable development at a national and regional level. Ports across Western Europe are introducing data and insight-driven technology, sensors and the IoT in a shift to becoming Smart Ports. To remain competitive and efficient, it is important that our ports look to adopt new technologies in the transition towards becoming smart ports. Smart Ports provide opportunities for port authorities to reduce costs, operate more efficiently and maximise resources and space. Smart Ports can help automate processes and provide solutions to many of the challenges that ports face such as compliance, growth in size, traffic and Brexit. The introduction of technology means that the threat to cybersecurity is always a risk. One of the key decisions for ports is deciding which system and technology to introduce. In deciding which systems to use, port authorities must evaluate both their own needs but also the needs of stakeholders such as customs and the transport logistics supply chain. The town/city and surrounding hinterland in which the port lies is just as important as the infrastructure and facilities in the port. The surrounding region must have a suitable road network and services to accommodate increased traffic. Increasing the size of a port can bring significant economic opportunities to the surrounding hinterland but port authorities need to communicate with and consult with businesses and citizens in the area in the development of the port. REGIONAL POLICY OBJECTIVES RPO 6.2 Support, enhance and enable investment in the development and diversification of our network of key Airports and Seaports/ Harbours, providing them with adequate and efficient capacity and ensuring they have high-quality sustainable transport connectivity, including road, rail, cycling and pedestrian infrastructure, as appropriate and subject to environmental considerations. RPO 6.3 Support the development and the protection of the fisheries harbours in the context of Brexit and its effect on waters available for Irish trawlers to fish. RPO 6.4 Support the development of utilisation of data and insight-driven technology, sensors and the IoT in our airports, seaports/harbours in their transition towards becoming Smart Ports.Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy 2020-2032 218 6 Growth Ambition 3: Connectivity - Connected Region
- ROAD NETWORK The quality of the national road network and connectivity to it, has been substantially improved over the last two decades, with many large-scale road schemes, but a lot more needs to be done. Both the National Planning Framework and the National Development Plan strongly acknowledge that the accessibility from the Northern and Western region of Ireland and between centres of scale separate from Dublin will need to be significantly improved, focused on cities and larger regionally distributed centres and key east-west and northsouth routes. Better accessibility will enable improved road safety and unrealised potential to be activated as well as better preparing for potential impacts from Brexit. The national road network is a critical enabler in facilitating an island-wide sustainable national transport system. A number of the more strategic routes also form part of the EU TEN-T comprehensive network, providing essential connectivity to regions of the EU. Such high-value assets and amenities need to be protected and their use enhanced for the region and also the country as a whole. This is necessary to support economic and community interaction across a range of sectors in the region and beyond, including providing regional connectivity, addressing peripherality, empowering rural communities and facilitating lifeline links to critical services such as education, healthcare, employment and enterprise. Improving and maintaining the assets of all national roads is critical and the efficiency, capacity and safety of the existing national road network within the region must be maintained, including the requirement to safeguard the strategic links into urban centres identified as key economic drivers in the region. The accessibility of our region also depends upon appropriate management and investment in the supporting regional and local roads. They include strategic road improvement projects mainly in urban areas necessary to unlock development opportunities and also for rural areas to ensure access to critical services such as education, healthcare and employment.Northern & Western Regional Assembly 219 6 Growth Ambition 3: Connectivity - Connected Region
- Therefore, it is not intended to establish an exhaustive list of schemes for development over the period of the RSES especially concerning maintenance and management of the region’s roads network. Instead, it is intended that road relevant legislation and guidelines and in accordance with the objectives and priorities outlined in this strategy. The priorities of the RSES takes account of the current stage that the schemes have been advanced to date. Furthermore, it is acknowledged that local authorities are planning to progress a wide range of regional and local roads projects across the region and these should be prioritised in accordance with their respective settlement strategies and road safety considerations. REGIONAL POLICY OBJECTIVES – NATIONAL ROADS All these projects are integrated with the targeted development of the major urban centres in the region: RPO 6.5 The capacity and safety of the region’s land transport networks will be managed and enhanced to ensure their optimal use, thus giving effect to National Strategic Outcome No.2 and maintaining the strategic capacity and safety of the national roads network including planning for future capacity enhancements. RPO 6.6 In accordance with National Development Plan investment commitments to bring the following schemes through planning/design/ construction, the following projects shall be delivered to an appropriate level of service in the short term and in any case by 2027 having regard to the standard in the NPF of an average inter-urban speed of 90KPH: g A5 Road Development g N4 Collooney to Castlebaldwin g N5 Ballaghaderreen to Scramogue and Turlough to Westport g N6 Galway City Ring Road g N56 Dungloe to Glenties and Mountcharles to lnver g N59 Moycullen Bypass. RPO 6.7 In accordance with National Development Plan investment commitments to progress the following schemes through pre-appraisal and early planning, the following projects shall be progressed through pre-appraisal and early planning in the short term and shall thereafter proceed to construction and be delivered to an appropriate level of service within the lifetime of the RSES: g N2 Clontibret to the Border connecting to the A5 g N2 Ardee to south of Castleblaney g N3 Virginia Bypass g N4 Carrick on Shannon to Dromod g N13 Ballybofey Stranorlar Bypass g N13/N14/N56 Letterkenny Bypass and Dual Carriageway to Manorcunningham g N14 Manorcunningham to Lifford g N17 Knock to Collooney.Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy 2020-2032 220 6 Growth Ambition 3: Connectivity - Connected Region
Source Northern and Western Regional Assembly: Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy 2020–2032 (January 2020) · 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.