Agenda item

            The Chairperson advised the Committee that Mr. K. Monaghan, Eastern Divisional Manager, Mr. T.McClay, Belfast North Section Engineer, Mr. G. Doherty, Belfast South Section Engineer, TransportNI, and Mr. C. de Burca, Director of Transport and Business Services, the Department for Infrastructure, were in attendance and they were admitted to the meeting.

            The Eastern Divisional Manager provided the Committee with updates on the key strategic transportation schemes for the city, including the York Street Interchange (YSI).  He advised the Committee that, on 15th November 2016, the Minister for Infrastructure had announced the publication of the outcome of the Public Inquiry into the YSI proposal which included the publication of the Inspector’s Report and the Department Statement.  He advised the Committee that the procurement process for the Interchange had been progressing but that the contract award was currently on hold following the outcome of the EU Referendum, which had created some uncertainty.  The Members were advised that the Minister was currently considering the impact of the additional funds which were announced by the Chancellor in the Autumn Statement and that he intended to make a decision in the coming weeks.

            The Committee was apprised of the Department’s plans to extend the busway on the M1 and to create a new busway on the M2 to give more priority to public transport.  The Eastern Divisional Manager also reported that two significant cycle schemes had been completed to link the west and east of the city, from the Westlink/Grosvenor Road to College Avenue and from College Avenue to Castle Street/Donegall Place.  The Members noted that the next two cycle routes were programmed from Castle Street/Donegall Place to the Queen Elizabeth Bridge and from the Queen Elizabeth Bridge to Island Street.

            The Eastern Divisional Manager advised the Committee that progression of the A2 Sydenham Bypass and the A55 Knock Road schemes were dependant on the availability of funding.

            The Director of Transport and Business Services provided the Committee with an update on the progress which had been made on the Belfast Rapid Transit (BRT) scheme which was due for completion in Autumn 2018.

            In response to a number of Members’ questions, the representatives clarified a number of points, including:

·        there would be a new, off-board ticketing system for BRT;

·        while there was no capacity to expand the Dundonald Park and Ride, they were looking at possible sites in Newtownards, which would relieve pressure on the Dundonald site;

·        the Department was aware that there were gaps in the cycling network and it was working to address them;

·        there was an online system for reporting streetlight faults to TransportNI, on NI Direct;

·        a utility reinstatement code determined that tarmac work by utility companies should be of a certain standard and that fines could be imposed if the work was of poor quality;

·        unfortunately the Glencregagh/Beechgrove Park area was unlikely to get Traffic Calming Measures in the near future given its position in the priority list;

·        the replacement streetlights were LED and that the light was stronger and more focused on the footways, which might have resulted in less light falling onto the roads; and

·        in relation to statutory consultee responses to planning applications, TransportNI would be happy to attend a future Planning Committee meeting.

            A number of Members also raised the following issues with the representatives:

·        that the streetlights were not coming on early enough during the darker months;

·        why the two loading bays at Chichester Street/Upper Arthur Street and at Queen Street (close to its junction of Wellington place) were operational 24/7, when most deliveries were made between 7 and 10am;

·        that consideration be given to inner city communities in relation to the BRT routes;

·        whether the yellow box at the junction of Grosvenor Road/Fisherwick Place could be extended to allow better traffic flow;

·        that a number of gullies required clearing in South Belfast (the specific locations to be provided by the Member to Transport NI); and

·        traffic wardens were required in Montgomery Street, to stop cars parking on the double yellow lines.

            Mr. Monaghan advised that, where relevant, action would be taken on these issues by TransportNI if it was deemed necessary after inspection.

            After discussion, the Chairperson thanked the representatives for their attendance and they retired from the meeting.