€2.2million announced for Longford walking & cycling routes

Cycling-900x540NTA allocates over €70m nationwide in new funding to rural councils for active cycling and walking infrastructure

New Rural Active Travel Investment Programme Distributes over €70 Million in year one of a five-year plan

The National Transport Authority and Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan has announced spending totalling €72.8m for 340 sustainable transport projects in 19 local authorities. The funding is in addition to the multi-annual active travel investment programme announced on February 11 which has already designated €240m to Dublin, the GDA and regional cities.

This announcement is the first-ever major active travel investment programme for rural Ireland. The €72.8m announced for rural counties, is greater than the entire 2019 funding for the national walking and cycling programme. The NTA had originally earmarked €50m for this scheme but due to the volume of project proposals being developed by local authorities, it has been increased to over €70m.

Longford County Council Active Travel Allocations 2021

The National Transport Authority announced funding for the following Active Travel Schemes in County Longford;

LD/21/0001 County Longford Active Travel Strategy €30,000

LD/21/0002 Longford Town Mobility Plan €100,000

LD/21/0003 Harbour Row/Killashee Road Junction Improvement Scheme, Longford Town €100,000

LD/21/0004 Royal Canal Permeability Links Study €20,000

LD/21/0005 R198 Battery Road Pedestrian and Cycle Scheme, Longford Town €300,000

LD/21/0006 Aghafad Pedestrian and Cycle Scheme, Longford Town €200,000

LD/21/0007 R392 Ballymahon - Pedestrian and Cycle Improvement Scheme €200,000

LD/21/0008 Market Street to Barrack Lane, Granard - Pedestrian and Cycle Scheme €200,000

LD/21/0009 R194 Longford Road, Granard - Pedestrian and Cycle Scheme €120,000

LD/21/0010 N63 Pedestrian and Cycle Scheme, Longford Town €200,000

LD/21/0011 Light Segregation Cycle Schemes €50,000

LD/21/0012 Low-Cost Junction Tightening/Pedestrian Crossing Schemes €200,000

LD/21/0013 Low-Cost Permeability Measures €50,000

LD/21/0014 Safe to Schools Programme - Support Infrastructure €100,000

LD/21/0015 Ennybegs - Pedestrian/Cycle Improvements €150,000

Total: €2,020,000

Speaking at the announcement Minister Ryan said:

“This allocation marks another significant step forward in providing green sustainable transport options to those outside of the large urban centres.

Developing high quality walking and cycling facilities will encourage more people to switch to active travel and will contribute to tackling climate change. Connecting communities and making walking and cycling attractive, safe and accessible to everyone is what this funding will help to accomplish.

The projects being funded will make a real difference to rural communities across the country and this is only the beginning.

I look forward to seeing these projects progress over the coming year and to developing high-quality walking and cycling networks over the course of this government.

Minister of State Hildegarde Naughton said:

“Today’s funding has a particular focus on rural Ireland; underpinned by Government’s commitment to spend almost €1m per day on walking and cycling projects, this funding will support the roll-out of high-quality active travel infrastructure in rural towns and villages right across the country. I am particularly pleased to see specific projects receiving funding as part of the Safe Routes to School programme which we launched earlier this month. This safe and accessible infrastructure will ensure that our local communities are better connected and that healthier forms of travel continue to become a more attractive choice.”

Anne Graham CEO of the NTA said:

“This represents a very significant opportunity for our partner local authorities to develop high-quality, safe walking and cycling infrastructure in rural towns and villages. As with our announcement on the 11th of February much of the funding announced today represents new projects for authorities. We look forward to working with them through the next stages of development of these key projects .”

General projects in the scheme include the reallocation of overall road space which will include segregated cycling lanes and widened footpaths. Cyclist parking, raised pedestrian crossings and reducing road width at crossing points as well as other improvements.

The NTA will be tasked with overseeing and supporting the development of the high-quality mobility infrastructure across all projects. The authority will also ensure that projects are accessible, age-friendly and maximise comfort to people of all ages and abilities.

The fund will be administered for the Department of Transport by the National Transport Authority.

This is a multi-annual Active Travel Investment Programme developing high quality walking and cycling infrastructure to encourage more people to switch to active travel and will contribute to climate change.

Schemes will be planned, designed and constructed over the next few years.