Almost €300m will be invested in walking and cycling infrastructure this year - Ryan

Almost €300million will be invested in walking and cycling infrastructure across Ireland this year. 

That's according to the Minister for Transport, Eamon Ryan, who today (February 1) confirmed the National Transport Authority (NTA) has allocated funds of €290m to local authorities for approximately 1,200 Active Travel projects. 

This funding will reportedly contribute to the development of almost 1,000km of new and improved walking and cycling infrastructure by 2025, as well as the development of segregated cycle lanes and widened footpaths, new walking and cycling bridges and new pedestrian crossings. 

Over 500 projects across rural Ireland are expected to see progression this year, with 250 in regional cities and 387 in the Greater Dublin Area. 

Major projects receiving funding include €4million for the connection of the Waterford Greenway from Bilberry into the heart of Waterford City Centre, and a whopping €27million for a cycle route between Fairview and Amiens Street in Dublin City. 

Speaking today, Minister Ryan said, "Continuous and substantial funding for active travel across the country is a key commitment in the Programme for Government and a cornerstone of our transport strategies. Last year, all of the money allocated was drawn down by local authorities and I am confident that the same will happen this year. 

"This will mean that communities across the country will be better connected with safe and people friendly corridors to visit friends, go to the shops, or cycle or walk to school, sports training or other activities." 

He continued: "People very often think that Greenways, cycle-ways or walkways are primarily tourism amenities. Of course, they serve that purpose really well, but first and foremost they are about local people and improving local life, connecting suburbs, local villages or townlands that have often become disconnected from one another because of busy and dangerous roads. 

"The benefits of this investment are immense, locally and nationally. Not only are we making our cities, towns and villages greener and more livable, we are also helping to reduce Ireland’s carbon emissions. In transport, we have a significant challenge to reduce our emissions by 50% by 2030.

"To achieve this, we have to encourage more people to choose sustainable ways of travelling. However, as we have seen already with the greenways, walk and cycle ways, once we build them, they become instantly popular and we don’t really have to do much to encourage people to make the sustainable switch.” 

CEO of the National Transport Authority, Anne Graham, called 2023 "an important year" for active travel. 

She said, "With a growing number of active travel schemes moving from design into construction and delivery, we can encourage more people across the country to walk or cycle within and beyond their local community. The funding being announced today will allow the NTA to continue to work alongside local authorities as we accelerate the delivery of improved cycling and walking infrastructure. 

"From new segregated cycle lanes and footpaths, to dedicated pedestrian and cycling bridges, the active travel projects receiving funding will make it easier and safer for people to choose active travel modes. The extensive work being undertaken in partnership with Active Travel teams within Councils nationwide will help improve the health and wellbeing of our communities and make them more accessible and attractive for everyone.”