Introduction
The FO SRTP will focus on improving the sustainability of the local transport system by supporting people to choose the most sustainable mode of travel for their journey and aims to ensure that the transport network meets the needs of the people and businesses living, working and visiting FODC.
The FO SRTP will complement FODC’s Local Development Plan through the integration of transportation and land-use decisions.
The future development of the Regional Strategic Transport Network is not considered as part of the Fermanagh and Omagh Sub Regional Transport Plan. This includes strategic roads such as the A5 and the railway network. These will be considered as part of the preparation of the Regional Strategic Transport Network Transport Plan 2035, due to be consulted on in late 2024/ early 2025. The FO SRTP also does not consider Community Transport or Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure. These matters are being considered separately by the Department at a regional level.
Developing the Transport Plan
The FO SRTP is being prepared through a ‘vision and validate’ approach. The approach shifts the focus to creating places for people, built around a healthy, safe and carbon neutral vision for the future. This starts with an agreed vision of what we are trying to achieve and then checks if the future transport networks will assist in its delivery. The Transport plan is being developed with the support of the consultants Aecom, officers from FODC, a representative from Translink, and officials from the Department for Communities and DfI Roads - Western Division Office.
The Transport Plan is being prepared in 6 stages. These are:
- Stage 1 involved collecting evidence and developing a draft vision and objectives. This stage included public engagement.
- Stage 2 is the identification and assessment of various transport options that could be included within the Transport Plan.
- Stage 3 involves the refinement of the various transport options.
- Stage 4 will involve public consultation of the draft Transport Plan and the associated assessments.
- Stage 5 will involve the consultation of the consultation responses and the publication of the final Transport Plan.
- Stage 6 is the monitoring and evaluation of the Transport Plan
As part of Stage 1 a public engagement exercise was held from the 11 January 2024 to the 09 February 2024.
Integrated Sustainability Appraisal and Supporting Evidence
As part of the preparation of the FO SRTP is an Integrated Sustainability Appraisal (ISA). This will include a Strategic Environmental Assessment under The Environmental Assessment of Plans and Programmes Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2004. The ISA will assess the environmental impacts of the FO SRTP, including from Greenhouse Gas Emissions. It will also support the Rural Proofing and Equality Screening of the Transport Plan.
A Scoping Report has been prepared as part of the ISA. The purpose of the Scoping Report is to provide the context for, and determine the scope of, the ISA and to set out the framework for undertaking the later stages of the ISA. The ISA Scoping Report, alongside other supporting documents are available on the Departments website.
Next steps and timescales
We will consider views made as part of this engagement exercise and will publish an engagement report in March 2024. The draft FO SRTP alongside associated assessments will be published for consultation in autumn 2024.