Newlands Cross Upgrade EIS - European Investment Bank

South Dublin County Council N7 Newlands Cross Upgrade
Environmental Impact Statement
Arup Consulting Engineers
management and substantial additional resources were also be made available for roads
investment. The objectives of this unprecedented level of investment were:
• To address the projected growth in traffic through a combination of investment in
transport infrastructure and facilities and demand management measures;
• To reduce the relative attraction of commuting to work by private car, thereby curtailing
congestion and vehicular emissions;
• To increase accessibility for all, particularly mobility impaired and disabled people;
• To better reflect evolving commuter travel patterns by providing for spatial distribution of
public transport which addresses the requirements of the Strategic Planning Guidelines;
To support sustainable development the NDP strategy for the Greater Dublin Area was to
concentrate investment on:
• Developing, extending and increasing the capacity of the bus network;
• Implementation of non-national road projects of particular relevance to the achievement
of the Dublin Transport Initiative Strategy objectives;
• Provision of further cycle infrastructure and facilities;
• Implementation of traffic management measures (including measures to respond to the
needs of mobility impaired and disabled people).
In relation to Traffic Management, €254 million will be provided to create an appropriate
traffic environment to facilitate public transport, improve cycling facilities and improve traffic
flow, including:
• Provision of additional Quality Bus Corridors;
• Further development of the cycle network;
• Improved traffic signalling;
• Through the provision of bus priority and cycle routes and improved pedestrian facilities
for the entire scheme the road development contributes significantly toward the
achievement of the objectives of the NDP for the area.
2.3 National Development Plan 2007 – 2013 6
The NDP 2000-2006 has very significantly enhanced infrastructural priorities whilst making
an important contribution in other areas. Projects initiated by the NDP 2000 – 2006 are
ongoing and have been reaffirmed and integrated into the new NDP. The new NDP 2007 –
2013 builds on this foundation to deliver a much more ambitious level of investment and
consequent further major improvement in areas of key importance to competitiveness and
quality of life. The NDP 2007 – 2013 sets out the economic and social investment priorities
needed to realise the vision of a better quality of life for all. This better quality of life will be
achieved by supporting the continued development of a dynamic and internationalised
economy and society with a high commitment to international competitiveness, social justice
and environmental sustainability.
Investment in economic infrastructure is a key element in the promotion of competitiveness
and the generation of sustainable economic growth and employment. It also contributes to
regional development and assists environmental sustainability. A good transport infrastructure
is crucial to the promotion of national competitiveness and sustainable development. It is
critical that enterprises are able to efficiently move goods both internally and to and from
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