The National Transport Authority (NTA) has allocated €12 million in grant funding to Meath County Council with a view to anticipated spending on walking and cycling related infrastructure in 2025.
€2.4m is allocated for an Active Travel Scheme on the R147 in Navan from Circular Road to Marthas Bridge, Navan, with €250k allocated to a second Active Travel Scheme from the Fairgreen to Johnstown, Navan. Other projects include 100k for Eastham Road Cycle facilities, as well as other cycling and ‘Safe Routes to School’ projects across the county.
The Active Travel Investment Programme for 2025 aims to contribute towards the development and delivery of approximately 800 Active Travel projects throughout the country, with 1,000km of new and improved walking and cycling infrastructure between 2020 and 2025, a key target included in a number of Government Climate and Road Safety Strategies. This includes the development of segregated cycle lanes and widened footpaths, new walking and cycling bridges, and new pedestrian crossings, and also to improve accessibility to public transport. An additional grant of €0.5m under the Bus Stop Enhancement Programme has also been provided by the National Transport Authority, which is intended to fund new infrastructure and enhance existing facilities to support public transport bus services in the County.
Welcoming this years funding, Chief Executive of Meath County Council Kieran Kehoe said,
“This welcome news for County Meath strengthens our ability to continue with the delivery of important infrastructure in the County, which facilitates active travel and sustainable transport choices for travel-based trips in our towns and villages. The continued support of the National Transport Authority’s grant funding reinforces our efforts to provide viable alternatives to private car use, and to reduce harmful transport emissions”