Plan to shift commuter from the car ‘unsuccessful’

Efforts to get Irish commuters to be less dependent on car travel have been unsuccessful, according to a top-level steering group which has reported on transport policy in Ireland.

The steering group has drawn up a draft framework for new Minister for Transport Paschal Donohoe after carrying out a comprehensive evaluation of land transport in the State.

Among the key issues it identifies are significant shortfalls in investment in infrastructure, an unsustainable rail network and the lack of success in the “modal shift” policy - which has tried to get commuters to switch to other forms of transport such as public transport, cycling and walking.

“Implementation of modal shift to date has been unsuccessful as trends show an ever-increasing dependency on car-based travel.”

While the number of cyclists has increased greatly in recent years, it has not made a significant impact nationally.

The group is comprised of senior civil servants, academics and experts from industry. It has also found the current situation in regard to rail transport in Ireland is not “financially sustainable” and recommends a new rail policy where value for money must be ascertained.

It points out that rail gets some 20 per cent of State funding while accounting for only one to two per cent of passenger trip demand.

The framework points out that the number of those travelling to work by car doubled between 1990 and 2008 and car ownership increased during that period from 798,000 to 1.88 million.

It is also noted that investment in transport and road infrastructure is required and needs to be increased from its historically low figure of €1.2 billion at present to €1.8 billion.

It is also pointed out more than once that the current investment in the road network is not capable of maintaining the roads to the required standard.

The framework envisages an increase of peak demand in road traffic by some 35 per cent by 2014 with 650,000 additional trips. Alternatives such as public transport, walking and cycling should be explored.

The group identifies a number of priorities including addressing urban congestion, maximising the use of the road and other networks (it notes the improvements in motorways, the Port Tunnel, and the Luas system in Dublin), improving access to seaports and airports, and spatial planning priorities.

Mr Donohoe is to launch a public consultation process on the draft framework today in advance of completing a new strategic policy on land transport.

He said: “The [report] outlines the value of capital investment in transport, and that investment in good transport projects provides a return on investment and, ultimately, jobs.

“It also shows that our present levels of investment are not consistent either with our own historic norms, or with the investment levels of our peers.

“However, perhaps the most striking message is the scale of the gap between available funding levels and the level of investment that is necessary to maintain the existing transport network in adequate condition, even if all available funding is used to keep our existing infrastructure in its current state.”