Agenda and minutes

In pursuance of the Committee’s decision of 18^th June, to receive a presentation from representatives of the Roads Service and the Department for Social Development in respect of their plans for traffic management in the City centre

            The Committee was reminded that, at its meeting on 18th June, it had requested a presentation from representatives of the Roads Service and from the Department for Social Development in respect of plans for traffic management in the City centre.  Accordingly, the Committee considered the undernoted report:

“Relevant Background Information

      A report was considered by Committee on 18th June 2009 outlining the Department for Regional Development (DRD) Road Service proposals for enabling measures to facilitate the DSD Streets Ahead proposals in Donegal Place and for removal of northbound traffic from Donegall Place. The proposals will have implications on general traffic movements in the city centre and will involve re-routing of some bus services and alterations to existing traffic movements in surrounding streets. Roads Service consider that a number of Traffic Regulations Orders (TRO’s) will be required for Castle Street, Queen Street and Upper Queen Street to facilitate the alterations to traffic movements. This will involve changes to the movement of scheduled bus routes with services that utilised northbound travel along Donegall Place being directed to Queen Street/Castle Street before rejoining Royal Avenue.

      The Committee deferred consideration of the proposals and requested a presentation by Department for Regional Development and the Department of Social Development on the full proposals traffic management proposals for the city centre including Rapid Transit and the impacts of Streets Ahead on city centre traffic.

Key Issues

      A ministerial review of the emerging strategies for DSD Streets Ahead proposals, DRD City Centre Traffic Management proposals, City Centre Ring South Section proposal and Rapid Transit proposals was carried out earlier this year and was recently approved by the DRD Minister.  

      Roads Service Eastern division are currently developing traffic management proposals for Belfast City Centre on the basis of the principles in the Belfast Metropolitan Transport Plan (BMTP) while accommodating the DSD Streets Ahead and Rapid Transit proposals.

      The proposals have been divided into 3 areas:

(i)      Streets Ahead Enabling Measures  - To facilitate the ongoing DSD Streets Ahead proposals to make Donegall Place one way to traffic requires transfer of public transport facilities to Upper Queens Street, Queens Street and Castle Street by 2010. A number of Traffic Regulation Orders are currently being prepared and include:

      Castle Street

·         Access only street

·         One way traffic from Queen Street to King Street (westbound)

·         A section of bus only street between Fountain Street and Donegall Place

·         Removal of on street parking

·         Introduction of formal loading bays and loading restrictions

·         On-road contraflow cycle lane from King Street to Queen Street

      Queen Street

·         Introduction of one-way traffic northbound

·         Access only street

·         Provision of new bus shelters on the west side of the street (to accommodate diverted bus services)

·         Changes to on street parking provision

·         Introduction of designated disabled parking bays

·         Introduction of formal loading bays and loading restrictions

      Upper Queen Street

·         Bus lane, new bus stops and shelters on the west side of the street

·         Changes to on street parking, including  ...  view the full minutes text for item 1.