Transport & Environment
Please note that the views expressed in the below consultation summary were recorded during the Reference Group meeting held September 2001 and do not necessarily reflect the views of the BMTP team.
Introduction
This group expressed concern that previous transport policy favoured car travel with public transport, cycling and walking receiving relatively less support than was required. The emphasis on road construction has contributed to the creation of a culture of car dependency, making it difficult to shift the mindset among the public and planners towards making a greater use of more environmentally sustainable modes. Land use policies appear to have been predicated on the continued widespread reliance on the car.
The congestion problems in Belfast are not as great as in other cities and this affords some time to put in place solutions before the situation gets worse. These solutions should be focused on increasing the importance of public transport, walking and cycling for undertaking journeys. A key goal of the mix of the proposed solutions should be to improve the environment for residents.
Road Traffic Congestion
Causes of Congestion
- Transport policy favouring car over public transport
- Land-use policy encouraging car use
Environmental Impact Issues
Continued car dependency leads to congestion and environmental degradation in terms of air quality, ground water (heavy metal run-off) and noise with detrimental effects for health of residents.
Other Issues
- No apparent commitment to hierarchy of environmentally sustainable transport
- Poor state of road surface contributing to noise levels
- Residential housing being built near Cromac Square where there is pollution
- Building on brownfield sites may pose problems for the conservation of historic site.
Public Transport
Policy and operational direction of Translink is undertaken by the DRD. Translink is treated as scapegoat for decisions not actually taken by it.
Translink (the principal public transport provider) is compelled to operate on a commercial basis in contrast to many GB public transport services. This creates difficulties for funding expansion of QBCs while maintaining less profitable routes.
Service on QBCs still not as high as they should be – hence empty lanes
Overall, patronage on Translink services has fallen. Resulting revenue pressures impacts in turn on service quality – creating a vicious circle
However, it was also argued that bus lanes can increase congestion and decrease air quality
A large proportion of households (approximately 50%) in the Belfast area are reliant on public transport. The needs of these people are not being adequately met.
Cycling/Walking
It was suggested that cycling is not being taken seriously by key sections of the planning authorities
The speed of cars intimidates pedestrians and causes community severance
Suggested Initiatives and Solutions
- Continued road building is not a long term solution to traffic congestion
- Appropriate land use policies should be applied to reduce the need to travel
- Address problems now before they get worse. Congestion is still not as bad in Belfast compared to elsewhere and the city should try learn from lessons of others
- Need to set specific targets air quality and noise targets to act as guide for transport policy and effectiveness of measures
- Need to implement hierarchy of sustainable transport
- Parking charges on out of town centres could be considered to create parity with centre
- Noise barriers should be constructed where appropriate, however, noise reduction should also form part of transport policy
- Transport initiatives should be measured with all externalities taken into account
- Noise reduction measures should be applied were appropriate
- Recognition that population is aging and public transport systems need to be able to accommodate demand
- Use of planning gain to obtain additional funding for transport initiatives
- Consider workplace parking charges. However, carrot and stick approach required – improvements need to put in place.
- Traffic calming should be extended and overall capacity for motor vehicles reduced to improve conditions for other road users
- Traffic calming should apply equally to suburban areas, rural and city centre areas
- Public transport should have general priority over other road traffic along main routes and to the city centres and to other centres within each council area
- All areas of the city and metropolitan area, including new developments, should be accessible by public transport. Minimum service standards should be fixed
- Public transport services should provide realistic competition to cars in availability, service frequency, speed and price
- A comprehensive network of cycle routes should be a priority for the metropolitan area building on the existing national cycle network infrastructure including dedicated cycle routes especially for school access, travel to work and for recreation
- Traffic speed should be reduced to ensure safety for cyclists/pedestrians and cyclists should receive priority at junctions
- The BMTP should seek to address issues of equity to ensure that resources are fairly distributed in terms of future investment in transport
- Small initiatives such as those directed at increasing bicycle use can make a difference.
