Application for seed funding for the North Roscommon Greenway

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1 Comhairle Contae Ros Comáin Roscommon County Council Roads & Water Infrastructure Application for seed funding for the North Roscommon Greenway April 2013

2 Introduction Roscommon County Council has used its own resources and the Smarter Travel Initiatives of the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport to promote a walking and cycling culture in County Roscommon through the following initiatives: Abbeytown, Boyle Phase I Provision of Footpaths and Pedestrian Crossings on Abbeytown Road (L5058) completed in 2011 This initiative involved the provision of 1,630m of footpath and two pedestrian crossings on Abbeytown Road, the main collector road for a significant established residential, business and commercial zone within the Boyle urban area. It also connects the town centre Main Street/Military Road with the widely renowned tourist attraction of Lough Key Forest Park. Boyle Abbey is located at the western end of Abbeytown Road and a stone arched gateway followed by a formal gateway house is located at the eastern end of the Road at its junction with entrance to Lough Key Forest Park. Application for Phase II Walking/Cycling Route at Boyle under Active Travel Initiative 2012 This application which is with the Department was integrated into work done in Phase I and proposes the development of a walkway/cycleway linking Abbeytown Rd to Drum Rd via the Woodenbridge Rd to create an additional 2km loop walk/cycle. This loop will link the residential areas on the Drum/Woodenbridge Rd to existing routes, retail areas and schools within the town. The walking route will provide new footpaths, infills, and connect to existing walk/footpaths. The cycle lanes will be shared on-road with some off-road lanes on Woodenbridge. Application for Phase III Walking/Cycling Route - Key Forest & Activity Park to Abbeytown Road 2012 This application which is with the Department would link existing routes to Lough key Forest & Activity Park, a major tourist attraction catering for in excess of 60,000 visitors per annum and also provides a recreational park facility used extensively by the people of Boyle. Seed Funding Application for the NRG Page 1

3 Fig 1. Phase I (completed) and Phases II & III as per Applications The Walking and Cycling Strategy for Roscommon Town, 2012 Roscommon County Council prepared a Walking and Cycling Strategy to promote, and provide for, walking and cycling in Roscommon Town. This Strategy provides a context for the promotion of walking and cycling as means of travel within the Town and its immediate hinterland. Infrastructure and initiatives identified in the Strategy will form the basis for inclusion in future road design schemes, and future funding applications. National Cycle Network Funding 2012/13 Roscommon County Council was awarded funding to provide two on-road cycleways on the existing hard shoulder of the old N6 (now R446) including the repair of poor surfaces and to line cycleways, hatching detail between cycle way and edge of running lanes. This work will be completed in 2013 and will provide a significant additional element in the provisions of the national network. Seed Funding Application for the NRG Page 2

4 North Roscommon Greenway The Council wish to develop the concept of a Greenway cycle route in the north of the County and with the following features: Start and finish in Boyle to encourage and promote the untapped potential of this historic riverside town; Capitalise on the tourism potential of the town s existing attractions such as King House, Boyle Abbey and Boyle harbour; Build on the existing infrastructure and the detailed plan linking the town with Lough Key in proposals already with the DTTAS; Integrate the cycle route with the popular boating holidays on the River Shannon which the route crosses at three locations; Provide two distinct levels of cycling challenge to suit a range of tourist type from families to cycling enthusiasts; Red Route A is 23 km while the Green Route B is an additional 19km; Tie-in with Roscommon s flagship tourist facility at Lough Key Forest & Activity Park which includes attractions such as Tree Canopy Walk, 19th Century Servant Tunnels - Moylurg Tower, Boda Borg Adventure House, Lakeside Café, Gift Shop, Caravan & Camping Park and Forest & Parkland Trails; Unlock the tourism potential of smaller villages along the route at Knockvicar - Organic Garden, boating facilities at Clarendon Lough Keadue - a national award winner in Tidy Towns Competitions and location of the famous O'Carolan Harp Festival, and links to the Arigna Mining Experience; Consolidate the growing reputation of the area as a wedding tourism venue - Kilronan Castle; Provide signage and connections to neighbouring attractions at Arigna Mines, Lough Allen, Lough Arrow and Carrick on Shannon etc. Seed Funding Application for the NRG Page 3

5 Outline of North Roscommon Greenway Proposal Work programme and timelines The following is a list of the tasks required to produce a detailed proposal for the project: Task Indicative Cost Assess suitability of existing 1,000 (mapping, infrastructure along the route. photographs) Identify sections to be upgraded and - categorise by route type hierarchy, e.g. offline, shared walk/cycle route, online with dedicated cycle route or shared road space etc. Highlight sections that can be brought - on stream with minimum funding. Consider staged completion and - gradual section upgrades from within the hierarchy above. Assess appropriate methods to 1,000 advertising promote and market the Greenway Consult with local agencies including Chambers of Commerce, CDB Tourism 2,000 meetings/develop and Economic Implementation concept publications Committees, Fáilte Ireland, Waterways Ireland, Roscommon Integrated Development Company, existing cycle clubs etc. Identify sections of the route that can - be most easily taken off-line. Determine ownership of lands where 3,000 land registry/legal off-line route is considered desirable searches/meet landowners and practicable. Liaise with Roads Section for - determining AADT statistics and optimising Roadworks programme for the online sections. Develop typical cross-sections to 7,000 design and printing accommodate cycle routes within costs existing highway boundary and with minimum works to verge/hard shoulder, based on above. Agree standards of lining and signing. Prepare detailed proposal and costing. 1,000 publication and printing costs Seed Funding Application for the NRG Page 4

6 The estimate time to complete these tasks is four months at a cost of 15,000. The Council would be grateful for your consideration of this proposal. Seed Funding Application for the NRG Page 5

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