Agenda item

            The Chairperson advised the Committee that Mr. K. Monaghan, Eastern Divisional Manager, Mr. G. Doherty, Belfast South Section Engineer, Mr. G. Miskimmin, Higher Professional Technical Officer Belfast North, and Mr. C. de Burca, Director for Transport Projects and Business Services in the Department for Infrastructure, were in attendance and they were admitted to the meeting.

            Mr. Monaghan outlined to the Members that pressures remained on both capital and resource funding in 2018/2019 but that his staff would continue to develop resurfacing and traffic management schemes to enhance safety, improve traffic flow and provide measures for pedestrians and cyclists. He advised the Members that almost 40,000 surface defects had been repaired over the past few months through the roads recovery fund.

            He provided the Committee with updates on the main strategic transportation schemes for the City and highlighted key statistics within the Council area of the Eastern Division.

            In relation to the York Street Interchange, he advised the Members that the tender process to appoint a contractor to bring the scheme to construction-ready stage had been completed but that the tender award could not occur due to an ongoing legal challenge and that they were awaiting the judgement.  He pointed out that, following Ministerial approval, the consultation of local residents and key stakeholders on issues which had been identified in the Inspector’s report had now commenced.

            He also advised the Members that the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) had intended to extend the hard shoulder bus lane on the M1 to junction 8 at Blaris and to introduce a hard shoulder bus lane on the M2 towards Belfast, between Greencastle and Duncrue Street.  He explained that a previous proposal to carry this out in 2017 did not proceed due to higher than expected tender costs.  The Committee was advised that an alternative proposal had since been drawn up, and was currently going through the procurement process.

            Mr. de Burca provided the Members with an update on the numerous works which had been completed in preparation for the Belfast Rapid Transit (BRT) scheme, which would begin on 3rd September 2018.  He advised the Members that a full upgrade of the lighting and to the pavements had been carried out along the BRT route and provided details of the 12-hour BRT bus lanes along the route.

            The Committee noted that all 30 Glider vehicles were currently being tested on the roads and that alternative routes were also being trialled for those occasions when roads were closed.  He explained that a shadow trial of the service would be held between 28th and 30th August.

            The Members were advised that the official launch event would take place on Friday 31st August in the Titanic Centre.

            A Member referenced the reduction of car parking spaces on the Falls Road area as a result of the BRT works, and that a recent survey had shown that car parking was already at 100% capacity in the area.  He highlighted that the survey had been conducted at a time when St. Mary’s University students were not in attendance, and that a new Children’s Hospital would be built at the Royal Victoria site.

            Mr. de Burca outlined to the Committee that a 15metre prohibition of parking on corners, including along the Falls Road, had to be imposed.  He explained that a number of visitors to the Royal Victoria Hospital preferred to avail of free, on-street car parking instead of using the hospital carpark.  The Members were advised that public transport must be given priority on the roads over street parking in order that the public transport scheme would be a success and that the Department hoped that more people would begin to use public transport. 

            He added the Members that the Glider service would connect the Royal Victoria Hospital with the City Hospital, as well as connecting the city centre and the east of the city to the west.

            In response to further Members’ queries in relation to vehicles which entered a bus lane for a short period of time in order to, for example, turn right at a junction or enter a parking space just beyond a bus lane, and if they would lead to prosecution by the DfI, Mr. de Burca advised the Committee that the cameras were assessed by the DfI and, if a driver’s use of the bus lane was deemed unreasonable and deliberate, that prosecution would be pursued.  He outlined the terms of the appeals process for fines.

            The Members drew the attention of the officers from Transport NI to a number of other matters, a number of which are set out hereunder:

·        That a section of grass required cutting in the Ballymegarry Lane area;

·        a Member requested a site visit to discuss greenways in the lower Shankill area;

·        that safe cycle routes between the city centre and west Belfast continue to be progressed;

·        that an update be provided on when Barnett’s Road would be reopened;

·        to consider Traffic Calming Measures in Twinbrook;

·        to consider Traffic Calming Measures in Windsor/Derryvolgie  Avenue;

·        to investigate possible drainage options in Barbour Gardens in Dunmurray; and

·        to provide an update on the delay in installing the 3 Belfast Bike docks on the Ormeau Road.

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

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