28 September 2001
MINISTER UNVEILS TRANSPORT OPTIONS FOR NEXT TEN YEARS
A transportation system fit for the 21st century, for both rural and urban areas of Northern Ireland, is now potentially within reach, Regional Development Minister, Gregory Campbell MP MLA, said today.
Referring to the recent high priority accorded to roads and transport in the recent draft budget, he said that he believed the political and public support was now in place to radically improve transport infrastructure and services throughout Northern Ireland.
However, he warned this would require additional funding of £950 million over the next 10 years to properly kick start the process.
Mr Campbell said: "This could result in initiatives such as an improved strategic road network, elimination of much of our serious road maintenance backlog, better public transport including new bookable and accessible rural transport system, a pilot rapid transport system, more Quality Bus Corridors and modern rail services.
"However, failure to meet the financial requirements would lead to a totally unacceptable scenario, including closure of railway lines north of Ballymena and Whitehead, a significant decline in bus services, deterioration of the road network, more congested roads and increased social exclusion, especially in rural areas."
The Minister was speaking at the opening of the Department for Regional Development’s major transportation conference in Belfast, which will make a significant contribution to its drive to publish a draft ten-year Regional Transportation Strategy in the Autumn.
He said: "Such a transportation investment scenario is much more than a pipedream as evidenced by the progress we have made since I became Minister. Roads and transport have moved towards the top of the political agenda and we have addressed the immediate problems facing the railway network as a result of the work of the Railways Task Force.
"Underpinning all of this has been the recent adoption of the Regional Development Strategy by the Assembly.
"The fact that roads and transport featured so strongly in this week’s draft budget, including investment in the Trans European Network on the Eastern Seaboard of Northern Ireland, is a further indication of the progress we have made.
"It is also a sign that there is political realisation of the need for a modern transportation system to service a growing economy and to ensure social inclusion right across Northern Ireland.
"I live in the real world and our Regional Transportation Strategy has to be earthed in that reality too. If my vision – our vision – of a transportation system tailored to Northern Ireland’s unique circumstances and fit for the 21st century is to be achieved, we need massively increased investment."
Delegates at today’s conference, including MLAs, local councillors and business and community representatives, were invited to consider the emerging transportation strategy at two hypothetical funding levels.
The first is a moderately enhanced scenario requiring £500 million more than the current funding levels over the next ten years and the second is a significantly enhanced option which would require £950 million extra for the same period.
The higher funding level includes initiatives such as the retention and enhancement such as the current rail network, the introduction of modern trains within 30 months, the elimination of three quarters of the road maintenance backlog, extensive traffic calming in residential areas and villages, enhanced walking and cycling routes, substantial accident remedial work and introduction of the latest technology to improve travel efficiency and information.
The conference papers outlined how the increased investment might be achieved, including increased funding from Executive Programme Funds, introducing developer’s contributions and greater private sector investment.
Mr Campbell said: "As we have been researching and preparing the Emerging Transportation Strategy, we have been constantly mindful of the aim of achieving a balanced and inclusive document that will support the complementary roles of urban and rural areas.
"The significantly enhanced option produces exciting possibilities and provides the opportunity to achieve that balance."
Keynote speaker, Professor David Begg, Chairman of the UK’s Commission for Integrated Transport and a member of the independent Panel of Experts advising the Department on development of the draft Strategy, warned that transport in Northern Ireland is at a crossroads.
He said: "A generation of underinvestment has left a substantial roads maintenance backlog and an ageing public transport system. The RTS offers the opportunity to transform Northern Ireland's transport system, if there is the political will and the resources can be found."
NOTES TO EDITORS:
1. The Programme for Government includes the commitment to produce by autumn 2001 a draft 10-year Regional Transportation Strategy (RTS) that will include consideration of new funding sources and future investment in public transport.
2. The Draft RTS will be a "daughter-document" of the Regional Development Strategy that has just been approved by the Assembly, and aims to support its transportation vision of "a modern, sustainable, safe transportation system which benefits society, the economy and the environment and which actively contributes to social inclusion and everyone’s quality of life".
3. The purpose of the Conference is to consider the emerging RTS at two different hypothetical funding levels against a theoretical "Reference Case" of "existing funding continued", which totals £2168m over the 10-year period. The two hypothetical funding scenarios are presented as "Moderately Enhanced" (+£500m, total £2668m) and "Significantly Enhanced" (+£950m, total £3118m).
4. The methodology employed to assess the impacts of the emerging strategy at these two funding levels is the Guidance on the Methodology for Multi-Modal Studies (DETR, March 2000) which was used to positive effect last year in the work of the Railways Task Force. The approach requires a value for money assessment to be undertaken of impacts on the environment, the economy, accessibility, safety and integration with other policies. Supporting analyses are undertaken of distribution and equity issues; financial affordability and sustainability; and practicality and public acceptability.
5. The Conference is being independently facilitated by Community Technical Aid (CTA), who performed a similar role for the Railways Task Force. It is very much a participative, working event and CTA’s independent report of the discussions will be used to inform the Department’s preparation of the final Draft Strategy. The Draft RTS will be issued for public consultation later this year and will be accompanied by an Equality Impact Assessment.
6. David Begg (see above for details) is joined on the Panel of Experts by Professor Austin Smyth, Mr David Lock and Mr Stephen Kingon. Mrs Joan Whiteside, Chairman of the General Consumer Council for Northern Ireland, works alongside the Panel as the consumers’ representative.