NTA seeks public opinion and review on the Great Dublin Area Transport Strategy

The National Transport Authority (NTA) seeks the public opinion and review on the Great Dublin Area Transport Strategy.

Along with this the review collected will be used as an assessment for certain other future transport projects like the Metro to Terenure-Rathfarnham-Knocklyon, a Metro to UCD-Sandyford and the assessment of a rail line to Navan. 

Luas Cross City, Metrolink, the Dart+ programme and BusConnects are the major projects under the plan. It was in 2016, the government adopted this strategy first, but the NTA is now looking for the priorities of the people to include in the transport plans.

 NTA has also published a paper on what all problems should be considered and looked into. NTA believes that there is a chance now to strengthen the strategy and make it fit for the future as well.

“We need to ensure that the policies and proposals we bring forward are the ones that are the most relevant and focused on transforming people’s quality of life by making it easier for people to get around,” it said.

• Adapting to post-Covid life in the greater Dublin area
• Delivering a sustainable transport network that meets climate change requirements
• The potential for future transport options such as electric bikes and e-scooters. 

These are three items that the NTA found to be considered.

As per the law, the NTA needs to review its strategy in every six years. It said by opening the review now, it could get all the feedback, data and information from the public and stakeholders to complete the review by early 2022.

The NTA is hoping to provide a revised draft strategy review by the mid of 2021. Prior to that NTA will review some studies including an assessment of a Metro to Terenure-Rathfarnham-Knocklyon, a Metro to UCD-Sandyford and the assessment of a rail line to Navan.

The NTA mentions that till the date tens of millions of euro had been invested in walking and cycling projects, such as the cycleway along the seafront in Clontarf and the off-road pedestrian/cycling route between Baldoyle and Portmarnock. Along with this an additional 180 busses in the Dublin Bus network, investment in real time passenger information and the landmark project BusConnects which has begun its work, along with rail improvements and also considered to be the result of NTA’s strategy.

Metrolink, Dart West and the BusConnects new services network. All of these are due to begin work or start planning next year, are some of their future projects.

The members of the public can give their views on the strategy by completing an online feedback form at www.nationaltransport.ie.

“We now need people’s help. We want to hear people’s views on what should be considered in the preparation of the new Transport Strategy for the Greater Dublin Area,” said NTA CEO Anne Graham.

“We’re asking people to read our discussion document and then go to the website and respond to questions in the feedback form. This will help us shape our approach so that the revised Strategy we publish next year, reflects the views of the public.” she added.

Anne Graham also said that next year they will publish a draft of our revised Strategy. That will include specifics on all our proposals for the region, investment plans, projections, transport modelling etc.

“At that stage we will be inviting members of the public to consider the draft plan in detail; assess it in terms of future transport needs at regional, local and even household level; and provide us with feedback on what we are putting forward.” Anne Graham said.