University of Limerick

UL President Professor Don Barry has welcomed the recent announcement that €9million funding will be made available to Limerick City following a national competition for a major new sustainable transport investment programme.

The Limerick Smarter Travel proposal, a joint initiative between Limerick City Council and Limerick County Council in partnership with the University of Limerick, will see Limerick City centre and surrounding areas transformed into a Smarter Travel Area. A wide range of measures and interventions targeted at commuter and personal travel will be rolled out by Limerick City Council and Limerick County Council over the next 5 years. University of Limerick (UL) is a key partner in the proposal and design, visualization and research for the bid was provided through the School of Architecture (SAUL) and the Department of Civil Engineering.

UL President, Professor Don Barry said “This is a welcome announcement for Limerick City. The Limerick Smart Travel proposal is a wonderful example of how partnership between government, business, local community and the University can deliver innovations which will have real, tangible benefits for the citizens of Limerick and the broader community today and in the future, while enhancing the linkages between our campus and the city in accordance with commitments in our Strategic Plan. ”

In broad terms, the project to transform the City into a smarter travel area will include:
•    improved cycling ways, including safe routes to school and to key business and workplace zones;
•    secure cycle parking in town centres or at public transport nodes;
•    better walking facilities, including pedestrianisation;
•    lower speed limits in residential and town centre areas;
•    school and workplace travel planning
•    e-working
•    car clubs

The Limerick City Smarter Travel project will be have a number of benefits including the reshape and transform of the city, reduce congestion and pollution, improve road safety, create local employment opportunities and improve people’s health and fitness.

The Limerick Smarter Travel proposal provides the opportunity to assess Smarter Travel measures across a range of communities in a city context.  The proposal is focused on four hubs – City Centre, Corbally, Castletroy and Regeneration Hub. This Smarter Travel initiative seeks to facilitate travel in a more sustainable manner, within and between the hubs. The proposal is tailored to meet the varying travel needs of communities within the hubs.

University of Limerick is a key partner in the proposal and design, visualization and research for the bid was provided by the research arm of the School of Architecture, the SAUL Intelligence Unit (SAUL IU) and the Department of Civil Engineering.

Head of the School of Architecture, Professor Merritt Bucholz commented that the IU has been collaborating with the Limerick local authorities on a wide range of issues to contribute knowledge and intelligence to Local Authority processes.  This bid is an excellent example of that collaboration.  

Professor of Civil Engineering, Tom Cosgrove said that through this excellent initiative Limerick now had a unique opportunity to demonstrate how the wealth of design intelligence within UL could support local government and local communities in improving the quality of life for everyone in a sustainable way.

UL, which has a substantial student body of 11,300 and 1,300 staff, will also implement Smarter Travel across the campus. The Limerick proposal therefore provides an invaluable opportunity to pilot sustainable travel measures with the third level student and staff population.