The outcomes detailed from the proposed strategy are woefully inadequate to meet our climate targets.
Totally unclear how a 51% emission reduction in transport will be achieved by 2030. This target should be regarded as a floor not a ceiling. The GDA should be aiming to achieve much higher than the 51% emission cut because of all the investment and population density.
According to the outcomes listed only half of all journeys will be using sustainable modes by 2042, this is so utterly unambitious it is hard to grasp how the National Transport Authority could be so completely out of step with government policy.
The strategy should include more explicit path to de-carbonisation.
Sustainable modes will have to be the majority share before 2030 and at least 80% by 2042 if we are to stand a chance of meeting our climate targets.
The entire strategy needs to be redesigned to meet that level of modal shift.
And every local authority in the county needs to be mandated to achieve that those levels in line our climate targets.
The demand management measures that will help us achieve that need to be detailed in full and the primary method needs to be road reallocation.
The space needs to be taken from the private car and given to walking cycing and public transport. The purpose of Ireland's transport system is to move people around not cars. The expected modal shift away private cars by 2042 is abysmally low
Projected mode share for cycling in both the metropolitan area and the suburbs are extremely low by international comparison. Several cities similar in size are achieving close to 50% right now. We need this to be our medium term aim. Road reallocation can achieve this.
If the projected modal share for cycling by 2030 is met Dublin will be well outside the top 100 cities in Europe for cycling. We should be aiming to get to the very top of that list.
Timelines for the delivery of infrastructure are very long - what can be done to shorten this?
- Metrolink had previously been mooted for 2027 now it will be in the early 2030's.
- Luas to Finglas 4km through parks, 4 simple stations, Public consultation on route last year, widely supported. Previously application in 2023, now 2024.
Justification for large-scale infrastructure projects seems to require “business case”. How can we ensure climate emergency, cost of inaction, and wider ecological concerns factored in and accelerate the process for demonstrating the business case?
Risk of buck passing between NTA, LAs etc if this does not result in emissions reduction -need more explicit clarity regarding responsibility - is there an explicit responsibility and legal consequences for LAs who do not play their part in emissions reductions? A lot of demand management will come down to choices of LAs e.g. parking charges
Welsh government is evaluating all major projects in terms of their consistency with climate sustainability - can we include similar tools here?
Personal E-bikes/scooters lack of specific modelling and the NTA seem to have a conserative attitude towards them.
We need to look at cities that have successfully used demand management measures for example Ghent and Birmingham.