Eamon Ryan has outlined plans “to do a whole city centre reorganistion” of Dublin’s traffic systems.
He made the comment as he announced €290m in new funding to support 1,200 active travel projects throughout Ireland on Wednesday morning. A total of 387 projects are planned across the city this year.
They include a mix of segregated cycle lands, widening footpaths, new walking and cycling bridges, and pedestrian crossings. Minister Ryan said: “The first stage in Dublin was always going to be our rivers, our canals, our coast - spines that really create high quality local amenities that connect to schools.
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“If you look at [Dodder Greenway], this is a great way of connecting to local sports facilities, local schools, work. The money being spent in Dublin is on a lot of these core spines but this year as well. We are going to have to do a whole city centre reorganisation of our traffic system which will be part of the demand management measures we are going to introduce, but also for the congestion that’s starting to gridlock this city.
“Dublin was cited two weeks ago as the 12th worst city in the world for congestion. We need to do this for climate, we need to do this for local connectivity, but also we need to do it to make the city work.
“The money is there and more importantly, the plan is there - we’re now delivering it.” Minister of State Jack Chambers and NTA chief Anne Graham joined Eamon Ryan as they revealed the 2023 funding pledge at Dodder Greenway between Herbert Park and Donnybrook Road in Dublin, which will benefit.
Minister of State, Jack Chambers, said: “I am happy to confirm that part of this funding will be allocated to the Safe Routes to School Programme. €20m was recently announced for Round 2 of the programme which will see over 37,000 students across Ireland benefit from safer infrastructure and encourage them to cycle, walk and wheel to school.
“In conjunction with Safe Routes to School, funding will also be committed to continuing the good work of the Cycle Right Training programme, which in 2022 saw over 30,000 students trained in cycle safety.” Liffey Cycle Route will benefit from €1.8m, €1.5m is going towards a city centre study on active travel proposals and the Fairview to Amiens Street Cycle Route is getting €27m.
Schools across the city will also benefit from funding pots in the tens of thousands. Anne Graham, CEO of the National Transport Authority said: “2023 is going to be an important year for active travel. With a growing number of active travel schemes moving from design into construction and delivery, we can encourage more people across the country to walk or cycle within and beyond their local community.
“The funding being announced today will allow the NTA to continue to work alongside local authorities as we accelerate the delivery of improved cycling and walking infrastructure.” The full list of Active Travel projects receiving funding can be found on: https://www.nationaltransport.ie/publications/active-travel-investment-grants-2023-allocations/.
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