NTA to brief construction sector on sustainable transport plans

The National Transport Authority (NTA) is to brief contractors and consultants in Ireland and abroad on opportunities that will arise as a result of National Development Plan (NDP) investment in sustainable transport over the next decade.

The briefing will take place via a two-hour Zoom webinar on 26 May.

The meeting will be chaired by NTA CEO Anne Graham and addressed by Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan along with Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform Paschal Donohoe.

Iarnród Éireann and Transport Infrastructure Ireland representatives will also participate in the event.

The meeting will hear of NDP plans to invest in public transport, active travel and the connectivity of communities to the tune of €35bn, including €15.3bn allocated to the NTA between now and 2030.

Sustainable transport programmes earmarked for funding in the NDP include BusConnects, MetroLink and DART+, along with an ambitious programme of active travel schemes around the country.

NTA CEO Anne Graham commented, “Thanks to the NDP, we are facing into a period of unprecedented levels of investment in sustainable transport. But to deliver this portfolio, engagement is required with the market, particularly with construction interests that have the capacity to deliver large-scale capital programmes,” Ann Graham said. “We’re looking to hear from contractors, designers, consultants, and any other interested parties involved in the construction supply chain. Attendees will be encouraged to message NTA facilitators to schedule one-to-one follow-up sessions with ourselves or with some of the other key stakeholders, either for later that day or in the following days or weeks.”

Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan said: “This Government is firmly committed to investing in sustainable mobility to realise our 2030 carbon-reduction and 2050 net-zero targets. Under our 10-year capital investment programme, €35bn will be invested in the transport system between 2021 and 2030. In the coming years, we will commence construction of some of the largest and most ambitious public transport projects in the history of the state, such as MetroLink, DART+ and BusConnects in our five cities.

“Alongside this historic investment, we are spending €1m every day on active travel to bring our cycling infrastructure up to worldclass standards.”