Taxis will be permitted to use a number of bus lanes in Belfast city centre over the festive period, it has been announced.
A Temporary Traffic Regulation has been put in place which will allow Class A and Class C taxis to use certain lanes, effective from 6am on Wednesday, 18 December.
It's the latest measure by Infrastructure Minister John O’Dowd in a bid to reduce ongoing traffic chaos in the city centre, particularly in the run up to Christmas.
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Announcing the move on Tuesday, Minister O’Dowd said: “I am committed to bringing forward measures which will help alleviate the traffic congestion in the city centre. I had previously announced my intention to introduce a pilot scheme to permit taxis to use city centre bus lanes to help support the industry and ease traffic.
“My officials are continuing to carry out the necessary legislative work and the consultation period for that scheme will commence very 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.
“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.
"DFI will continue to work closely with partners in the coming days and weeks. We all share a common goal of wanting to keep Belfast moving, while balancing the needs of everyone who needs to use the city’s roads and footpaths.”
Just last month, one of Belfast’s biggest taxi firms called for bus lanes to be opened up for drivers in a bid to help ease ongoing traffic congestion. Stephen Anton, communications manager at Fonacab, also told Belfast Live that ongoing work on Belfast’s Boyne Bridge was having a significant impact on the city’s taxi trade.
The bus lanes included within the new regulations are:
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 RoadFor all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.
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