Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 18 Jun 2003

Vol. 568 No. 6

Written Answers. - Traffic Management.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

285 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport the degree to which he has examined traffic management in towns, cities and villages throughout the country; if he has identified the cause or causes of traffic chaos in areas with even the smallest of populations; if this is attributable to improper road planning; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17187/03]

Minister for Transport (Mr. Brennan):

This Government has been proactive in responding to the challenge of traffic congestion and has demonstrated its commitment to transforming our transport infrastructure by providing unprecedented levels of investment since 1997. Within the framework of the national development plan a wide range of initiatives have been taken to upgrade transport infrastructure and services and reduce congestion.

Traffic management in cities, towns and villages is a matter for the local authorities concerned. However, in recognition of the role that good road design and effective traffic management can play in alleviating congestion, the Dublin Transportation Office, in conjunction with my Department and the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government has recently prepared and published traffic management guidelines.

The purpose of this traffic management guidelines manual is to provide guidance on a variety of issues including traffic planning, traffic calming and management, incorporation of speed restraint measures in new residential designs and the provision of suitably designed facilities for public transport users and for vulnerable road users. It also focuses on how these issues must be examined and implemented in the context of overall transportation and land use policies.

National, regional and local strategies set the objectives for transportation and traffic management schemes and this manual outlines the techniques and tools available to assist in the delivery of these objectives. It is intended that this manual will provide assistance to a wide range of people including local authority officials, developers, voluntary organisations and the general public and also Government Departments and their agencies. In particular, it provides guidance for engineers, planners, architects and policy makers working on behalf of local authorities, developers, Departments and the Garda Síochána. A copy of this manual will be issued by my Department to all major local authorities.

The National Roads Authority has also made good progress with the roll out of the national roads programme, including the development of bypasses, which have helped to alleviate congestion in many towns throughout the country.

In 2000, the Department of the Environment and Local Government also introduced regional traffic management grants for the first time to the city councils of Cork, Galway, Limerick and Waterford. Under the regional traffic management schemes, improvements are undertaken on a variety of measures including pedestrian and cycle facilities, traffic signalling, bus lanes and traffic calming in residential areas. Studies on land use and transportation have also been completed in Limerick, Cork, Galway and Waterford.