Date: 25 Nov 2021
Department of Transport Publishes the Five Cities Demand Management Research Report
This report was carried out to help us to better understand what drives transport demand and how we can encourage a greater shift to more sustainable and healthier forms of travel in Ireland’s five largest urban centres—Dublin, Cork, Waterford, Limerick, and Galway.
This study reveals several objectives which align with the Government’s Climate Action Plan 2021. Transport accounts for approximately 20% of Ireland’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Road transport is responsible for 96% of those GHG emissions and is also directly responsible for a range of air pollutants that negatively impact both human health and the environment. This Study reflects the 2021 Climate Action Plan, which targets a reduction of 42-50% in transport related GHG emissions by 2030.
Some of the study objectives include:
1) Manage vehicular traffic congestion
2) Reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from road traffic
3) Improve the quality of the urban environment
4) Address air quality issues due to vehicular traffic emissions
As part of the study, numerous Transport Demand Management (TDM) measures have been recommended using a tiered system. The Tier 1 measures are ranked based on feasibility to implement successfully. 14 measures in total are ranked and defined for all five cities.
The top three Tier 1 TDM measures for implementation across the five cities include:
1) 15-minute neighbourhoods- Develop and embed the concept of 15-minute neighbourhoods through national and local plans and strategies, providing resourcing to incentivise the implementation of 15-minute neighbourhoods through national funding/grants schemes.
2) National Planning Framework Delivery Management- Enhance Delivery of the National Planning Framework
3) Public Parking Controls- Development/refresh of city centre Parking Controls & Pricing strategy to strengthen parking as a TDM measure, including EV parking pricing strategies and targeted removal of on-street parking.
The Tier 2 TDM measures have been compiled into two Toolkits- 1) national and 2) city level. The Toolkits are intended to be a guide for stakeholders to identify appropriate measures for given situations. Some of the measures fall under categories such as Fiscal Management, Behavioural Change and Technology & Communications.
The study outlines a roadmap established to inform the investment, planning and ongoing support of each Demand Management measure. The framework Avoid, Shift, Improve, Manage (A,S,I,M) is used to categorise each measure and timescales are distinguished between short, medium and long term.
The Five Cities Demand Management Study has identified a suite of TDM options to address the pressing climate change, air quality and congestion challenges facing our cities. As a result, National and Local Authorities can utilise the study to facilitate demand management measures over the coming years.
Find out more about the Five Cities Demand Management HERE.