June 2001: Gregory Campbell MLA - A modern transport
system is vital for quality of life and for economic success.
Regional
Development Minister, Gregory Campbell MLA, says that businesses, residents and interest groups have
a vital role to play in the development of the Belfast Metropolitan Transport Plan:
"Transportation
planning, carried out with a sense of vision and with a long term guiding strategy that is focussed
on improving the quality of life for all, has a major contribution to make to shaping the future of
the Belfast Metropolitan Area.
Today's launch of the Belfast Metropolitan
Transport Plan (BMTP) signals my determination to adopt a more proactive approach by initiating a plan
to draw up an integrated and phased programme of transport schemes and measures to meet the Metropolitan
areas' future transport needs. The plan is scheduled for completion at the end of 2002.
Meeting
the predicted levels of future demand by road improvements alone, particularly unrestrained car usage
in Belfast and its hinterland, in not a sustainable option. For example, traffic has been growing at
up to 5% each year while public transport usage continues to decline. The potential detrimental impact
of such volumes of traffic, on the environment, the economy and on our quality of life is not acceptable.
We
need a balanced Plan that will integrate all forms of transport. Our approach will be directed at moving
people and goods rather than cars and making the public more aware of the impact and costs of their
transport choices.
I want to ensure the co-ordination of land use planning
and transportation planning. Hence, the BMTP will complement the work already advanced within my Department
on the Regional Development Strategy (RDS) and the Regional Transportation Strategy (RTS).
The
RDS, which will be finalised in the near future, will set out the overarching strategy for the way Northern
Ireland will develop during the next 25 years. It not only considers transport, but also where we should
locate the 250,000 new homes we will need during that period and the associated infrastructure. Within
the Belfast Metropolitan Area (BMA) alone it is anticipated that in the region of 80,000 new homes will
be built by the year 2015.
The 10-year RTS, which will be a daughter
document of the RDS will provide a framework for the future development of our main transportation corridors,
local transport plans and funding options. My officials are working on a draft strategy, which is scheduled
to be presented to the Assembly later this year.
Whilst the BMTP will
be consistent with the strategies outlined above, it will be a localised plan taking into account the
council areas of Belfast, Carrickfergus, Castlereagh, Lisburn, Newtownabbey, and North Down. In this
context it will inform the recently commenced Belfast Metropolitan Area Plan (BMAP), which will replace
the existing BUAP 2001 Plan. The BMTP team within my Department will work closely with the DOE team
preparing the BMAP, in particular during the public consultation exercise.
When
completed, the Belfast Metropolitan Transport Plan will outline, plan and prioritise a programme of
transport schemes and measures which people can expect to see on the ground.
While
the Plan will directly address with the transport problems and issues for the 660,000 people living
in the council areas of Belfast, Carrickfergus, Castlereagh, Lisburn, Newtownabbey and North Down, it
also has wider implications. It will affect up to one million people when one takes into account those
who live in the wider travel to work catchment areas. This includes towns within an approximate 30-mile
radius of the city centre, such as Antrim, Larne, Newtownards, Comber, Ballygowan Ballynahinch, Banbridge
and Craigavon.
The BMTP will address travel demands within the metropolitan
area on the main roads between different urban areas and within urban areas, including Ballyclare, Carrickfergus,
Bangor, Holywood, Carryduff, Hillsborough, Moira and Lisburn,
Journeys
to and from major traffic generators, such as ports, airports, hospitals, education and employment centres
will also warrant close consideration.
A safe, efficient and environmentally
sustainable transport system is required to support a strong and prosperous economy and to provide a
better quality of life. This includes the provision of quality public transport and the encouragement
of cycling and walking.
However, economic vitality will begin to suffer
if people and goods have to take longer to travel through urban areas. Residents will be faced with
worsening congestion and pollution directly affecting their quality of life.
A
number of wide ranging transport studies have been conducted during recent years, including pedestrian
and cycling facilities, bus priority, park and ride, E-WAY, Super Route and the work of the Railways
Task Force.
The Belfast Metropolitan Transport Plan will integrate these
as well as investigating other measures to encourage a more sustainable transport system, including
new technologies and new ideas in the field of transportation planning. The Plan will cover the period
up to 2015, but will be formulated within a challenging 25 year vision for transport in the Belfast
Metropolitan area.
In developing the Plan, my Department will co-ordinate
a steering group comprised of officials from the Department of the Environment, Department for Social
Development, Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company, Translink and the six councils in the Belfast
Metropolitan Area.
Consultant's WS Atkins have been appointed to work
with the steering group in developing the Plan. The company brings widespread experience of developing
integrated transport plans and multi modal solutions elsewhere in the UK. It also has extensive knowledge
of the BMA, having previously worked on a variety of transport initiatives for DRD, Belfast City Council
and Translink.
To ensure that the BMTP leads to the delivery of a more
sustainable and efficient transport system, the widespread engagement of businesses, residents and other
interest groups is essential. Consultation and participation will be central to the development of the
Plan."
In addition to the many consultation 'reference' and 'focus'
groups which will be set up, public consultation will initially be carried out as part of the BMAP 'Issues'
paper towards the end of this year. Contributions are always welcome; interested parties wishing to
express their views on transport issues within the BMA should contact the:
Belfast
Metropolitan Transport Plan Team
Hydebank
4 Hospital Rd
Belfast
BT8
8JL
or bmtp@drdni.gov.uk
