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Introduction
The National Planning Framework 2040 envisages that Cork will become the largest growing city region in Ireland with a projected 50% to 60% increase in its population up to year 2040. The city’s population is set to grow to over 300,000 people in the coming years, fuelled by the extension of the existing city boundary but also by the influx of new workers - as many as 10,000 within five years - who will be employed in the city centre on projects that are underway or planned. The facilitation of public transport through the creation of priority bus corridors and the diversion of private cars away from the city centre are key strategic objectives for the city.
Climate change is one of the most pressing challenges of our time and imposes a responsibility on institutions and individuals to make choices in favour of sustainable and more environmentally friendly practices. This transition to new, sustainable traffic management systems must include the facilitation of walking and cycling options. The facilitation of these choices also informs the strategic direction being proposed for traffic management in Cork. To address the various issues which now must be faced, the Cork Metropolitan Area Transport Strategy (CMATS), has been developed by the National Transport Authority (NTA) in collaboration with Cork City Council, Cork County Council and Transport Infrastructure Ireland.
The Covid 19 pandemic has intensified the need to look at different ways to move and travel around our city. More street space is needed to facilitate the social distancing requirements so our many small businesses can re-open and function. More people are likely to seek to walk and cycle for shorter trips as they go about their daily business. For the MacCurtain Street Scheme, the establishment of safe walking and cycling routes for students is a particular priority given the concentration of schools within a relatively small area of the city centre. Over reliance on cars to drop and collect students at schools is a significant contributor to traffic congestion and the creation of viable alternatives to this practice must be developed.
New traffic systems are not solely about the more efficient management of private and public transport, critical though they are.
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