Services for Persons with a DisabilityGalway: Market Leader in Smarter Travel
12 January 2010"To create a City of best practice in sustainable travel by being imaginative, bold and ambitious" is the vision of the Galway Smarter Travel Bid according to Ciarán Hayes, Director of Services, Galway City Council.
The stage II bid, which seeks to secure funding of €25 million for the Galway Metropolitan Area encompassing Galway City, Bearna, Baile-Chlair and Oranmore must be submitted by April 30, 2010. The joint bid between Galway City and County Councils includes the following ambitious elements:
- Extension of the pedestrian area in Galway City Centre into Cross Street, Middle Street & Eglington Street
- Development of a new walking and cycling route from Newtownsmith to the Docks via Abbeygate Street
- A 6 fold increase in the length of bus corridors from 3km to 18km, to serve Knocknacarra, Parkmore, Oranmore, Monivea Road and Tuam Road
- Development of a multi-modal transport hub in Garraun, Oranmore
- New sustainable travel PR programme
- Reduction in speed limits to 30 kph in the City Centre area
- Roll out of workplace mobility plans
- New personalised travel planning programme to be piloted in Renmore
- Development of two new bike training parks in the East & West of the City
- Development of high quality cycle routes from the City Centre to Bearna, Dangan, Baile-Chlair and Oranmore.
Recent feedback from the Department of Transport on the Stage 1 bid submitted highlighted that it was 'excellent' and 'one of the few bids where all members of the adjudication panel agreed that it should proceed to stage II' demonstrating that the Galway bid has every chance of success in stage II of this National Competition. A central element of which is the capacity of shortlisted areas to deliver and implement their respective proposals.
Commenting on the development of the stage II bid, Cllr Michael Crowe chairman of the Integrated Transportation Coordinating Group stated:
"this is a very comprehensive plan and will need widespread support for it to be successful. It is important that all of us as public representatives and the various interested groups along with the general public buy in to this."
Outlining the challenge ahead Cllr. Crowe added: "…we are at an early stage of preparation and have a lot more work to do in order to finalise this bid. We also have stiff opposition from Cork City, Limerick City and parts of Dublin City, among others. As well as trying to secure €25 million, advancing the necessary infrastructural changes and promoting the benefits etc. we also need to change the public's hearts and minds. Overall it is an uphill challenge but one I believe is achievable. We will conclude the proposal over the next couple of months and will have it ready to submit to the Department by the closing date in April."
The Galway Metropolitan Area Stage II bid will assessed by reference to its level of ambition, designs, behavioural change campaigns and critically its ability to deliver. Both local authorities realise the scale of this challenge and highlight the vital importance all sectors fully engaging in the bid development process over the coming weeks and months.
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Gaillimh: An Ceannródaí sa Mhargadh ó thaobh Taisteal níos Cliste
Deir Ciarán Hayes, Stiúrthóir Seirbhísí, Comhairle Cathrach na Gaillimhe gurb í an fhís atá le Tairiscint Taisteal níos Cliste na Gaillimhe "Cathair ina mbeidh sárchleachtas maidir le taisteal inbhuanaithe trí bheith samhlaíoch, misniúil agus uaillmhianach".
Caithfear tairiscint chéim II a bheith curtha faoi bhráid roimh an 30 Aibreán, 2010, agus is éard a bheidh i gceist leis an tairiscint sin maoiniú de €25 milliún a chinntiú do Cheantar Cathrach na Gaillimhe, ina bhfuil Cathair na Gaillimhe, Bearna, Baile Chláir agus Órán Mór. Tá na gnéithe uaillmhianacha a leanas san áireamh sa tairiscint i gcomhar ó Chomhairle Cathrach na Gaillimhe agus ó Chomhairle Contae na Gaillimhe araon:
- Síneadh ar an réimse do choisithe i Lár Chathair na Gaillimhe chun go mbeidh an tSráid Trasna, an tSráid Láir & Sráid Eglington san áireamh leis
- Bealach siúlóide agus rothaíochta nua a fhorbairt ó Bhaile Nua Mhic Gabhann go dtí na Duganna trí Shráid an Gheata Bhig
- Ardú faoi shé ar fhad na mbealaí bus ó 3km go dtí 18km, chun freastal ar Chnoc na Cathrach, An Pháirc Mhór, Órán Mór, Bóthar Mhuine Mheá agus Bóthar Thuama
- Mol iompair ilmhódúil a fhorbairt sa Gharrán, Órán Mór
- Clár PR nua maidir le taisteal inbhuanaithe
- Laghdú ar theorainneacha luais go dtí 30 ciliméadar san uair i Lár na Cathrach
- Pleananna soghluaisteachta ag an áit oibre a leathadh amach
- Clár pleanála taistil féinoiriúnaithe nua a phíolótú sa Rinn Mhór
- Dhá pháirc oiliúna rothair nua a fhorbairt in Oirthear agus in Iarthar na Cathrach
- Bealaí rothaíochta ar ardchaighdeán a fhorbairt ó Lár na Cathrach go dtí Bearna, An Daingean, Baile Chláir agus Órán Mór.
Léirigh aiseolas le déanaí ón Roinn Iompair maidir le Céim 1 den tairiscint a cuireadh faoi bhráid go raibh an tairiscint 'thar barr' agus 'ar cheann de bheagán tairiscintí inar chomhaontaigh gach comhalta den phainéal breithiúnais gur chóir do Ghaillimh leanúint ar aghaidh go dtí céim II' agus léiríonn sin go bhfuil gach seans go n-éireoidh le tairiscint na Gaillimhe i gcéim II den Chomórtas Náisiúnta. Gné lárnach de chéim II ná cumas na gceantar ar an ngearrliosta a gcuid moltaí faoi seach a sheachadadh agus a fheidhmiú.
Deir an Comhairleoir Michael Crowe, cathaoirleach an Ghrúpa Comhordúcháin Iompair Lánpháirtithe ag labhairt dó ar fhorbairt na tairisceana maidir le céim II: "gur plean an-chuimsitheach é agus go mbeidh gá le tacaíocht leathan chun go n-éireoidh leis. Deir sé go bhfuil sé tábhachtach go dtabharfadh gach ionadaí poiblí agus na grúpaí leasmhara éagsúla tacaíocht dó mar aon leis an bpobal i gcoitinne."
Agus é ag cur síos ar an dúshlán atá amach romhainn, deir an Comhairleoir Crowe: "go bhfuilimid ag céim luath maidir le hullmhú agus go bhfuil go leor obair eile fós le déanamh chun an tairiscint a thabhairt chun críche. Deir sé go bhfuil freasúraí láidre ann ó Chathair Chorcaí, ó Chathair Luimnigh agus codanna de Chathair Bhaile Átha Cliath, i measc áiteanna eile. Chomh maith le hiarracht a dhéanamh an €25 milliún a chinntiú, na hathruithe infrastruchtúir riachtanacha a chur chun cinn agus na sochair a chur chun cinn etc. ní mór dúinn mian agus aigne an phobail a athrú freisin. Is dúshlán mór é tríd is tríd ach deir sé gur féidir é a bhaint amach. Tabharfar an moladh chun críche sna cúpla mí atá amach romhainn agus beidh sé ullamh le cur faoi bhráid na Roinne roimh an dáta deiridh i mí Aibreáin."
Déanfar tairiscint Chéim II do Cheantar Cathrach na Gaillimhe a mheas trí thagairt don leibhéal uaillmhianachta, dearthaí, feachtais athruithe iompair agus níos tábhachtaí fós an cumas na nithe atá ann a bhaint amach.
Tuigeann na húdaráis áitiúla éagsúla scála an dúshláin agus tugtar le fios chomh tábhachtach agus atá sé go mbeadh gach earnáil rannpháirteach sa phróiseas i bhforbairt na tairisceana sna seachtainí agus sna míonna atá amach romhainn.
