BELFAST ON THE MOVE Transport Masterplan for Belfast City Centre CIHT Technical Evening 23 February 2015 Ciarán de Búrca, Director Transport Projects Division
Civic Spine Background Belfast Metropolitan Transport Plan Belfast Cross Links key retail and commercial areas Links city centre locations Reduced levels of traffic Increased priority for public transport, walking and cycling High Accessibility Zones Key public transport interchange points Great Victoria St / Central Station / Cathedral Quarter (longer term) Improved access for public transport users. High level of priority for pedestrians City Centre Ring An orbital ring road Enables traffic to circulate around the city centre core Road design in keeping with the urban environment Not a barrier between the core and surrounding areas Reduce dominance of vehicles Substantially improved public transport priority Greater priority for pedestrians and cyclists
On 30 September 2010 the Belfast on the Move Transport Masterplan was launched by the then Minister for Regional Development, Conor Murphy MP MLA, and the then Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Patrick Convery.
Background Belfast Metropolitan Transport Plan provides policy backing About 30,000 vehicles per day travelled through the streets in the city centre About 60% of this was through traffic in that it does not have a city centre destination Over 40% of households in Belfast do not have access to a private car Approx 40% of people used the bus, walked or cycled into the city centre in the morning peak hour
Belfast on the Move The main aims are to: make Belfast city centre more accessible to everyone reduce general traffic levels by removing through traffic encourage greater public transport use, walking and cycling.
Challenge -to provide a safe and attractive environment for pedestrians and cyclists Removal of vehicles from main shopping areas Need for good penetration by public transport Take account of needs of all user groups
Demand for limited kerb space Rapid Transit and Metro stops Servicing for shops and businesses Taxi bays Provision for disabled parking How much On street parking?
Summary of Sustainable Transport Enabling Measures The redistribution of existing road space providing extensive priority measures for buses, cyclists and permitted taxis. 2.6km of new bus lanes, which also accommodate cyclists and permitted taxis. 20 new controlled pedestrian crossing points. 340m of new dedicated service bays. 0.8km of new dedicated cycle lanes. Over 40 additional dedicated disabled parking bays.
Implementation keeping the public informed
Benefits The Report of the Post Implementation Impact Study shows : a more accessible city centre - Over 2,200 more people (+6%) entering the city centre in the morning peak. a reduction in general traffic levels in the city centre - Over 1,900 less vehicles in the morning peak & around 10,900 less vehicles over a 24 hour period. Over 4% less people entering the city centre by private car. greater walking - Over 12% more pedestrians entering the city centre during the morning peak. greater cycling - Over 18% more cyclists entering the city centre during the morning peak. greater public transport use - Over 36% more rail passengers and Over 17% more bus passengers entering the city centre during the morning peak. More than half (53%) of the people entering the city centre did so using public transport, taxis, walking or cycling compared to less than half (47%) in 2011. Car parking - Over 500 more cars parking in Belfast city centre on weekday mornings and over 1,000 more on Saturday mornings.
Number of people Modal shift - Belfast city centre cordon survey Total people per mode 2011 v 2013 20000 18000-4% 16000 14000 12000 10000 8000 6000 +6% +37% +13% 4000 2000-2% +19% 0 Private vehicle Bus Rail Pedestrian Taxi Cycle 2011 17622 6841 3316 3986 1238 428 2013 16884 7267 4529 4490 1211 509
Reduced traffic levels +3,580-3,160 +2,540 +1,500 11,000 less vehicles per day in central area -1,050-2,650-2,100 +2,060-3,500
BELFAST RAPID TRANSIT
City Centre Network
Recent Progress New Dundonald Park & Ride facility The new 520 space Park & Ride facility at Dunlady Road became operational on 1 December 2014 and is being served by Translink services prior to BRT becoming operational in 2017. Upper Newtownards Road between Sandown Rd and Knock Rd work commenced on this section of the BRT route in June 2014 and is scheduled to be completed in March 2015. Falls Road between Grosvenor Road and Whiterock Road work commenced on this section of the BRT route in September 2014 and is scheduled to be completed in August 2015. Vehicle Procurement Tenders due to be returned in May 2015.
Upcoming works Upper Newtownards Road between Albertbridge Road and Sandown Road. Construction period April 2015 to November 2015. Divis Street / Falls Road between Millfield and Grosvenor Road. Construction period June 2015 to July 2016. Andersonstown Road / Stewartstown Road between Finaghy Road North and Michael Ferguson Roundabout. Construction period July 2015 to August 2016.
Project Workstreams & Interdependent Projects
* Subject to funding and statutory processes *
Streets Ahead Phase 2 and BMTP vision
Potential Network Extensions Antrim Road Shore Road Crumlin Road City Hospital QUB Ormeau Road Saintfield Road Cairnshill - To link Universities & City Hospital - To Cairnshill Park & Ride via Ormeau Road & Saintfield Road - To serve North Belfast via Shore Road, Antrim Road or Crumlin Road
KEY EWAY WWAY CITI Potential NWAY Ext Potential SWAY ext City Centre Loop
www.drdni.gov.uk/index/belfastonthemove.htm www.drdni.gov.uk/index/rapid-transit.htm