Chapter 12 Sustainable Transportation

12.0 Introduction 
 

Integrating land use planning with transportation is key to addressing climate change, supporting economic prosperity and improving the quality of life for those who live in County Wicklow. Reducing the need to travel, especially long distances, by private car, and increasing the use of sustainable and healthy travel alternatives, can bring multiple benefits to our climate, local environment and communities. 

The Council will continue to provide for all components of the transportation system which are within its own remit and will support and facilitate the development of those other elements provided by external agencies, such as the National Transport Authority (NTA) and Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII). In addition the strategy and objectives of this plan are required to be consistent with the transport strategy of the NTA¹, as well as the National Planning Framework (NPF) and the Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy (RSES).  

It is the aim of this plan to craft land use policies to produce settlements of such form and layout that facilitates and encourages sustainable forms of movement and transport, prioritising active travel modes of walking and cycling, and for larger settlements, public transport.  
In particular, the achievement of the following goals shall be at the core of all aspects of the transportation objectives of this plan:  

• Facilitating modal shift to more sustainable transport options by:
  • Support of investment programmes and any associated infrastructure development that deliver improvements to public transport infrastructure and services, in particular the upgrading of the Dublin – Rosslare train line, improved DART Services, bringing the Luas or other mass transit to Bray and Fassaroe and the development of improved bus services in all parts of the County;
  • Promotion of development patterns that facilitate the delivery of local public transport links within towns (including feeder buses to train / Luas stations and other transport interchanges), between towns and in rural areas;
  • Promoting development of ‘Park and Ride’ facilities, particularly for access to public transport but also to encourage carpooling and discourage single occupancy vehicles;
  • Delivering improvements to the pedestrian environment and promoting walking as a mode of transport through the provision of new and improvement of existing walking facilities throughout the County;
  • Delivering improvements to cycling facilities and promoting cycling as a mode of transport through the provision of new and improvement of existing cycling facilities throughout the County;
  • Working with the NTA on the implementation of local projects which support pedestrian and cyclist permeability, safety and access to schools and public transport.
• Supporting the transition from existing fossil fuel vehicles to clean renewable vehicles, support and facilitate the transition to electric vehicle (EV) use, including measures for more recharging facilities and prioritise EV parking in central locations.
• More effectively managing vehicular traffic and car parking in town and village centres to make public transport, walking and cycling more attractive option for availing of town / village centre services.
• Facilitating the improvement of the existing road network, to enhance safety for all users, and to remove bottlenecks and hazards.
• Improving east – west linkages in the County, as well as linkages between the west and south of the County to other counties.
• Ensuring that vehicular and pedestrian environments can be used by all people, regardless of their age, size, disability or ability.

^1. The ‘Greater Dublin Area Transport Strategy 2016-2035’ (a review / updating of which commenced late 2020) and the ‘Integrated Implementation Plan 2019-2024’. 

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