A €9 million programme to promote smarter travel options for workplaces and campuses has been launched by Public Transport and Commuter Affairs Minister, Alan Kelly.
Limerick is the first city where the scheme will operate as it won a national competition for the initial allocation of transport funding.
Kay Cullinane, behaviour change coordinator with Limerick Smarter Travel explained: “Limerick Smarter Travel is focusing on creating new approaches to transport which embrace environmental, social, and economic sustainability.
“We have invited a number of Limerick’s largest workplaces and campuses to participate in the pilot programme. The programme aims to create sustainable transport initiatives, decrease congestion, reduce parking pressure, and improve the travel options available to staff and students and increase environmental credentials of partner organisations.”
Limerick Smarter Travel offers the city’s largest employers opportunities to achieve their own successes through a free voluntary package assisting them with issues and promoting walking, cycling, public transport and car sharing.
Resources include site-specific advice and information from travel planners, an online travel survey and analysis, a free group on www.carsharing.ie, mapping resources and access to walking and cycling challenges.
Benefits of engagement in the programme for businesses include reduced travel and parking costs, an enhanced green profile and more active travel by both students and staff.
A range of measures and interventions targeted at commuter and personal travel will be rolled out by the Limerick Smarter Travel team over the next four years.
Minister Kelly paid tribute to both staff at Limerick’s local authorities as well the students of the city who are embracing sustainable transport initiatives.
He added: “Limerick is becoming something of a national leader when it comes to sustainable transport developments. I commend the National Transport Authority and staff at both Limerick authorities for this but I also commend the students of Limerick who seem to be increasingly taking to the bike and walking their way around the city.”
