Public Consultation to Review of Sustainable Mobility Policy
Deadline for Submission: Friday 28 February
Visit : www.gov.ie/en/consultation/f1b503-public-consultation-on-a-review-of-sustainable-mobility-policy
The Department of Transport has an open consultation on the future of Transport in Ireland and to review Ireland’s sustainable mobility (active travel and public transport) policy. Sustainable Mobility can be described as linking people and places in a sustainable way by supporting: comfortable and affordable journeys to and from work, home, school, college, shops and leisure; travelling by cleaner and greener transport and; a shift away from the private car to greater use of active travel (walking and cycling) and public transport (e.g. bus, rail, tram).
All elements of sustainable mobility (public transport, cycling, walking) are being considered in the policy review. Each background paper includes a number of questions to generate ideas about the extent to which the present approach to sustainable mobility is working well, the areas which are not, and future priorities.
A recent National Positive Ageing Strategy – Stakeholder Forum highlighted the difficulty experienced by senior citizens when using public transport. The PPN will also be making a submission if any members would like to forward their submission to us or any comments they would like included in our submission.
For details and supporting documents, visit http://www.gov.ie/en/consultation/f1b503-public-consultation-on-a-review-of-sustainable-mobility-policy/
To make a submission, email sustainablemobilityreview@dttas.gov.ie or post to: Sustainable Mobility Policy Review, Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, Leeson Lane, Dublin 2 D02 TR60
Supporting Documents Overview
An extensive range of background papers on various different aspects of sustainable mobility is available to assist with developing the new policy framework. Text only and audio file versions of each background paper are also available. Please email sustainablemobilityreview@dttas.gov.ie if required. Please scroll down for a brief overview of the documents.
Public Consultation Summary Booklet – Click here
This document includes useful quick overview on the consultation and some statistics
What are the key issues guiding the consultation:
- What should be our vision for sustainable mobility?
- What objectives should we prioritise?
- What targets should be set for sustainable mobility?
- How can we deliver value for money for the taxpayer?
- How can we encourage people to make cleaner and greener choices in transport decisions?
- How can we further enhance the quality, reliability, safety and integration of sustainable mobility services?
- How can sustainable mobility meet the needs of Ireland’s changing population?
- How can technology shape future sustainable mobility provision?
- What other opportunities and challenges do we need to consider?
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Background Paper 1 – Public Transport & Accessibility Click here
Purpose:
This background paper sets out the current status around the provision of accessible public transport for people with disabilities, and actions to progressively make public transport more accessible.
The guiding questions are included as a guide. Participants are not confined to answering the suggested questions and are invited to offer any other contribution they wish to make. It is recommended that submissions are confined to circa 2,500 words or less.
Guiding Questions – Background Paper 1
1.1 What are the priorities to improve public transport accessibility for people with disabilities or with mobility difficulties?
1.2 With Ireland forecast to undergo significant population changes in the medium term, moving from a relatively young demographic profile to one with a higher proportion of older people, what public transport challenges and opportunities does this bring?
1.3 Are there international best practice examples in relation to public transport accessibility for people with disabilities or mobility difficulties that could be applied to an Irish context?
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Active Travel – Background Paper 2 – Click here
Purpose:
This background paper sets out to examine the previous and current role of active travel modes (walking and cycling) in the context of the wider transport network. An evaluation of the Smarter Travel Areas funding programme, commissioned by the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport and conducted by AECOM consultants, is also being published as part of this review of active travel in Ireland.
Guiding Questions – Background Paper 2
2.1 Given the trends highlighted in Section 5, what should the focus be in terms of infrastructure delivery?
2.2 How can we best deliver an integrated package of focused behavioural change measures and infrastructure in order to achieve change?
2.3 Is greater consideration needed in future active travel policy to increase walking as a transport mode? If so, what measures should be considered?
2.4 What additional measures can be introduced to encourage multi-modal journeys?
2.5 Which recommendations of the Ex Post Evaluation of the Smarter Travel Areas should be prioritised for action.
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Climate Change Challenge – Background Paper 3 – Click here
Purpose:
This background paper brings together readily available data and statistics on the transport emissions in Ireland. This paper also outlines the current climate change challenges facing Ireland and the steps that are being taken to reduce emissions in line with climate action policies. Participants in the public consultation are not confined to answering the suggested questions and are invited to offer any other contribution they wish to make.
Guiding Questions – Background Paper 3
3.1 Which sustainable mobility emissions mitigation measures, not currently employed in Ireland, should be considered for implementation?
3.2 Are there any measures identified as “potential measures” in Table 7.1 (page 57) that you would like to see implemented?
3.3 Are there any emissions reduction measures, currently employed, that should be amended or fully discontinued?
3.4 How should mitigation measures be prioritised (e.g. on basis of: least cost, carbon abatement potential, disruptive effects, co-benefit potential etc.)?
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Congestion – Background Paper 4 – Click here
Purpose:
This background paper sets out trends in Irish traffic congestion, policy interventions to date, other potential interventions and international examples to address traffic congestion.
Guiding Questions – Background Paper 4
4.1 What are the opportunities and challenges around reducing traffic congestion in our cities and other urban areas and how can sustainable mobility respond to these?
4.2 Should additional demand management measures be considered, alongside supply focused measures, to address urban congestion – for example congestion charging/road pricing?
4.3 Are there international best practice examples to address traffic congestion that could be applied in an Irish context?
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Greener Buses – Alternative fuel options for the urban bus fleet – Background Paper 5 – Click here
Purpose:
This paper consists of a qualitative and quantitative appraisal of a range of alternative fuel options available for Ireland’s Public Service Obligation (PSO) urban bus fleet.
Guiding Questions – Background Paper 5
5.1 What challenges and issues need to be considered in relation to transitioning the PSO urban bus fleet to alternative fuels and technologies?
5.2 Based on the additional investment costs associated with alternatively fuelled vehicles and their associated infrastructure, should bus fare structures be modified?
5.3 Are there international best practice examples around the use of alternative fuels in urban bus fleets that could be applied in an Irish context?
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Land Use Planning & Transport Planning-Background Paper 6 Click here
Purpose:
This background paper sets out the factual situation in relation to the integration of land use planning and transport planning in the context of Project Ireland 2040 and poses the questions below on this issue.
Guiding Questions – Background Paper 6
6.1 What elements of current policy support the integration of land use planning and transport planning?
6.2 How can we better integrate land use planning and transport planning in Ireland?
6.3 Are there international best practice examples around the integration of land use planning and transport planning that could be applied in an Irish context?
Background Paper 8 – Public Transport in Rural Ireland Click here
Purpose:
This background paper sets out the factual situation in relation to public transport in rural Ireland
and poses the questions below on this issue.
Guiding Questions
8.1 What are the opportunities and challenges in providing public transport in rural areas?
8.2 How can we continue to ensure that the transport needs of rural communities are met in the context of the Project Ireland 2040 objective to regenerate rural Ireland by promoting environmentally sustainable growth patterns?
8.3 Are there international best practice examples around the provision of public transport in rural areas that could be applied in an Irish context?
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Background Paper 9 – Statistics and Trends Click here
Purpose:
This background paper brings together readily available data and statistics on public transport in Ireland in a single, concise reference document and poses the questions below. Data and statistics on active travel (cycling and walking) are included separately in Background Paper 2: Active Travel. This paper also sets out the historical trends and level of funding in sustainable mobility services and infrastructure.
Guiding Questions
9.1 What data gaps and limitations exist in relation to the current statistics on public transport?
9.2 Given the competing demands for Exchequer funding across Government, are we prioritising the most appropriate areas of sustainable mobility for support?
9.3 Are there other potential sources of non-Exchequer funding that could be employed in the sustainable mobility sector?
9.4 Is the balance right between current and capital funding for sustainable mobility and what should be the medium and long-term priorities for funding of the sector?
9.5 Are there other challenges and issues that need to be addressed in this area?
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Background Paper – Report of Round Table Discussion with Stakeholders – 21 May 2018 – Click here
Purpose:
The Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Shane Ross TD, hosted a Round Table discussion on public transport policy on 21 May 2018 in the Round Room of the Mansion House. The event was chaired by Professor Alan Barrett, Director of the Economic and Social Research Institute, and was attended by a broad range of organisations and individuals closely connected with the public transport sector. These stakeholders included: passenger and consumer interests; providers of bus, rail and taxi services; providers of transport infrastructure; trade unions with members working in public transport; cyclist advocacy groups; disability representatives; business groups; environmental interests; local authorities; regulators; legislators; policy-makers; and analysts and academics who focus on public transport. The press was in attendance to report on discussions.
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Background Paper – Review of actions of Smarter Travel Policy – Click here
Purpose:
Smarter Travel: A Sustainable Transport Future, A New Transport Policy for Ireland 2009–2020 Review of the current implementation status of actions Smarter Travel: A Sustainable Transport Future, A New Transport Policy for Ireland was published in 2009. It set out national transport policy for 2009 to 2020 and contained 49 actions covering 4 themes.
In the context of its work in reviewing Sustainable Mobility policy, the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport has undertaken a review of the implementation status of each of the actions that were put forward in the 2009 document. This information will help inform the public consultation on the Sustainable Mobility policy review. Some actions have been implemented as envisaged. In other cases, implementation has been partial, and may be ongoing, often reflecting the continuing nature of the initial proposal. There are some actions that have not been achieved.
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Background Paper – Evaluation of Smarter Travel Areas Click here
The Smarter Travel Areas (STA) Pilot Programme was launched by the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport (DTTAS) in 2012. The objective of the programme was to pilot a range of sustainable travel measures aimed at achieving modal shift from private car to sustainable travel modes such as walking and cycling. Following a competitive bidding process, funding of €21.20 million was awarded to the three successful demonstration towns – Limerick, Dungarvan and Westport. A package of both infrastructural and behavioural change measures was delivered in each of these areas between 2012 and 2016.
