Debate contribution: Belfast Rapid Transit Phase 2 — BRT2 — Project

Debate contribution by Ms Liz Kimmins on 25 February 2025.

MLA

Ms Liz Kimmins

Party at the time

Sinn Féin

Date

25 February 2025

Type

Debate contribution (made as a minister)

Business

Ministerial Statement

Heading

Belfast Rapid Transit Phase 2 — BRT2 — Project

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 4814996

Read the official Assembly record

Text

Go raibh maith agat, a Cheann Comhairle,

for the opportunity to address the Assembly on the way forward for the Belfast Rapid Transit phase 2 project (BRT2). The BRT2 project is one of three projects being taken forward by my Department as part of the Belfast region city deal and formed part of the programme announced in the 2018 autumn Budget statement. The commitment to city and growth deal funding was made on the basis that a returning Executive would provide a matching amount to fund a series of infrastructure, regeneration and tourism projects that would deliver on inclusive economic growth. I was pleased to note that the Executive agreed to provide the match funding necessary to take forward those important and pivotal projects. The BRT2 project is a significant investment in our public transport infrastructure, with the cost of full delivery in the region of £142 million to £148 million. I am pleased that the funding envelope of £35 million from our Belfast region city deal partners will allow my Department to make an early start on this critical public transport project and lay good foundations for future development as we seek to address the funding shortfall and permit delivery of the full BRT2 project. In October 2022, my predecessor, Minister O'Dowd, announced the route along the Antrim Road in the north and the Ormeau Road and Saintfield Road in the south, commissioning work on the feasibility of its extension to Glengormley and Carryduff. At the same time, the extension of the existing G2 city centre to Titanic Quarter Glider service to connect with Queen's University and the City Hospital was announced. Considering the funding envelope available for BRT2 and taking account of the outworkings of the feasibility studies, I have concluded that any extension of the Glider service beyond Cairnshill park-and-ride towards Carryduff is not economically viable at this time but will be re-examined when further development along the route is realised. Similarly, the significant congestion in Glengormley, a pending public realm scheme planned for the town, and the limited funding available for the BRT2 scheme make it challenging to extend the service to Glengormley. Therefore, the extension to Glengormley is not feasible at this time, but I will commission further work to determine if a viable option exists in and around the area. A lot of change will be required to meet our net zero by 2050 targets. Therefore, we need to provide attractive and sustainable transport alternatives, such as public transport, walking, wheeling and cycling. Without those, our people, our cities and our towns will choke. People deserve better: a cleaner, greener urban environment in which they can live and thrive. That will transform our towns and villages into more vibrant places where traffic congestion and air quality are less of an issue and streets feel safer and more pleasant for everyone. I welcome the £35 million contribution from the Belfast region city deal and recognise that that significant investment will bring enhancements to the city centre and the wider public transport network as we seek to promote sustainable travel options and improve public transport journey time reliability, as well as providing better connectivity for our citizens. The current east-west Glider service is an excellent example of how my Department can provide accessible, reliable and attractive public transport for all. Post COVID, we have continued to realise increasing passenger numbers, making a positive difference to the removal of cars from the road network as we seek to reduce congestion in our city centre. BRT2 will provide a service to the north and south of our city, bringing the benefits of the current Glider service to our citizens who live along the route. Whilst the full funding for the delivery of the scheme is not available at present, my Department has developed options to maximise the benefits from the available funding in advance of the delivery of the full scheme. In this early phase, I propose to deliver the full G2 extension, providing linkages to Queen's University and the City Hospital, including halts and the provision of Glider vehicles. Most of us recognise that we are living through a climate and biodiversity crisis. In any crisis, action is needed. There has been progress: for example, during this term, Minister O'Dowd announced a phased rolling out of 100 environmentally sustainable electric buses in a £64 million investment. As part of my continued commitment to sustainability, I propose to commission the purchase of four EV Glider vehicles within the BRT2 project to be tested as a pilot scheme on the heavily utilised east-west G1 route. That will free up four existing Glider vehicles to service the G2 extension. Outworkings of the pilot will be used to determine the practicality of the roll-out of those sustainable vehicles for BRT2, as well as future Glider routes. I am also committed to enhancing our public transport infrastructure and, as part of this early phase, will deliver bus priority measures from Clifton Street to Innisfayle Park along the Antrim Road and from Ormeau Road to Park Road on the southern route, in readiness for the full BRT2 scheme. As a key element of the Climate Change Act 2022 and in its own right, active travel will play a crucial role in empowering people to make more sustainable choices, particularly for shorter everyday journeys and in combination with public transport for longer journeys. With safe, reliable and accessible active travel infrastructure, individuals are more likely to embrace healthier alternatives to driving. As part of my commitment to the provision of active travel infrastructure and through the £35 million funding available for BRT2, I will bring forward the design and construction of Bankmore Link to provide key linkages of the Belfast cycle network and connectivity between the new Lagan pedestrian and cycle bridge and Grand Central station. Aligning with the aspirations of the Bolder Vision and Belfast Streets Ahead blueprints and working in partnership with our colleagues in DFC and Belfast City Council, we will design and construct the northern civic spine of the city, along Donegall Place and Royal Avenue, which will include the city centre bus priority measures required for BRT2. To demonstrate my commitment to sustainable transport and to provide attractive alternatives to the private car, I have committed an additional £13 million from my future departmental budgets to deliver a park-and-ride site on the O’Neill Road, as part of the advance phase. Whilst it will not be served by Glider vehicles at this stage, Translink Metro buses will provide a service to and from that site. Park-and-ride is a key enabler to improving connections, increasing public transport use, promoting sustainability and encouraging behavioural shift and in helping to drive down congestion and emissions, change travel patterns and protect our environment. The advancement of the BRT2 scheme will be subject to the approval of the outline business case (OBC), which is at an advanced stage. I reassure Members that I remain fully committed to progressing the entirety of the scheme, and I will continue to work with Executive colleagues and the Belfast region city deal partners to ensure that the appropriate level of investment is made available to deliver the project. This is just step one to get the project on the ground. I very much hope that everyone will now get behind this much-needed and long-awaited scheme in the interests of the greater good of our communities and of future generations. Officials will brief the business stakeholder reference group this afternoon to inform it of my decision and will meet elected representatives in due course.

1,264 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

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Assessed 21 October 2026 at 12:01 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.

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