Air quality objectives and action themes
4.4 Theme 3: Travel The Air Quality Strategy incorporates a wide range of initiatives relating to transport and travel. A large portion of air pollution in the city is as a result of exhaust emissions from road vehicles. One of the key concepts underlying this theme is Sustainable Active Travel. The recently published ‘Cork Metropolitan Area Transport Strategy (CMATS)’ incorporates this essential element within a number of major initiatives. These include the future development of a new light rail system stretching from Mahon to Ballincollig, the expansion of bus corridors and an increase in the number of bus routes. There is also a focus on the expansion of cycling networks and increasing pedestrianisation options such as the Lee to Sea walkway. Another foundational aspect of CMATS is the idea of Compact Growth; where future growth of the city is centralised, with new development located near to strategic transport corridors, easily accessible via numerous walking and cycling routes. Council Fleet Cork City Council has been reducing emissions from its own fleet for several years. This has been assisted through the purchase of newer, cleaner electric vehicles in 2019. The City Council has a fleet of 76 electric vehicles (2020 figures). The remainder of the fleet comprises vans, tractors and mowers that are typically diesel powered. The fleet is renewed every five years to ensure vehicle emissions are kept to a minimum and are within the regulatory standards.
Public Transport
Kent Train Station, Cork
One of the core concepts of this sub-theme is the expansion of the greatest possible choice of transport modes for the public. This includes increasing bus routes (frequency and connectivity), increasing the number of bus corridors and the possibility of converting the existing bus fleet to hybrid/electric. It also involves an expansion of park and ride facilities, thereby lowering the volume of traffic in the city. Initiatives to encourage Cork City Council staff to engage with the issue includes assigning car park spaces for car-pools and the expansion of a cycle-to-work scheme. The majority of actions concerning large public transport infrastructure works and fleet expansion will be delivered by external agencies (Bus Éireann, Irish Rail, NTA, TII etc.) with the city council providing assistance at the local management level.
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