Date: 17 Oct 2022
35 exemplar transport projects announced
The Pathfinder Programme forms a key part of the implementation of the National Sustainable Mobility Policy, which sets out the government’s plan to meet Ireland’s requirement to achieve a 50% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 in the transport sector. One of the first tasks of the Leadership Group established to oversee and drive implementation of the Policy was to agree a programme of “pathfinder” projects at local level.
On 17 October 2022, Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan launched the Pathfinder Programme of 35 exemplar transport projects to be delivered by local authorities and agencies around the country within the next 3 years.
The projects were those selected following Minister Ryan’s call to local authorities throughout the to submit their most innovative, transformative plans for public transport, walking and cycling in their areas – the projects that could make the greatest difference to people living in their counties.
The result is a broad variety of projects ranging from national game-changing proposals like making College Green in Dublin car-free or locating a brand-new integrated public and active travel hub, with a new bridge across the Suir River in Waterford City, to smaller, creative and equally effective projects like a Bus-it-2-school project in Co. Meath or a pilot programme in Co. Leitrim to integrate local link with a hackney and community ebike scheme.
The Pathfinder Programme is focused on reducing carbon emissions in the transport sector, by enabling the shift to cleaner transport choices. The Pathfinder Programme will bring increased momentum to the delivery of projects at a local level, providing templates for replication and scaling up elsewhere and with a strong emphasis on experimental and innovative approaches.
A full list of the 35 Pathfinder Programme projects for 2022-2025 is listed below.
National Impact
1. CycleConnects
2. Inter-Urban Demonstrator (National Link Cork-Waterford)
3. Smarter Travel Award/Mark
Cycle Network/Corridor Proposals
4. Wexford Cycle Network
5. Longford Cycle Network
6. Rural Cycleway Rapid Deployment – Navan to Trim
7. Dundalk Regional Road Cycleway
8. Mullingar Cycle Corridor with links to Dublin-Galway Greenway
9. Wicklow Active Travel Links
10. Five Cities Demonstrator: Waterford Cycle backbone
11. Five Cities Demonstrator: East Cork Sustainability Corridor
Public Transport
12. Moyross Train Station
13. Waterford North Quays
14. Athlone Bus Service Electrification
15. Dingle Integrated Community-Based Sustainable Mobility for Rural Ireland
16. Five Cities Demonstrator: Galway Cross-City Link
Active Travel/15 Min Neighbourhoods
17. Five Cities Demonstrator: Dublin Active Travel City
18. Letterkenny – Reallocation of Road Space for Walking and Cycling
19. Lismore Park, Waterford – Improving permeability in a city-centre residential area
20. Clonmel 10 min town
21. Naas Mobility Network Integration
22. Killarney - 10 min town
Servicing Schools/Universities
23. Safe Routes to Schools Programme - Acceleration
24. Rathmullan Rd & Marley’s Lane, Drogheda
25. Hanover to Tyndall AT Route to TU
26. Five Cities Demonstrator: Limerick City university connectivity
Workshops/Research
27. Smart and Sustainable Mobility Training Workshops
28. “The First and Last Green Mile”: Pilot to integrate local link service, hackney and community e-bike scheme
29. Research and pilot to trial carpooling among large employers
30. Sligo Shared eBike Scheme – expansion
31. Workplace Mobility Hubs – Four Dublin Local Authorities
32. Last Mile Delivery
33. Active Travel Corridor – Carraroe, Sligo Town, Atlantic Technological University Sligo Campus
34. Athlone Cycle Corridor, linking TU with Centre
35. BusIt2School – Working with schools and community to encourage use of town bus services instead of cars