The publication of this Draft Greater Dublin Area (GDA) Transport Strategy 2022-2042 for public consultation is an important step in our move to a sustainable future. I welcome the opportunity to comment.
As a general comment, given the scale and urgency of the transition we need to make to sustainable modes of transport for a growing population, the phasing of the project does not seem sufficiently explained in the Strategy document. The diagram is somewhat simplistic in that it does not show completion or start dates for various projects, despite some already being in progress. Major infrastructure projects would need to be brought to completion before 2042 - particularly the Dart + extension projects and additional core bus corridors. Can the Strategy provide more detail and rationale for the phasing, and the likely impacts or missed opportunities of such a timeframe in terms of our climate targets and social and economic needs?
With regard to behavioural change, it would be beneficial for the Strategy to include a measure on human-centered transport design. How a person uses a transport system from start to end, their perspective on their journeys from any point is valuable information for incentivising and designing for the significant modal shift we need to make, to enact this strategy. There is new research in this area driving new approaches to transport strategy development that would be beneficial to include (e.g. Maghraoui et al, 2017). A seamless user experience is important to support behaviour change resulting in the required modal shift.
In terms of modeling and data use, is there a future plan to use latest technologies in anonymised mobile data and GIS for mapping for understanding mobility in real time for planning? Other countries also make such data available as Open Data, powering citizen engagement, innovation and new employment opportunities.
Specific measures
With regard to specific measures in the strategy I suggest thatthe following proposed action should be stated more clearly. Does 'contribute' mean fully achieve or does it mean contribute to a % of this goal?
MEASURE CLIMATE2 Through the implementation of the full measures set out in this strategy, in combination with the plans and programmes of Government, the NTA will contribute to a reduction in CO2 emissions from transport in the GDA to below 1 MtCO2eq by 2042.
Propose clarifying as:
MEASURE CLIMATE2 Through the implementation of the full measures set out in this strategy, in combination with the plans and programmes of Government, the NTA aims to reduce CO2 emissions from transport in the GDA to below 1 MtCO2eq by or before 2042.
Ref: Al Maghraoui, Ouail, et al (2017) Framing key concepts to design a human centered urban mobility system, 21st International Conference on Engineering Design (ICED 17), August, Vancouver, Canada.