Sustainable travel for Limerick and Area By Professor Lewis Lesley

Sustainable travel for

Limerick and Area

Sustainable travel for

Limerick and AreaBy Professor Lewis LesleyBy Professor Lewis Lesley

Urban and regional travel is

unsustainable ?

Urban and regional travel is

unsustainable ? High dependence on private car

Need to import oil Carbon emissions Congestion Health and safety

High dependence on private car

Need to import oil Carbon emissions Congestion Health and safety

The alternatives to car:

The alternatives to car:

Short journeys (under 5km = 50% of trips) Walk Cycle Public transport telephone

Longer journeys (over 5km = 50% of trips) Public transport telephone

Short journeys (under 5km = 50% of trips) Walk Cycle Public transport telephone

Longer journeys (over 5km = 50% of trips) Public transport telephone

Public TransportThe Irish Model for

last 50yrs

Public TransportThe Irish Model for

last 50yrs State Run - CIE and subsiduaries

Capital investment - public funds

Operating subsidy - taxes Result overall decline

State Run - CIE and subsiduaries

Capital investment - public funds

Operating subsidy - taxes Result overall decline

Public Transport new model ?

Public Transport new model ?

EU directives Competition and commercial Clarity of funding

Need for major capital investment Greater than public funds Competition with health, education etc

Problems in subsidies Unsustainable and EU anti competitive ?

EU directives Competition and commercial Clarity of funding

Need for major capital investment Greater than public funds Competition with health, education etc

Problems in subsidies Unsustainable and EU anti competitive ?

Public transport - Other aspects

Public transport - Other aspects

Oil dependent Dublin priorities LUAS non CIE operator Needs of other Irish Cities

Oil dependent Dublin priorities LUAS non CIE operator Needs of other Irish Cities

Can public transport be commercial ?

Can public transport be commercial ?

EU Directives - requirements Taxis always commercial Need to have market based fares ?

Costs supportable by revenue ?

New technologies ?

EU Directives - requirements Taxis always commercial Need to have market based fares ?

Costs supportable by revenue ?

New technologies ?

Energy sustainabilityEnergy sustainability

Public transport - electrically powered

Public transport - electrically powered

Wind generation 17th Sept Total Demand

* Can sustain whole of Irish Public transport

Financial Sustainability

Financial Sustainability

Fares do not cover operating costs

Generate surplus power Cross subsidise Total investment modest

Fares do not cover operating costs

Generate surplus power Cross subsidise Total investment modest

Market ResearchMarket Research

Getting people to switch some car trips

EU experience Rail acceptability Park and Ride Making rail affordable

Getting people to switch some car trips

EU experience Rail acceptability Park and Ride Making rail affordable

Getting people to switch some car tripsGetting people to

switch some car trips

Modal Choice model

(1) Reliability(2) Speed(3) Frequency(4) Fares

Switching from car:Switching from car:

Rail acceptable (reliable, and fast) Park and Ride (increases hinterland) Good info (use of mobile phones) Convenient fares (like buying petrol) Light rail proven in EU, US and Canada

Changing job/house - choose light rail

Rail acceptable (reliable, and fast) Park and Ride (increases hinterland) Good info (use of mobile phones) Convenient fares (like buying petrol) Light rail proven in EU, US and Canada

Changing job/house - choose light rail

The New Limerick Model ?

The New Limerick Model ?

Light rail - affordable and attractive to car users

Electrically powered Integral renewable generation Surplus power sold Power + fares = commercial Supports investment from private funds

Light rail - affordable and attractive to car users

Electrically powered Integral renewable generation Surplus power sold Power + fares = commercial Supports investment from private funds

Limerick LUAS - First Ideas

Limerick LUAS - First Ideas

P & R

Airport

P & R

P & R

P & R

P & R

Alignment OptionsAlignment OptionsRailway alignments and optionsRoad alignmentsNew alignments

Studies underwayStudies underway

MVA Shannon Airport Access Dedicated rail link not viable Sixmilebridge new Bus/train interchange

Express buses through New Town to Airport

MVA Shannon Airport Access Dedicated rail link not viable Sixmilebridge new Bus/train interchange

Express buses through New Town to Airport

Already committed ?Already committed ?

Retracking Westrail between Ennis and Athenry

Sixmilebridge new stationNew Shannon crossing

Sixmilebridge new stationSixmilebridge new station

Modernised Ennis Rail/Bus station

Regional PotentialRegional Potential

Rail open

Rail closed

Rail being relaid

Airport Bus

Galway

LimerickShannon

Ennis

Gort

Athenry

Cork

Dublin

Urban and InterurbanUrban and Interurban

Incremental low cost electrification Light Rail operation Lower cost service New stations affordable Faster and more frequent service eg.

- Ennis every 30 mins, journey 30mins- Shannon (Sixmilebridge) journey 15mins- Galway every hour, journey 80mins

Incremental low cost electrification Light Rail operation Lower cost service New stations affordable Faster and more frequent service eg.

- Ennis every 30 mins, journey 30mins- Shannon (Sixmilebridge) journey 15mins- Galway every hour, journey 80mins

Capital CostsCapital Costs•Electrifying rail alignments

•Constructing tracks in streets

•Depot

•Stations and Park and Ride facilities

Operating CostsOperating Costs

Estimates and Reviews EU best practiceStaffMaintenancePowerRepairs and replacement

RevenueRevenue

Passenger fares Freight income Power sales

Passenger fares Freight income Power sales

Business CaseBusiness Case

Revenue - Operating costs Capital investment Reflects the role of Local Authorities

Development attracted to stations

Revenue - Operating costs Capital investment Reflects the role of Local Authorities

Development attracted to stations

Community BenefitsCommunity Benefits

*Multiplier effect to the local economy*Sustainable operation,*Electrification + renewable generation *More public money for other projects*Less congestion*Better air quality*Less oil dependent*New areas accessible*Improves attractiveness of City Centre

*Multiplier effect to the local economy*Sustainable operation,*Electrification + renewable generation *More public money for other projects*Less congestion*Better air quality*Less oil dependent*New areas accessible*Improves attractiveness of City Centre

Next stepsNext steps-Partnerships with public bodies

-Developing links with business

-Setting up company-Attracting (private) funds-Building up capacity-Drawing up plans-Planning Approval-Building and operating

-Partnerships with public bodies

-Developing links with business

-Setting up company-Attracting (private) funds-Building up capacity-Drawing up plans-Planning Approval-Building and operating

ConclusionConclusion

Rights of way = underused assets Renewable generation for electric trains

Sustainability = energy and financially Fundable by private sector (commercial) New access for community development Fits National Plan Framework Reduces demands on public purse

Rights of way = underused assets Renewable generation for electric trains

Sustainability = energy and financially Fundable by private sector (commercial) New access for community development Fits National Plan Framework Reduces demands on public purse