News Release Page Title

26 March 2002

NEW QUALITY BUS CORRIDOR FOR WEST BELFAST

DRD Roads Service has taken the first step towards the provision of a new Quality Bus Corridor (QBC) in west Belfast, Regional Development Minister, Peter Robinson, MP, MLA, said today.

Bus lanes, which reserve road space for buses and taxis to bypass traffic queues, come into operation tomorrow on the Stewartstown Road, Andersonstown Road and Falls Road. These will be in force between 7.30am and 9.30am Monday to Friday.

The bus/taxi lanes are the first stage in the development of a QBC on this route. New high quality shelters will also be provided together with improvements to the bus service.

Mr Robinson said: "The introduction of these bus/taxi lanes will contribute to the development of a fast, efficient and quality public transport network in this area. It is a unique scheme in that black ‘hackney’ style taxis will also be allowed to use bus lanes for the first time in Northern Ireland. This means that during the operational hours approximately 60 percent of the travelling public will be accommodated in the new lanes.

"In keeping with Government’s Transport Policy this is just one of the measures aimed at providing a more integrated and effective transport system.

"Our objective is to increase public transport use and help decrease the congestion on our roads by developing services that offer attractive alternatives to the private car."

This will be the fourth QBC to be implemented in Belfast, coming after the Southern QBC on the Saintfield Road/Ormeau Road, the Eastern QBC on the Newtownards Road/Albert bridge Road and the City Express serving Newtownabbey.

For further information contact Clare Baxter, DRD Press Office on 028 9054 0068.

NOTES TO EDITORS:

  1. A QBC is a package of measures designed to encourage greater use of public transport through more frequent bus services, quicker bus journey times, high quality buses and better bus stops. They are developed through partnerships between local road authorities and bus operators. In Northern Ireland Roads Service and Translink are working together to introduce QBCs.

  2. Bus Lanes will come into operation on the 27th March 2002 at the following locations: Andersonstown Road – Finaghy Road North to Slievegallion Drive; Roger Casement Park to Kennedy Way; Falls Road – Kennedy Way Roundabout to Glen Road Roundabout - Glen Road Roundabout to Whiterock Road Roundabout - Broadway to Springfield Road.

  3. Buses, taxis licensed to provide stage-type services (ie West and North Belfast taxis), Belfast public hire taxis and cyclists will be permitted to use the bus lanes.

  4. Quality Bus Corridors include the provision of bus priority measures, improved bus services and enhanced waiting/boarding facilities.

  5. The introduction of taxis into bus lanes is a new measure by Roads Service and is a first step in examining how the use of bus lanes can be extended to more effectively meet the Department’s overall transportation objectives.

  6. At the present time it is only certain types of taxis that will be allowed into bus lanes. Further investigations are currently underway to possibly allow all taxis and motorcycles to use the bus lanes in the future.

  7. Over the next few months further bus lanes around Belfast will be opened to use by taxis.

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