Limerick City and County Council has welcomed the news that its proposal to create a more comprehensive Active Travel cycle and walking network for Limerick has been selected as a part of a new Pathfinder project by the Department of Transport.
The ‘Limerick Metropolitan Area Active Travel Pathfinder Project’ creates connectivity and continuity of active travel infrastructure to the city centre from the main residential and employment areas in the city and its environs.
This project will significantly enable Limerick to achieve a shift to more sustainable forms of transport, helping to contribute to the target reduction of 51% in Greenhouse Gases by 2030 and net zero by 2050.
This project will be a key element in providing sustainable infrastructure and enabling the proposed daily demands for sustainable travel as outlined in the upcoming transport strategy Limerick Shannon Metropolitan Area Transport Strategy (LSMATS).
The active travel network aims to directly create connectivity between the city and the large residential areas and the large employment zones at the National Technology Park, Raheen Business Park and Ballysimon.
Additionally, this project will create cross-city connectivity from the main residential areas of Caherdavin and the North Circular to the north, Ballinacurra and Raheen/ Dooradoyle to the south and across to Castletroy and Monaleen in the east to the city.
The network will also form a link between the main third level institutions of University of Limerick, Limerick College of Art and Design TUS, TUS Moylish and Mary Immaculate College, plus a number of primary and secondary schools and further education centres along the route.
The projects are to be delivered within the next three years.
Mayor of the City and County of Limerick Cllr Francis Foley said: “The Pathfinder Projects are a key element in providing sustainable options for people to get into the city centre from outlying areas. We need to create connected routes that are safe to use so that we can entice people from their cars for their short to medium journeys.”
Chief Executive of Limerick City and County Council Dr Pat Daly said: “These projects create connectivity and continuity of active travel infrastructure to the city centre from the main residential and employment areas in the city and its environs. These important projects are key to our overall transportation strategy LSMATS for Limerick and will meet the key demands for sustainable travel and reduced emissions into the future.”