What is Transport 21

Transport 21 is a capital investment framework under the National Development Plan through which the transport system in Ireland will be developed, over the period 2006 to 2015. This framework will address the twin challenges of past investment backlogs and continuing growth in transport demand. The projects and programmes that make up Transport 21 will aim to

• increase accessibility – making it easier for everybody to get to and from work, school, college, shopping and business.
• ensure sustainability – recognising that a modern transport system must be sustainable from an economic and environmental perspective. For more information on the Department of Transport’s sustainability initiatives click here 
• expand capacity – addressing existing deficiencies and providing for future growth.
• increase use - managing the transport network and seeking to increase the use of public transport
• enhance quality – improving safety, accessibility, integration, reliability, speed and comfort.

Transport 21 is made up of two investment programmes – a national programme and a programme for the Greater Dublin area. The main objectives of the national programme are -

• to create a high quality, efficient national road and rail network consistent with the objectives of the National Spatial Strategy;
• to provide for a significant increase in public transport use in provincial cities;
• to strengthen national, regional and local public transport services;
• to enhance safety and security facilities at the regional airports.

The main objectives of the programme for the Greater Dublin Area are -

• to develop Metro North and Metro West
• to construct the Suburban Rail Interconnector providing a tunnelled link between Heuston Station and the Docklands, via St. Stephen’s Green and linking with the Northern line;
• to extend the LUAS network to the Docklands, Citywest, Bray and construct a new line from St Stephen's Green to Liffey Junction (joining the two existing LUAS lines), and construct a new line from Lucan to the City Centre;
• to develop the bus network to create a meshed network of services and reorient it to take account of the rail developments described above;
• to create a network of interchange points across the network to allow users transfer easily;
• to introduce a smartcard integrated ticket which can be used on all public transport services;
• to develop park and ride facilities at carefully chosen locations;
• to implement a phased programme of demand management measures;
• to introduce an integrated public transport information system;
• to complete the upgrade of the M50.

Transport 21 is informed by the National Spatial Strategy, the Regional Planning Guidelines and a number of other regional land use and transportation strategies for major urban areas and their hinterlands including -

• the Dublin Transportation Office’s long term strategy A Platform for Change
• the Cork Area Strategic Plan;
• the Limerick Planning Land Use and Transportation Study;
• the Galway Transportation and Planning Study;
• the Waterford Planning Land Use and Transportation Study. 

Transport 21 provides capital funding only for major infrastructural projects. It is however complementary to other Government initiatives such as the Rural Transport Programme and the Sustainable Travel and Transport Plan.