Appendix A National Policy Actions for National Roads

Note: Any reference to individual projects is for illustrative purposes only, as excerpted from the NPF. All projects are subject to planning approval and compliance with all other applicable environmental law, regulatory and public expenditure requirements for the project concerned, including compliance with the CAF and PSC.

Table A.1 National Planning Framework actions for National Roads (Excerpts from the NPF)

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Growth22

allowing better integration with their surrounding areas. NSO2 Enhanced Regional Accessibility23

Inter-Urban Roads:

Maintaining the strategic capacity and safety of National Roads including planning for future capacity enhancements;

Improving average journey times targeting an average inter-urban speed of 90kph;

Enabling more effective traffic management within and around cities and re-allocation of inner-city road-space in favour of bus-based public transport services and walking/cycling facilities; and

Advancing orbital traffic management solutions.

Accessibility to the North-West:

Upgrading northern sections of the N4 and N5 routes and sections of the N3/M3 National Primary route; and

Public Transport:

Strengthening public transport connectivity between cities and large growth towns in Ireland and Northern Ireland with improved services and reliable journey times. NSO3 Strengthened Rural Economies and Communities24

Invest in and maintain regional and local roads and strategic road improvement projects in rural areas to ensure access to critical services such as education, healthcare, and employment. NSO4 Sustainable Mobility25

Expand attractive public transport alternatives to car transport to reduce congestion and emissions and enable the transport sector to cater for the demands associated with longer term population and employment growth in a sustainable manner.

22 Project Ireland 2040: National Planning Framework (February 2018), p. 139. 23 Project Ireland 2040: National Planning Framework (February 2018), p. 140. 24 Project Ireland 2040: National Planning Framework (February 2018), p. 141. 25 Project Ireland 2040: National Planning Framework (February 2018), p. 142.

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International Connectivity26

Airports:

Enhancing land-side access, particularly in public transport terms.

Ports:

Improve land transport connections to the major ports, including:

Facilitating the growth of Dublin Port through greater efficiency, limited expansion into Dublin Harbour and improved road access, particularly to/ from the Southern port area;

Table A.2 National Development Plan actions for National Roads (Excerpts from the NDP (2021-2030)

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Growth

allowing better integration with their surrounding areas NSO2 Enhanced Regional Accessibility

Investment will continue in new inter-urban roads, having regard to the potential for carrying public transport services and better integrating public transport and active travel networks on the approaches to urban areas. A key priority will be to maintain the existing national road network to a robust and safe standard and a significant percentage of National Roads expenditure over the course of this NDP will relate to maintenance works, in order to protect and renew existing assets.27

The feasibility of bypasses will be considered for towns and villages throughout the country that are experiencing major congestion issues. While regional connectivity remains a NSOwhich the Government is committed to, there will be an increased focus on the delivery of infrastructure which facilitates compact growth in our towns and cities. This will allow for more compact urban and rural communities supported by jobs, houses and services by facilitating public transport and active travel options.28

NSO6 High Quality International Connectivity

Strengthening access routes to Ireland’s ports through investment to upgrade and enhance the road and rail transport network to improve journey times is and remains a government priority. 29

26 Project Ireland 2040: National Planning Framework (February 2018), p. 145. 27 National Development Plan 2021-2030 (October, 2021), p.61. 28 National Development Plan 2021-2030 (October, 2021), p.65. 29 National Development Plan 2021-2030 (October, 2021), p.108.

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Climate-Neutral and Climate-Resilient Society

Transitioning the passenger car fleet to electricity and providing additional charging infrastructure.

Encouraging a significant modal shift through greater levels of investment and further development of meaningful alternatives to private car uses under the following three major environmentally sustainable mobility schemes:

Additional cycling and walking infrastructure which will provide additional sustainable mobility options to complement increased capacity and faster, higher quality public transport in our main cities;

Travel demand management measures in the five cities;

Pilot initiatives for low emitting technologies in the transport sector. There is also the need to make the road network more resilient to the effects of climate change. This would include the following measures which would be undertaken under national, regional and local programmes:

Improved drainage schemes;

Strengthened road pavements and bridges which can resist the effects of increased rainfall and the effects of scour damage;

Raising of roads in certain instances in order to prevent roads becoming impassable after heavy rainfall.

Table A.3 National Sustainable Mobility Policy actions for TII30

National Sustainable Mobility Policy actions related to national Roads, where TII is owner (Excerpts from National Sustainable Mobility Policy: Action Plan)
Goal	Actions

including sustainable mobility users Expand speed management measures on National Roads at schools and high-risk locations

Goal 1: Improve mobility safety

Increase provision of Park and Ride and Park and Share at transport interchanges Develop and implement an active travel infrastructure programme for regional growth centres and key towns outside of the Greater Dublin Area. (Complements CAP Action 233, RSS Action 5, 40) Develop and publish a strategic national cycle network. (Complements CAP Action 232, RSS Action 39) Goal 4: Expand availability of sustainable mobility in regional and rural areas

Goal 3: Expand availability of sustainable mobility in metropolitan areas

Deliver public transport corridors providing prioritised bus lanes on national radial routes to the M50. (CAP Action 261)

30 National Sustainable Mobility Policy: Action Plan 2022-2025 (April, 2022)

National Sustainable Mobility Policy actions related to national Roads, where TII is owner (Excerpts from National Sustainable Mobility Policy: Action Plan)
Goal	Actions

people to choose sustainable mobility over the private car

User Charging Evaluation (BRUCE) study (CAP Action 259)

Update national standards and project management guidelines to facilitate all road users on the national road network including the delivery of public transport facilities. Deliver an average of 60 road safety improvement schemes and fund an average of four minor realignment schemes on National Roads per year, to create forgiving roadsides, self-explaining roads, and a safe environment for vulnerable road users

Goal 7: Design infrastructure according to Universal Design Principles and Hierarchy of Road Users Model