€4m allocated for Mayo Active Travel projects

€4million has been awarded to 34 walking and cycling projects in towns and villages across the county of Mayo.

The National Transport Authority (NTA) confirmed that the funding to Mayo County Council was approved for the provision of sustainable transport projects.

Included in the funding is €500,000 for the provision of eight new bus shelters at Killawalla, Balla, Ballyvary and Straide, €660,000 to Ballinrobe Urban Greenway project, and an additional €700,000 to the Killala Town Active Travel Scheme.

Mayo TD Alan Dillon and member of the Transport Committee welcomed the news and congratulated Mayo County Council officials and elected representatives and said this funding will ‘make walking and cycling more attractive, safe and accessible to everyone and will make a real difference in communities across Mayo’. 

As well as the bus stops, footpath plans for several towns and villages including Ballycroy and Achill Sound, Castlebar and Ball, are also included in the schedule of works. 

Many primary and secondary schools across the county are also set to receive €50,000 each in funding to progress travel projects.

“This safe and accessible infrastructure will ensure our local communities are better connected, and that healthier forms of travel continue to be developed in our towns and villages, making it a more attractive choice for everyone” said Minister Dillon.

Deputy Michael Ring acknowledged that this allocation means 2024 will be the year that the Government’s total investment for active travel ‘will smash the €1billion mark’. 

The investment has delivered more than 600km of cycling, walking and wheeling infrastructure since 2020 under the NTA Active Travel Programme.

Deputy Michael Ring said making these activities safer and more accessible was ‘a key commitment’ for the Government under the programme.

“The NTA will work alongside Local Authorities to help deliver the projects which have been given funding and identify additional opportunities across the year that can help encourage people to choose sustainable transport modes” concluded Deputy Michael Ring.

 List of Mayo projects:

Ballina & Castlebar Local Transport Plans €100,000

Ballina Pedestrian Crossings €75,000

Ballina Belleek Rd Arch Active Travel Scheme €22,000

Castlebar Balla Footpath €10,000

Castlebar Knights Park Snugborough Footpath €8,500

Ballycroy & Achill Sound Footpath Schemes €285,000

Westport Local Transport Plan €50,000

Westport Deerpark Active Travel Scheme €30,000

Active Travel Programme Office Costs €16,000

Killala town Active Travel Scheme €700,000

Scoil Iosa NS Ballina €50,000

Carn National School, Moygownagh €50,000

Davitt College Castlebar €50,000

Scoil Raifteiri Castlebar €50,000

St. Colemans College, Claremorris €50,000

Cong NS €50,000

Ballinrobe Community School €50,000

Claremorris BNS €50,000

St Joseph's NS Ballinrobe €50,000

Brackloon NS €50,000

Holy Trinity NS Westport €50,000

Murrisk N.S Westport €50,000

Quay NS Ballina €50,000

Ballina Creggs Road Active Travel Scheme €223,500

Castlebar Turlough Rd Footpath €50,000

Castlebar Brooklands Close Filtered Permeability €30,000

Castlebar R373 Active Travel Scheme €40,000

Lough Lannagh Active Travel Measures €80,000

Ballinrobe Urban Greenway €660,000

Active Travel Team Salary Costs €275,000

R309 Knockranny to Westport Train Station AT Scheme €30,000

R309 Castlebar Orbital Route AT Scheme €100,000

N60 Claremorris Cycle Scheme €65,000

Bus Stop Enhancement Programme €500,000

Total: €4,000,000