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 4815010

Read the official Assembly record

Text

I thank the Member for her question. In October 2022, there was a collapse of the Assembly. That has to be factored in. My predecessor had nevertheless endeavoured to bring the statement to the House earlier, but, given some of the recent weather incidents, it had to be delayed. We have tried to get the statement out as quickly as possible. As the Member knows, I continue to work hard with Executive colleagues to make the case for every funding envelope. I give her a commitment today that we will work to deliver the project in its entirety. I will continue to work with my colleagues to ensure that we secure the funding that is needed in the time ahead. We are heading into a new financial year and continue to look at and work through the options that are available to us.

I thank my colleague for his question. I am acutely aware of the issues with city-centre traffic congestion while essential works are undertaken at Belfast Grand Central station and on the A2 Sydenham bypass. Those works are necessary, however, as we seek to provide an enhanced public transport network. Although I appreciate that the situation has been difficult, the delivery of the new Belfast Grand Central station will hopefully encourage the public to use alternative means of transport into the city centre, thus increasing the use of sustainable transport and removing congestion. The success of Belfast Rapid Transit phase 1 as a sustainable transport solution resulted in a 70% increase in patronage along that corridor and provided an additional, attractive, alternative and modern mode of travel into the city centre. Although the business case for BRT2 is still being finalised, it is anticipated that it will bring similar benefits and yield a modal shift away from private cars. I travelled to Stormont on the Glider this morning, and, as someone from an area outside Belfast, where we do not always have access to such modern and effective modes of public transport, I can certainly say that I was delighted to have the opportunity to use it and to see how effective and efficient it is. I hope that we can see a resolution to the congestion, but the works being undertaken are for the benefit of everyone across the city.

As I said, the shortfall is quite significant. The overall project is £48 million, so there is a shortfall of approximately £100 million, given that the estimate is around £142 million to £148 million in total. It is a huge amount of work, and we recognise that that is a significant shortfall. However, it is not unachievable. There are definitely things that we can do. If there is a phased approach, we will continue to work through that. The Member outlined the connectivity to the hospital and the Queen's University area. They are key aspects of the project. We have seen the congestion around our university areas. I hope that the project will encourage students, staff and other people who travel in and out of that area on a regular basis, including those with hospital appointments, to see the benefits of using the Glider service. There are huge benefits to come out of what is being announced today. However, I recognise that more work needs to be done and more funding is required, and we will continue to work to secure that.

I thank the Member for his invite. We can certainly consider that, because it is important for us to be out on the ground to understand the local concerns and, hopefully, allay them. The proposal is for the site that is situated on lands adjacent to the O'Neill Road recycling centre, which is just south of Glengormley. The site extends to approximately five acres, with the potential to accommodate in the region of 500 parking spaces. Hopefully, we will see the benefits of that. I am happy to take that up with the Member afterwards.

I thank the Member for her question. It is a very important question, given that we have learned lessons from the original BRT project. Regular and meaningful engagement will be undertaken with stakeholders from the outset of the project. That will take the form of a regular, formal briefings and ad hoc meetings with individuals and interest groups. Public information events will also be held as the project progresses through detailed design and delivery. During the implementation of the scheme, we will use additional communications to the travelling public through variable message signage, our Traffic Watch NI page and the BRT2 website. Consideration will also be given to the timing of necessary roadworks to ensure that they take advantage of seasonal and off-peak traffic volumes, where possible. We have learned lessons from projects in the past, and it is important that we use foresight to ensure that we have as smooth a delivery as possible. The BRT2 team in the Department can be contacted through its dedicated mailbox, details of which can be found on the website. We are keen for anybody to engage with us.

I thank the Member for his question. The park-and-ride facility that is proposed at O'Neill Road has a significant number of spaces, so we hope that such facilities will address the need in the areas in which they will be available. As I mentioned, just this morning, I got the Glider in from one of the sites that has a park-and-ride facility. I could see that it is very well used, which is a success story. We will engage with elected reps and listen to people on the ground: that is part of the engagement process that will be available to all residents, stakeholders and elected reps throughout the delivery of the project. We will monitor it and, as issues arise, hopefully, put in place solutions to alleviate them.

I thank the Member for her question. I will follow up with her in writing with more detail on the access points in north Belfast. I mentioned the O'Neill Road location for the park-and-ride site, and I will follow up in writing with any additional information that is required, if that is OK with the Member.

I thank the Member for that question. It is important to say that my Department is proud to work alongside our partners in DFC and Belfast City Council to deliver the 'A Bolder vision for Belfast' initiative, which seeks to fundamentally reimagine how our streets and public spaces are used, making them more vibrant, more accessible and, most importantly, safer for all users. The BRT2 project will align with that initiative through the design and construction of the northern civic spine of the city, which runs along Donegall Place and Royal Avenue. It will include the city centre bus priority measures mentioned in the statement to deliver the commitment to a more efficient public transport network. The 'A Bolder Vision' initiative also prioritises spaces for people who walk, wheel and cycle. As part of my commitment to the provision of active travel infrastructure, I will bring forward the design and construction of Bankmore Link to provide key linkages to the Belfast cycle network and strengthen the connection between the river and the city centre through the provision of the new Lagan pedestrian and cycle bridge. Planning and redevelopment in the 1960s and 1970s segregated communities from each other and from the economic potential of the city core, resulting in the disconnection of the city core from communities. That also meant that no housing was built or developed in the city centre. Belfast city centre is made up of and surrounded by inner-city, working-class communities. A period of urban regeneration, through the 'A Bolder Vision' initiative, has the potential to change that by re-stitching and reconnecting the city centre to local neighbourhoods to create a tapestry that encourages living, working, socialising and active travel, as well as addressing the social, economic and health inequalities that are a huge challenge for any city.

1,332 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Assessment

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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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