Achieving The Vision
In order to ensure that the vision for the Midlands Gateway is fully achieved, the following partners are of critical importance to the Midlands gateways success: Involvement and participation of most important stakeholders/agencies responsible for achieving the vision, including Government Departments, Industrial Development Authority (Ireland), National Roads Authority NRA, Higher Education Authority (HEA) and Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) and local agencies;
Development of a long-term strategic approach regarding the development, advancement and promotion of the Midlands Gateway;
Clear integration of the three principal Gateway towns of Athlone, Tullamore and Mullingar so as to form a seamless ‘linked gateway’;
Incorporation of the Strategic Development Framework for the Midlands Gateway into the Regional Planning Guidelines for the Midlands Region;
Ongoing monitoring and review of the Strategic Development Framework to ensure its success.
Transportation Accessibility Mobility Internal & External to the Gateway
One of the most essential requirements that will ensure the successful operation of a Gateway is the provision of high quality transport infrastructure so as to provide the necessary levels of internal and external accessibility and mobility. Currently, the Gateway does not have direct access to complete Inter-Urban Motorways/Dual-Carriageways, both internally and externally. The Gateway, and in particular the three principal Gateway towns of Athlone, Tullamore and Mullingar, is served by main line inter-urban rail and bus networks, with direct access to urban centres of Dublin, Galway and Sligo, and limited local bus services. However, there is poor rail connection within the Gateway. In addition, the Gateway is not directly served by an inland port and, of critical importance, is not currently within one hour drive time of an international airport. There is poor road linkage between the Gateways towns, with limited rail and bus service links. Based on the road development proposals announced in the Transport 21 Government Proposal (November, 2005), the Midlands Gateway will attain improved and direct access to the above mentioned national urban centres, and therefore also to ports and airports. There is a need to considerably improve the road infrastructure within and adjacent to the Gateway, as the existing status is significantly insufficient.
Overall, the Gateway's current position is deficient in terms of transportation, accessibility and mobility.
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