Taxis in some bus lanes branded 'too little too late'

Taxis will be allowed to use bus lanes in Belfast's Linen Quarter in a bid to tackle congestion, Infrastructure Minister John O'Dowd has said.

It will be introduced as a temporary measure over the Christmas period, beginning at 06:00 GMT on Wednesday.

However, the move has been branded "too little too late" by an industry figure.

"It looks very much like a half-hearted attempt to appease the industry, and in many ways it'll cause more confusion by limiting the number of lanes," the co-ordinator of the Licensed Taxi Operators Association said.

"Having seen the announcement today, we don't think that's going to help us as much as we would have liked," Stephen Anton told BBC's Evening Extra programme.

Mr Anton, who also works as communications manager at fonaCAB, said the measure could add to traffic congestion in the city.

"Introducing this with less than 24 hours notice, one week before Christmas, could in some ways actually cause more problems than it solves," he said.

"Like any trial, there needs to be a bedding in period and doing it now with such little notice is bound to cause issues."

It comes after a meeting took place between the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) and business leaders on Monday to consider solutions to the city's traffic problems.

O'Dowd said he was "committed to bringing forward measures which will help alleviate the traffic congestion in the city centre".

Earlier this month, the minister said that anyone driving into the city centre should "expect congestion", after motorists complained of weeks of heavy rush hour traffic.

The temporary traffic regulation will allow Class A and Class C taxis - categories that include private-hire taxis and Ubers - to use certain lanes.

O'Dowd had previously announced longer term plans to introduce a pilot scheme to permit taxis to use city centre bus lanes to ease traffic.

He said officials were continuing to carry out the necessary legislative work to implement this, with the consultation period to begin "early in the new year".

"In the meantime, I have asked my officials to urgently introduce temporary traffic regulations, as an interim measure, to allow Class A and C taxis to use a number of bus lanes," he said.

"Belfast is a thriving city and I would encourage anyone planning to travel to the city centre, especially over the Christmas period, to plan their journey, use public transport if possible and if travelling by car factor in extra time for your journey."

Chris McCracken, managing director of the Linen Quarter Business Improvement District, welcomed this initiative as a short term measure over the Christmas period.

"However, it should be reviewed in the new year to ensure bus times are not adversely impacted," he said.

"The long term solution for tackling congestion in Belfast City Centre remains better investment in public transport, including the North-South Glider, Belfast cycling network, the Gasworks walk-cycle bridge, and investment in new pavements, walking routes and public realm."

Inbound towards the city centre

• Shaftesbury Square
• Great Victoria Street (Shaftesbury Square - Grosvenor Road)

Outbound away from city centre

• Great Victoria Street (Howard Street - Bruce Street)
• Bruce Street
• Dublin Road

The move follows complaints about congestion in the city centre due to roadworks on the Sydenham Bypass and at the city's new public transport hub, Grand Central Station.

Questions have also been raised over Translink's demolition of the Boyne Bridge which is part of the redevelopment of the area around the new station.

The bridge closed in October and diggers moved in on 29 November.

However, documents seen by BBC's The Nolan Show show that work to demolish the bridge began before a key planning condition was signed off.

In correspondence from October, the DfI's Planning Department told Translink that work could not start at Durham Street and the Boyne Bridge before traffic mitigation measures were "fully implemented".

The DfI told Translink its planning application was "unacceptable".

The letter said Translink had not outlined traffic mitigation measures to ensure that "the impact of the proposals [would] not adversely affect the road network".

Translink replied that it had met all conditions.

In a subsequent letter sent to the DfI on 26 November, Translink outlined additional traffic mitigation measures.

The Planning Department reviewed the information, described it as "robust" and informed Translink on 12 December that the application to approve the planning condition was "acceptable".

Speaking to The Nolan Show, DUP MLA Edwin Poots called for an urgent meeting with O'Dowd and Gordon Lyons and said he wanted work on the Boyne Bridge to stop.

He said: "Essentially what we have here is a plan [to mitigate traffic impacts] that has come in after the work has started.

"So to all intents and purposes it would appear that this plan was submitted beyond the time whenever the bridge was closed.

"But the second aspect of it is we now have this letter from the DfI saying that the plan is good and the plan stands up to scrutiny.

"But the reality is something different.

"The roads are so congested now that the public transport is delayed, people are telling me they are waiting for half an hour on buses and they are not coming."

A Translink spokesperson said: "Dismantlement of the bridge has commenced, which will see key elements of the bridge re-purposed in the new civic space, Saltwater Square.

"Translink continues to collaborate closely with relevant stakeholders to ensure alignment with each phase of the complex planning processes."

The spokesperson added that dismantling work is expected to be completed in January.

A DfI spokesperson said the department was "aware of and considering the recent activity undertaken by Translink at the bridge".