The National Transport Authority (NTA) of Ireland has launched a consultation for the planned Cork Metropolitan Area Draft Transport Strategy 2040 and its associated Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) and Appropriate Assessment (AA). 

The Cork Metropolitan Area Transport Strategy (CMATS) 2040 (the “Strategy”) has been developed by the National Transport Authority (NTA) in collaboration with Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), Cork City Council and Cork County Council.

The Cork Metropolitan Area (CMA) is in the midst of an exciting phase of development. The recently-published National Planning Framework (NPF) 2040 envisages that Cork will become the fastest-growing city region in Ireland with a projected 50% to 60% increase of its population by 2040.

CMATS represents a coordinated land use and transport strategy for the Cork Metropolitan Area to cover the period up to 2040. The Strategy is considered to be flexible with the ability to scale up public transport capacity and frequencies as necessary along CMATS agreed transport corridors. The Strategy takes its lead at national level from the National Planning Framework 2040 and the National Development Plan 2018- 2027 and builds upon previous transport studies including Cork City Centre Movement Strategy, Cork Area Strategic Plan (CASP) and the Cork Metropolitan Cycle Network Plan. The Strategy will provide a coherent transport planning policy framework and implementation plan around which other agencies involved in land use planning, environmental protection, and delivery of other infrastructure such as housing and water can align their investment priorities.

It will inform the development of regional and local planning, and associated investment frameworks, including providing inputs to the Southern Assembly’s Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy (RSES), the forthcoming Cork Metropolitan Area Strategic Plan (MASP) and the statutory Development Plans of both Cork City Council and Cork County Council.

CMATS will deliver an integrated transport network that addresses the needs of all modes of transport, offering better transport choices, resulting in better overall network performance and providing capacity to meet travel demand and support economic growth.