Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 21 March 2024
77. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Transport further to Parliamentary Question No. 61 of 1 February 2024, the status of the feasibility study for light rail in Galway, which is being undertaken as part of the development of the Galway Metropolitan Area Transport Strategy; the details of the strategic roads feasibility study referenced in the NTA's reply; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12836/24]
View answer123. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Transport further to Parliamentary Question No. 61 of 1 February 2024, the terms of reference of the strategic roads feasibility study; who is carrying out the study; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12837/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 77 and 123 together.
The Deputy will be aware that the National Transport Authority, or NTA, in conjunction with Galway City Council and Galway County Council, is currently developing the Galway Metropolitan Area Transport Strategy. The new strategy will provide a long-term strategic planning framework for the delivery of transport and the integrated development of transport infrastructure and services in the Galway Metropolitan Area. It will replace the existing Galway Transport Strategy which was published in 2016.
As part of the development of the new strategy, mode-specific analysis is being undertaken in the form of a Light Rail Feasibility Study and a Strategic Roads Feasibility Study, both of which are nearing completion. The Strategic Roads Feasibility Study will include analysis of the strategic road requirements for Galway, and will provide road options which will go forward for assessment as part of the multi-modal process for the strategy.
The NTA will undertake a public consultation process following the preparation of the draft strategy, with background technical reports and feasibility studies to be published as supporting documents. The NTA now anticipates that the public consultation will commence in Quarter 3 of this year. This public consultation process will give stakeholders the opportunity to share their views on the draft strategy. This feedback will in turn be used to inform the review and consideration of the strategy, with a view to finalising it thereafter.
I welcome the development of this multi-modal strategy which will guide transport investment and the delivery of transport infrastructure in the Galway Metropolitan Area over the next 20 years. It will provide the necessary evidence-based and plan-led framework that can guide investment in the city over the short, medium and longer term. This type of approach is exactly the type of long-term planning needed to ensure good transport infrastructure delivery and integration with land-use planning.
