Regional strategy (RSES) · Southern Region
Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy for the Southern Region
The regional strategy for the Southern Region, including the Cork, Limerick–Shannon and Waterford metropolitan area strategic plans.
Southern Regional Assembly · January 2020 · 382 pages
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- Southern Regional Assembly | RSES171 Local Transport Plans To give local expression to the regional-level transport strategy and to provide for local implementation of national-level land-use and transport policies across the Region, Local Transport Plans (LTP) will be prepared by local authorities for the key towns, based on the Area Based Transport Assessment (ABTA) guidance produced by NTA and TII1. LTPs will be based on a clear set of objectives; the most recent demographic and travel information; considering the policies and objectives of the local authorities, as they align with those of national and regional policy. LTPs will include priorities for each settlement in terms of public transport infrastructure and services, cycle investment, improvements to the pedestrian environment and road enhancements. The policies, objectives and measures which emerge from the LTPs will be incorporated into the relevant statutory land use plans pertaining to each settlement. 1 http://www.tiipublications.ie/library/PE-PDV-02046-01.pdf RPO 153 Capacity of Inter-Urban Road Connections It is an objective to protect, improve and maintain the operation of the National and Strategic Regional inter-urban road connections within and between the cities, settlements, ports and airports by providing effective policies in Local Authority County Development Plans (CDP), Local Area Plans (LAP) and Strategic Development Zones (SDZs) promoting effective traffic management and transport demand management. It is a requirement for CDP’s, LAP’s and SDZ’s to consider all alternative modes and public transport options in tandem with traffic demand options. RPO 154 Land Use Plans Land-use plans shall ensure integration of transport and land use planning informed by the guiding principles expressed in the RPO for Integration of Land Use and Transport Planning. RPO 156 Steady State Investment It is an objective to strengthen Steady State Investment in our existing regional transport networks to ensure that existing networks are maintained to a high level to ensure quality levels of safety, service, accessibility and connectivity to transport users of all transport modes. RPO 155 Managing the Region’s Transport Assets It is an objective that the capacity and safety of the region’s strategic land transport networks will be managed and enhanced including through the management of travel demand to ensure their optimal use. Enhancement to existing land transport networks shall be subject to robust feasibility, route selection, environmental assessment and planning processes that reduce impacts on the environment; • Promote engagement between local authorities, stakeholder agencies and government departments for effective management of the region’s strategic land transport networks. Managing and Enhancing Transport Assets The management, maintenance and improvement of the Region’s transport infrastructure is a key consideration, to ensure that the safety, capacity and the efficiency of the networks are maintained and factored into the capital funding process.
- Southern Regional Assembly | RSES172 RPO 157 Local Transport Plans (LTP) LTPs will be prepared for the key settlements by Local Authorities, based on the Area Based Transport Assessment (ABTA) guidance produced by NTA and TII and will be focused on, but not limited to, Key Towns as designated in the RSES and other towns as identified by Local Authorities, including towns in metropolitan areas as a complement to Metropolitan Area Transport Strategies and certain other development areas identified within the metropolitan areas of Cork, Limerick Shannon and Waterford; LTP’s will: • 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 and sustainable 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. • Prioritise the delivery of sustainable and active travel infrastructure. • Plan and target actions for modal shift to sustainable transport modes to facilitate a modal shift away from car dependence. • Plan and target actions to retrofit permeability for green modes (walking and cycling) • LTPs shall include the perspectives of vulnerable road users (e.g. wheelchair users) to be taken into account in respect of LTP’s. • LTPs shall be subject to further environmental assessment at local level as part of the Local area plan process; • LTPs shall take into consideration the DTTAS National Policy Framework for Alternative Fuels Infrastructure for Transport 2017- 2030; • LTPs shall include provision for infrastructure for electric vehicles; • Local Link Offices, (Transport Co-Ordination Units) will be consulted in the development of Local Transport Plans. Rural Development The importance of development which supports the rural economy and the rural social fabric is of fundamental importance. The rural economy and its social fabric will be supported through the provision of better local connectivity to transport, services and commercial activities located in cities and towns. The Role of Transport in Enabling Access for All Transport is one of the key policy areas through which social inclusion can be effectively addressed. The Department of Transport, Tourism & Sport’s highlevel goal for accessible public transport is embodied in the concept of ‘transport access for all’. It is premised on the principle that through accessibility improvements to the public transport system for people with disabilities, access for all people should be improved. Access to public transport services is wider than merely access to buses and stations as it includes getting to and from transport nodes. It includes, for example, pedestrian routes to bus stops, and the bus stops themselves. The role of local authorities and other key stakeholders is critical in this regard. RPO 158 Intra-regional Rural Connectivity It is an objective to seek investment in the sustainable development of fully accessible infrastructure that strengthens intraregional rural connectivity including rural public transport services as “life lines” which are important routes on the road network connecting communities in remote locations and smaller scaled settlements with larger scaled settlements to access important services. RPO 159 Role of Transport in Enabling Access for All It is an objective to seek investment in transport networks and services in the region that are socially inclusive and provide a quality of service, connectivity and facilities to meet all societal needs disabilities (including mobility, sensory and cognitive impairments) and meet the needs of aging cohorts.
- Southern Regional Assembly | RSES173 RPO 160 Smart and Sustainable Mobility It is an objective to deliver on NSO: Sustainable Mobility subject to the required appraisal, planning and environmental assessment processes. This includes the following sustainable mobility investment actions: • Seek investment in initiatives that leverage intelligent transport systems and smart transport services, which would include real time information for all transport systems. • Recognise the importance of public transport networks and multi-modal interchange • Support Steady State Investment to maintain and upgrade the existing road, rail and bus networks to provide a quality service to transport users; • Support initiatives under the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport to reduce congestion in our region’s cities primarily by enhancing sustainable travel options through Smarter Travel projects that include traffic management, bus priority, urban cycling and urban walking routes; • Continued investment in bus and rail fleets; • Reduction in the use of fossil fuels for public transport and increasing use of technology and green energy sources to pursue low emission public transport fleets; • Delivery of the strategic bus network programmes for Cork, Limerick Shannon and Waterford metropolitan areas (initiatives identified as Bus Connects in the NDP) including associated customer services and facilities; • Investments to facilitate park-and-ride and multi-modal travel • Delivery of sustainable comprehensive cycling and walking networks with an emphasis on Cork, Limerick Shannon and Waterford metropolitan areas; and • Support and investigate the feasibility of sustainable water transportation services for Cork Harbour, Shannon Estuary and Waterford Harbour. 6.3.6 | Transport Investment Priorities 6.3.6.1 | Sustainable Mobility Major transport infrastructure investments identified in the NDP have an important role in enabling the sustainable and balanced development over the period of the RSES. Proposals for infrastructure investment should clearly demonstrate consistency with spatial planning objectives, at regional and national level. The management, maintenance and improvement of existing transport infrastructure is a key consideration, to ensure that the safety, capacity and efficiency of networks is maintained and factored into the capital funding process. The RSES’ Transport Investment priorities are presented below, under the following headings: • Over-arching Objectives to Promote Sustainable Mobility • Regional Cities – Cork, Limerick, Waterford • Road Network • Rail • Bus • Rural Transport • Walking and Cycling • International Connectivity (see Section 6.3.4 above)
- Southern Regional Assembly | RSES174 RPO 161 Smart Mobility It is an objective to support the transformative potential of E- Mobility, autonomous vehicles, Mobility as a Service transport solutions and other emerging innovations in the transport and mobility sector through transport planning at regional, metropolitan and local level. Seek investment in actions and initiatives that position the region as a leader in the digital transformation of transportation, E-Mobility and sustainable mobility. RPO 162 Multi-Modal Travel Integration It is an objective to deliver on sustainable mobility, investment is sought in infrastructure to provide for integration between all modes of transport to support the use of sustainable travel choices. Further details will be developed and progressed through Metropolitan Area Transport Plans, Local Transport Plans, in City/ County Development Plans, Local Area Plans and SDZ’s. Options to consider include: • Bike and Ride facilities • Park and Cycle facilities • Park and Car Pool facilities • Public bicycle sharing facilities • Car sharing (GoCar type) • Integration of cycling and public transport • Carriage of bicycles on trains and (selected) buses • Integrated ticketing to include bike and car sharing • Integrated ticketing/cards across bike sharing, bus use, train use and car sharing • Investigate the feasibility of Mobility Hubs for major developments or multidevelopments sharing the facility. • The feasibility of e-scooter schemes. RPO 163 Sustainable Mobility Targets It is an objective that: a. Through effective integration of land-use and transport planning, implementation of RPOs in the RSES and MASPs and actions driven through Development Plan, Local Area Plan, Metropolitan Area Transport Strategies and Local Transport Plans, significant progress is sought for the Southern Region to reduce the modal share of private car travel and increase the modal share of travel by walking, cycling, public transport and car sharing b. Support the function of Metropolitan Area Transport Strategies and Local Transport Plans to achieve higher rates of modal shift to sustainable transport. c. National Smarter Travel Targets are supported which seek to achieve a reduction of work-related commuting by private car to 45% of modal share by 2020 and commuting by walking, cycling, public transport and car sharing to 55% of modal share by 2020. Such targets are nationwide average targets and higher achievement under lower tiered plans such as for metropolitan areas are supported. d. Targets identified across Development Plans, Local Area Plans, Metropolitan Area Transport Strategies and Local Transport Plans shall be informed by an evidence base of existing performance and will include the identification of actions to help achieve higher performance in modal shift to sustainable mobility. Targets will be reviewed and strengthened for a higher performance continually through effective implementation and monitoring. e. Local Authorities to set complementary sustainable mobility targets in development plan reviews. f. Greater emphasis should be placed on encouraging mixed use developments on regeneration sites within the city and suburbs through supportive development plan policies to encourage sustainable mobility trip patterns.
- Southern Regional Assembly | RSES175 RPO 164 Metropolitan Area Transport Strategies It is an objective to develop Metropolitan Area Transport Strategies for Cork, Limerick- Shannon and Waterford by the NTA, TII, Local Authorities and relevant stakeholders integrating priorities for the metropolitan areas identified in the RSES Regional Transport Strategy and support investment in actions under these strategies subject to required appraisal, planning and environmental assessment processes for the sustainable development of transport infrastructure and services in the metropolitan areas over a 20- year period. Metropolitan Area Transport Strategies shall undergo SEA and AA as per NPF objective NPO75. RPO 165 Higher Densities Local Authorities, through appropriate Development Plan policies shall ensure the consolidation of development at higher densities in within existing urban centres and provision of permeability (improved for existing areas and included in any new development),with a focus on locations where can be demonstrated that such development supports the use of walking, cycling and public transport. 6.3.6.2 | Preparation of Metropolitan Area Transport Strategies Metropolitan area transport strategies are being prepared for the Cork, Limerick- Shannon and Waterford metropolitan areas. They aim to inform the integration of land use and transport planning and investment in transport infrastructure and services over the short (5yrs), medium (10yrs) and longer terms (20yrs). These strategies will complement and support the achievement of MASP objectives and will be subject a five-yearly review. High-level transport investment priorities for the Region’s three metropolitan areas are set out below, to be taken into consideration in the preparation of the metropolitan area transport strategies.
- Southern Regional Assembly | RSES176 6.3.6.3 | Transport Priorities for the Cork Metropolitan Area Transport investment will be identified and prioritised through the Cork Metropolitan Area Transport Strategy (CMATS). The following transport investment objectives have been identified for consideration, in the preparation of the transport strategy subject to required appraisal, planning and environmental assessment processes: (A) The development of an enhanced metropolitan area-wide public transport system, including: • A high capacity public transport corridor (potential for a light rail corridor subject to appraisal, planning and design stages) providing for long-term growth of the metropolitan area on an east-west axis. Immediate priority must be given to advance route selection and preliminary design • Infrastructure for Cork Docklands and Tivoli • Prioritise buses over car traffic - the delivery of several high-quality bus corridors through the strategic bus network investment programme, connecting the city centre with the city suburbs/ environs and surrounding metropolitan area (see the CMATS for details) • Investment in the existing rail network for intercity and commuter rail movement with consideration to additional stations, higher service frequencies and greater opportunities for interchange with other modes, including bus, car and bicycle • Targeted improvement of arterial routes within the City and its environs to enable the delivery of higher bus service frequencies and improved journey time reliability • Development of park-and-ride facilities to enable interchange between car and bus or rail services and bike-and-ride facilities with bicycle stations for overnight storage for public transport commuters • Orbital public transport services to connect the city hinterlands strategic employment locations (B) The improvement of accessibility to the City Centre through a range of traffic management and infrastructure improvements, with an emphasis on improving: • The operation of public transport services into and through the City Centre • Infrastructure servicing the Cork Docklands and Tivoli • Local traffic management and the location/ management of destination car parking • The improvement of walking and cycling accessibility into and within the City Centre • Implementation of the Cork City movement strategy (C) The maintenance and enhancement of the strategic road network (including national roads), catering for transport demand within the Metropolitan Area, for improved inter-urban/ interregional connectivity/ reduced journey times, and for the improved access to international gateways (including the Port of Cork and Cork Airport), supported by the RSES for improved connectivity within the Metropolitan Area through the following projects subject to required appraisal, planning and environmental assessment processes: • Delivery of the Government’s current and proposed national road network improvement schemes relating to the Cork Metropolitan Area and associated inter-urban connecting roads • Advancing orbital traffic management solutions through the implementation of appropriate demand management measures on the N40 and provision of alternative local roads, as necessary. Specific measures should not be introduced in isolation, but only after due consideration of the impacts on access and movement across the city and suburbs and in parallel with the introduction of appropriate alternatives to service affected traffic movements • Enhanced regional connectivity through improved average journey times by road to Limerick and Waterford via the proposed M20 Limerick to Cork and the targeted enhancement of the N25 between Cork and Waterford • Cork Northern Ring Road connecting the N22 to the M8, identified by the NDP as a complementary scheme to the M20 • Improved connectivity from Cork City to Cork Airport including N27 dedicated public transport corridor
- Southern Regional Assembly | RSES177 • Dunkettle Interchange • Improved connectivity to Ringaskiddy via N28/M28 scheme • Cork Northern Distributor Road • Cork Docklands and Tivoli Bridge and street infrastructure, including Eastern Gateway Bridge, a key enabler for Cork under the NPF • N27 Cork to Cork Airport dedicated public transport corridor • Improved N22, N25, N27, N71 inter-regional and intra-regional corridors • Upgrade of the R624 Regional Road linking N25 to Marino Point and Cobh • Upgrade of the R630 Regional Road linking Midleton to Whitegate Road (Energy Hub) • Cork Science and Innovation Park Access, a key enabler for Cork under the NPF • Transport packages, including road upgrades, relief roads, enhanced public realm, walking and cycling infrastructure for metropolitan towns and urban expansion areas. • Advancing transport study measures for Little Island as a holistic approach comprising all modes, including cycling and effective management of car access and parking facilities All measures shall have due consideration of the impacts on access and movements across the City and suburbs and, in parallel any planned works to the strategic road network will also consider the potential for improvement to sustainable transport. (D) The optimal use of the intercity and commuter rail network, connecting Cork at a metropolitan, regional and national level, in catering for the movement of people and goods through interventions including: • The development of new commuter rail stations in Metropolitan Cork (see the CMATS for details), including upgrading existing and new stations on a network serving Blarney/Stoneview (park-andride station), Monard, Blackpool/Kilbarry, Kent Station, Tivoli Docks, Dunkettle (park-and-ride station), Little Island, Glounthaune, Carrigtwohill West, Carrigtwohill, Water Rock, Midleton, Fota, Carrogaloe, Ballynoe, Rushbrooke and Cobh • Kent Station as a key node with through running of suburban services, interchange with the Light Rail Transit network, improved signalling, bridge access to the South Docks, improved rail journey times to Dublin and consideration of direct network connections. • The Dublin to Limerick Junction/Cork rail lines are subject to an examination to move to higher speeds and/or electrification, leading to improved connectivity and journey times to regional cities. An evaluation of the economic benefits of high-speed rail for the Dublin-Belfast, Dublin- Limerick Junction and Dublin-Cork lines against improvements to existing line speeds will be carried out against relevant appraisal processes and valuefor-money tests • Through the NDP, the ongoing development of the Cork Metropolitan Area Transport Strategy and enhancements to the commuter rail service, including additional stations and rail fleet • Support the feasibility of converting the heavy rail commuter services to light rail services which can be flexible for extension of services and future integration with city light rail (E) The development of a metropolitanwide cycle network focused on the City, its environs and metropolitan area towns, and connectivity between the City and its metropolitan area town, catering for a range of journey purposes: • Support the provision of segregated walkways and cycleways. • Support the delivery of east-west greenway through the city centre, connecting major employment/ education hubs to large commuter towns like Ballincollig and Carrigaline (Lee to See Greenway) • Support walking and cycle connectivity and infrastructure to amenities such as Ballincollig Regional Park from the city centre • Support walking and cycling connectivity and infrastructure connecting the Cork Docklands and Tivoli regeneration areas to the city centre and other strategic employment locations.
- Southern Regional Assembly | RSES178 6.3.6.4 | Priorities for the Limerick- Shannon Metropolitan Area Transport Strategy Transport investment by the Government Departments, NTA and other agencies, will be identified and prioritised through the Limerick- Shannon Metropolitan Area Transport Strategy (LSMATS). The following transport investment objectives has been identified for consideration in the preparation of the transport strategy subject to required appraisal, planning and environmental assessment processes: (A) The preparation of the Limerick- Shannon Metropolitan Transport Strategy and associated implementation plan (B) The development of an enhanced citywide public transport system with enhanced accessibility from the City Centre to the National Technological Park, Raheen Industrial Park, UL and Shannon International Airport (C) The improvement of accessibility to the City Centre through effective traffic management, reduced congestion and the improvement of modal choice. Development of a strategic metropolitanwide cycle network with several high capacity flagship routes catering for a range of journey purposes (D) The maintenance and enhancement of the national roads network, catering for transport demand within the Limerick- Shannon Metropolitan Area, for improved inter-urban/ inter-regional connectivity/ reduced journey times and for improved access to international gateways, including Shannon International Airport and Shannon-Foynes Port, through: • Delivery of the Government’s current and proposed national road network improvement schemes relating to the Limerick Metropolitan Area and associated inter-urban connecting roads • The maintenance and optimisation of the strategic road network’s capacity and utility, through the implementation of appropriate demand management measures • Support for inter-regional connectivity with the metropolitan area, enhanced regional connectivity through improved average journey times by road to Cork and Waterford via the proposed M20 Limerick to Cork and the possible enhancement of the N24 between Limerick and Waterford • To support inter-regional connectivity with the metropolitan area, enhanced road connectivity to Shannon- Foynes Port, including local by-passes via Foynes to Limerick (including Adare bypass) National Road Scheme. Maintenance of transport connectivity to Shannon International Airport. • Any planned works to the strategic road network will also consider the potential for improvement to sustainable transport. (E) The Metropolitan Area local authorities have identified the requirement for the enhancement of regional and local roads network for improved connectivity within the Metropolitan Area through the following projects subject to required appraisal, planning and environmental assessment processes: • Limerick Northern Distributor Route (LNDR) regional road project • Improved accessibility to Limerick Southside including the possible provision of a motorway interchange connection from the M20/M7 to Limerick Southside, subject to robust appraisal, planning and environmental assessment processes
- Southern Regional Assembly | RSES179 • Upgrade of arterial roads from the motorway network to increase capacity including the provision of public transport infrastructure and park-andride, including R527 Dock Road, R445 Dublin Road, including Junction 28 and R527 Tipperary Road (F) The optimal use of the rail network including: • Connecting Limerick at a regional and national level to cater for the movement of people and goods • Development and promotion of existing intercity rail and commuter links between Limerick and Dublin. Cork, Galway, together with Ennis, Nenagh, Thurles and Clonmel • The commuter rail line between Limerick and Nenagh and onward intercity line to Ballybrophy is recognised as an important public transportation link to the wider city region and the RSES supports its upgrade and enhancement • The ambition to create a rail link between Limerick City and Shannon International Airport • Investigation of the possible re-instatement of the Limerick to Foynes rail line, linking Ireland’s deepest port to the national rail network • Improved rail journey times to Dublin and consideration of onward direct network connections. The Dublin to Limerick Junction/Cork rail lines are subject to an examination to move to higher speeds and/or electrification, leading to improved connectivity and journey times to regional cities. An evaluation of the economic benefits of high-speed rail for the Dublin-Belfast, Dublin- Limerick Junction and Dublin-Cork lines against improvements to existing line speeds will be carried out against relevant appraisal processes and valuefor-money tests (G) The development of a metropolitanwide cycle network focused on the City/ environs, with several high capacity routes, catering for a range of journey purposes
- Southern Regional Assembly | RSES180 6.3.6.5 | Priorities for the Waterford Metropolitan Area Transport Strategy Transport investment by the Government Departments, NTA and other agencies, will be identified and prioritised through the Waterford MetropolitanAreaTransport Strategy (WMATS). The following transport investment objectives has been identified for consideration in the preparation of the transport strategy subject to required appraisal, planning and environmental assessment processes: (A) The preparation of a Waterford Metropolitan Transport Strategy and associated implementation plan (B) The improvement of accessibility to the City Centre through effective traffic management, reduced congestion and the improvement of modal choice (C) Support the delivery of the North Quays SDZ regeneration project for integrated sustainable development through the provision of supporting transport infrastructure and services (D) The provision of a citywide public transport system, with: • Enhanced accessibility to the City Centre and key destinations such as WIT & Waterford University Hospital, from within the City/Environs area, and nearby towns, including Tramore • Improved cross-city connectivity between the City/ environs (south of the River Suir) and the North Quays SDZ/ Ferrybank area (E) The maintenance and enhancement of the national roads network, catering for transport demand within the Waterford Metropolitan Area, for improved interurban / inter-regional connectivity/ reduced journey times and for improved access to international gateways, including Port of Waterford, Rosslare-Europort and Waterford Airport, through: • Delivery of the Government’s current and proposed national road network improvement schemes relating to the Waterford Metropolitan Area and associated inter-urban connecting roads • The maintenance and optimisation of the strategic road network’s capacity and utility, through the implementation of appropriate demand management measures • Support for inter-regional connectivity with the Metropolitan Area, enhanced regional connectivity through improved average journey times by road to Cork and Limerick via targeted improvements of the N25 between Cork, Waterford and Wexford and the possible enhancement of the N24 between Limerick and Waterford • Any planned works to the strategic road network will also consider the potential for improvement to sustainable transport (F) The optimal use of the rail network, connecting Waterford at a regional and national level, to cater for the movement of people and goods (G) The development of a metropolitanwide cycle network, focused on the City/ environs, catering for a range of journey purposes, including the development of strategic cycle routes and the extension of the Waterford Greenway to link WIT to the City Centre.
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