On September 22nd, Trinity Sustainability released a 150 page draft Campus Travel Plan (2025-2030) developed as a part of Trinity’s Sustainability Strategy, which outlines ambitions to achieve a healthy and nature-positive campus by 2030 and net zero emissions by 2040.
The draft answers, in part, to Trinity’s obligations under the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act of 2021. It also addresses the declining rates of walking and biking, which have decreased by 8% and 6% respectively since 2018.
The Travel Plan explores the transport environment at Trinity across five key themes: Walking and Wheeling, Cycling, Public Transport, Vehicle Access, and Visitors and Tourism. It also focuses on travel to and from Trinity’s central campus, in addition to advocacy on external infrastructures to improve travel between Trinity sites around Dublin such as St. James’ Hospital, Trinity Hall, and Iveagh Sports Grounds.
Proposed new biking and walking routes include 1.75km of new cycle tracks and improved pedestrian facilities from Grand Canal to Lincoln Plaza, which is expected to progress post-2028.
In an interview with The University Times, Sustainable Travel Officer, Claire Byrne, said; “We’re working very closely with Dublin City Council and NTA [National Transport Authority] to make sure that key routes are delivered as quickly as possible.”
In addition to emphasising the importance of advocacy and collaboration with Dublin City Council (DCC) to improve external infrastructure, Byrne highlighted internal wayfinding in the form of additional signage as one of the key areas in the plan.
She also expressed enthusiasm for the creation of a new Delivery Hub, which would centralise delivery of goods and services on campus in order to reduce non-essential vehicle traffic on Campus pathways.
The draft Travel Plan is funded by the NTA and was developed in partnership with Irish-owned DBFL Consulting Engineers. The team of Trinity Engineering graduates, including Shauna Kelly, Aoife Gaughan, and Robert Kelly, have been working on the plan since April 2024.
Speaking to The University Times, Kelly and Gaughan emphasised the importance of lived experience, calling for staff and students to engage with the Campus Travel Plan.
Students can make their voices heard by filling out the feedback form. Responses will be combed through in the following weeks and incorporated in the final Travel Plan to be unveiled during Trinity’s Climate and Biodiversity Action week, which runs from October 13th to 17th.
There will be a Draft Campus Travel Plan showcase in the Arts Building on September 30th and October 1st from 11am-3pm, where students are encouraged to learn more about the Travel Plan from Sustainable Travel Officer, Claire Byrne. The full draft Campus Travel Plan, along with a briefer executive summary, can be found on Trinity Sustainability’s website.
While the travel plan mainly focuses on local travel, Byrne told The University Times that plans are in the works to reduce Trinity’s air-travel, which had doubled in spending post-pandemic.
According to a Freedom of Information request made by The University Times, Trinity’s total expenditure on flights reached €1.4 million in 2024 – an increase of €100,000 from 2023, with the most significant jump being from €677,040 in 2022 to €1.3 million in 2023.
When questioned on how Trinity would address international travel as well, Byrne said that it was something she was looking into, separate from the Campus Travel Plan.
