PIMMS CAPITAL Import Visit 2012 Ostrava Czech Republic 17 th January 2012 The Limerick Experience Bus Priority Corridors/cycle Lanes/ITS Vincent Murray, Senior Engineer Limerick City Council
PIMMS CAPITAL - Capitalising on Partner Initiatives in Mobility Management Services We would like to thank the City of Ostrava and our PIMMS CAPITAL Partners for the opportunity to be here today at this conference. The overall objective of PIMMS CAPITAL is to stimulate modal shift towards more sustainable forms of transport by increasing the implementation of high quality mobility management techniques and policies in European regions. Today I will give a summary of the main presentations from the visit of Ostrava to Limerick
Mid-West Region = 8,250 km 2 12% of Ireland Land Mass Limerick City largest urban area 4 local authorities c.375,000 population at 2010 (8% National population) Context: urban and rural Region is largely rural 45% of pop live in urban area, 61% nationally 64% live within 30km of the city centre Few centres of population Limerick is Ireland s third largest city- Limerick Metropolitan - +92,000 Ennis is region s second largest conurbation (25,000 pop.) Only 7 conurbations with pop.>5,000 Small towns have limited employment and are dominated by car use
Reasons for Promoting More Sustainable Modes of Transport Government Policy Limerick City Council Policy (City Development Plan). Economic Reasons. Environmental Reasons. Social Reasons. Health Reasons.
Context: Integrated Framework National Spatial Strategy 18 yrs National Transport Strategy Statutory Regional Planning Guidelines 12 yrs County/City Development Plan 6 yrs Local Area Plans - 6 yrs Mid West Area Strategic Plan 20 yrs County Transport Plan Local Transport Plan Non-Statutory Planning Transport
Context: Planning (National Spatial Strategy) What do the national plans tell us Ireland needs to renew, consolidate and develop its existing cities, towns and villages i.e. keeping them as physically compact and public transport friendly as possible and minimising urban sprawl,... Urban land needs to be used carefully, sensitively and efficiently.. Where green-field development is necessary it should take place through the logical extension of existing cities, towns and villages
Purpose of Mid-West Area Strategic Plan Achieve the Transportation Aim as set out in Government s Smarter Travel Policy KEY GOALS. Improve quality of life and accessibility to transport for all Improve economic competitiveness through maximising the efficiency of the transport system and alleviating congestion and infrastructural bottlenecks Minimise the negative impacts of transport on environment. Reduce travel demand & car commuting distances Reduce dependency on imported fossil fuels
Challenge is to deliver an integrated spatial strategy plan that provides effective transport links within and beyond the region, taking into account connections between where people live and where they work and aspirations for growth in the region Where should new housing and employment be located? Everyone has a different view The plan must be Evidence Based Assessment Tool Multi Modal Transport Model There must be a budgeted Plan of infrastructure projects to be implemented. Consensus needed from one city council and three county councils
What have Limerick City Done? Planning for the future development of Limerick City & Environs, Southern Ring Road/Tunnel, Bus Priority Corridors, Northern Distributor Road, Public Realm Improvements, UTC, Link Roads. Surveyed, Analysed & planned Traffic Growth for next 20 years Invested in advanced UTC System to accommodate traffic growth Extensive Data Capture, Traffic/Parking/Land Use/Topographic Modelled Traffic Demand Paramics/VISIUM Consultation Police/DoT/Public/Business/other statutory bodies Designed Orbital Route to accommodate Development Plan objectives Planning For Modal Shift- Bus Lanes/P&R/Cycle Lanes Strategic Planning (Mid-West Area Strategic Plan)
LIMERICK TUNNEL New Limerick Bypass 20 Km of Motorway Twin Bore Immersed Tunnel 675 meters Long Opportunity to divert traffic away Opportunity to divert traffic away from From Limerick Limerick City Centre City Centre
Bedford Row/Little Catherine Street
MOBILITY MANAGEMENT/Smarter Travel Facilitate smarter choices for travel to work, school, the shops and leisure Walking Cycling, Public transport Car sharing Seeks to shift population away from car based transport Targets Interventions Evaluate
The Challenge: Travel to Work (Mode)(2006) County Tipperary 11% 1.0% 1% 62% 6% 8% 8% 1.5% 4% Limerick County and City 11% 61% 7% 7% 6% 1.1% 2% County Clare 9% 64% 6% 8% 7% National 11% 1.9% 6% 3% 6% 2% 57% 6% 8% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% On foot Bus, minibus or coach Motor cycle or scooter Motor car: Passenger Work mainly at or from home Bicycle Train, DART or LUAS Motor car: Driver Other means (incl. Lorry or van) Not stated
The Challenge: Travel to Work (distance) State 8% 15% 15% 40% 21% Tipperary 11% 14% 11% 41% 23% Limerick County and City 9% 17% 16% 39% 19% Clare 8% 14% 13% 43% 23% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% % of residents 1 km and under 2-4 kilometres 5-9 kilometres 10km + Not stated
Modal Split in 2006 for Urban Limerick City Walking 31% Cycling 3% Bus/coach/minibus 10% Train 0% Motorcycle 1% Car driver 35% Car passenger 16% Other 4% Large proportion of Journeys are short duration Less than 2km 12% 3km to 5 km 19% 6km to 10km 25% Greater than 10km 54% Source: CSO Ireland Census 2006
The Challenge: 2020 National Targets - Trips to work (Mode Share for Limerick/Shannon/Ennis) 45% by Car Current Mode Share 70%, 51% in City 55 % Bus, Walk, Home, Train, Cycle Current Mode Share 30% for the Region, 45% for City 10% Cycle Current Mode Share <2% for the Region, 3% in City
Addressing car dependency Making Public Transport more accessible Providing alternatives Fiscal measures Public Transport Tax Saver, Bicycle Tax Scheme Planning control Limit one-off housing Increase urban settlement patterns Plan for Public Transport Growth
Real Options Rail services (Suburban and Intercity) Recent reopening of Galway rail line Grow Rail Corridor to Ennis, higher frequencies Limerick Dublin Increase in train frequencies All need subsidies Bus and coach Subsidy are needed Are most effective if employment focuses on core corridors and in Limerick City Competition versus Car Must be attractive Focus bus activity in Limerick city to meet local needs Grow population and employment on Public Transport corridors Select core corridors with priority measures (Bus Rapid Transit) Regular services to Shannon Airport and main employment centres
Limerick City Bus Network We must build new intra-urban interchange hubs, both within the city centre retail area (as well as with regional bus/coach and rail services at Colbert Station) and outer suburb nodes (University). The construction of a network of Bus Priority corridors must be completed The introduction of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) services on busiest routes Promote their use for Park & Ride, and purpose built Park & Ride facilities Good quality Information for Bus Users
NEW Fully integrated Bus Station and PT Interchange
What is a Green Route? (Bus Priority Corridor) A Green Route is part of a road (or corridor) on which specified modes of transport are promoted, for example public transport, bicycle use and walking; through the redistribution (or addition) of road space from the motor car. Green Routes are a means of achieving: Quick journeys at peak times; Service punctuality and reliability; Good quality shelters and safe stops; and Accurate service information.
Bus Corridors/Green Routes The Limerick Experience CHALLENGES Political and other Agency Opposition Social Factor Lack of available road space, competing functions Public Consultation Opposition to Bus Corridors On-Street parking Lengthy Public Consultation Process Construction mainly on city streets Requirement for additional new & enhanced buses Funding - Subsidies
Key Design Objectives Deliver a choice of transport modes to the communities; Improve accessibility to the city centre Deliver a sustainable transport system Linkage to other key transport nodes (rail, bus station and park and ride sites) Journey Time Objectives for Buses Target bus speed of 22kph (currently 10 kph) Minimum bus journey times decrease of 25% Minimum increase of 20% in route carrying capacity on (persons)
Corridor Option Assessment All practical routes entering the city centre from the North, East, South and West of the city centre were investigated. The assessment concentrated on the following criteria in determining the advantageous and disadvantages associated with each option. Current City Bus Service Length of Route Length of routes within the area of another Local Authority Catchment Area Served Congestion Typical Cross Section Existing Bus Priority Potential for bus priority Off-street Parking Traffic Calming Split Routing
New Bus Lane Design
IMPROVEMENTS Flag Time Table Seat Shelt er Kass el Kerb s
Traffic Signals Urban Traffic Control System Traffic signals systems can contribute very significantly to the advancement and acceptance of personal mobility in urban areas. Provide safe mobility for pedestrians including elderly, young and physically impaired, including the blind Improve safety for cyclists and pedestrians. Improve Traffic flow in City Centre by helping users in making decisions
Limerick City Urban Traffic Control System Limerick City operate a U.T.C System U.T.C. stands for Urban Traffic Control i.e. the traffic computer. SCOOT stands for Split Cycle Offset Optimisation Technique. i.e. The system that automatically changes the timing of the traffic signals. Limerick City Council runs a Siemens U.T.C. System with SCOOT version 5.2 Increased capacity on road network when installed
Benefits of UTC and SCOOT SCOOT balances traffic flows in a fairer manner and reduces overall delays to traffic to a minimum It also co-ordinates Junctions and Crossings It is fast, flexible and demand responsive. SCOOT maximises the throughput of all modes of traffic at junctions and the use of available road space. It also helps reduces pollution by minimising delays and the stopping of vehicles. SCOOT can detect the onset of congestion and reduces traffic entering an area to avoid gridlock. UTC continually checks for faults with signals and automatically reports them to the maintenance team. Can be pre-set to give maximum priority to pedestrians
SCOOT and Signal Timings (1) SCOOT measures the flow of traffic. It controls the length of Greens. The rate of flow of traffic across a stop line can be measured. Using these together it can calculate how long the green needs to be to discharge the queue.
SCOOT and Signal Timings (2) The actual green time given is balanced against the needs of other approaches to the junction. The measuring of rate of flow is a complicated process known as validation.
Other Applications-Car Parks/BusPriority/VMS UTC System can be extended to count the number of vehicles going in and out of Car Parks. This information is used to work out the number of Spaces available. This information is displayed on Special Car Park Guidance Signs This also reduces the amount of traffic looking for empty spaces The UTC System runs variable message signs. Fire Station Green Waves to reduce time taken to reach fire. Bus Priority at Traffic Signals.
REAL TIME PASSENGER INFORMATION (RTPI)
VMS Signs for Advance Information on Traffic
Walking & Cycling Strategy VISION - Limerick to be a safe, convenient and accessible place for walking and cycling Document Content Setting Goals Communication Plans Monitoring Procedures Key Benefits Reduction in Health Care expenditure Reduction in Social Exclusion related expenditure Improvement in Economic competitiveness of Limerick
CYCLING & WALKING INFRASTRUCTURE
Clancy Strand Boardwalk
- Supporting Roles Work Place Travel Planning Travel Planning Coordinators Use of ITS to disseminate information Travel Planning ITS applications Land Use Planning getting it right Event & Destination Planning Car Pooling Private, Car-pooling websites. Electric Car High quality secure bicycle parking at strategic locations Education Designing homes for bicycles City Cycle Scheme Walking & Cycling Strategy
The Challenge The biggest challenge we face is changing people s attitudes to how they conduct their daily business and convincing them to embrace sustainable modes of transportation. We can put the information and infrastructure in place and make it easier for people to choose alternative modes of transport but ultimately people will have to make the decision about the quality of life they wish to enjoy living and working and the transport and environmental legacy they want to leave for future generations
Thank You for Listening Any Questions? Vincent Murray 17 th January 2012