Northern Ireland Assembly Tuesday 15 March 2011 Written Ministerial Statement The content of this written ministerial statement is as received at the time from the Minister. It has not been subject to the official reporting (Hansard) process. Regional Development Review of the Regional Transportation Strategy – Consultation Published at 10.00 am on Tuesday 15 March 2011 The Minister for Regional Development (Mr Murphy): I am pleased to inform Assembly members that consultation on the revised Regional Transportation Strategy will commence on 16 March 2011 for 15 weeks. The current Regional Transportation Strategy 2002-12 was successful in securing high levels of public funding to improve our transportation infrastructure. However the speed and direction of change in society has prompted the need for review. The increase in population and vehicles has placed significant pressures on our transportation networks coupled with fiscal constraints and the need to reduce our environmental impacts. The revised Strategy will seek to build on what has been achieved and summarises where we are at present in transportation terms. It sets out a range of objectives that we want to achieve and proposes how to get there. The revised Strategy emphasises the need to concentrate on moving people rather than vehicles, creating space on the networks for people and also for freight and on maintaining what is in place and using it in a smarter way. The revised Strategy is different from the current strategy in that it is not constructed on schemes and projects. Rather it sets out the High Level Aims and the Strategic Objectives for transport in the region that should form the basis for future decision-making about funding priorities. At its core is a move towards greater sustainability which will contribute positively to growing the economy, improving the quality of life for all and reducing the transport impacts on the environment. High Level Aims: A. Support the Growth of the Economy B. Enhance the quality of life for all C. Reduce the Environmental Impact of Transport Strategic Objectives A. Support the Growth of the Economy 1: Improve connectivity within the region 2: More efficiently use roads and railways 3: Better maintain transport infrastructure 4: Improve access in our towns and cities 5: Improve access in rural areas 6: Improve connections to key tourism sites B. Enhance the quality of life for all 7: Improve Safety 8: Improve Social Inclusion 9: Develop transport programmes with the user in mind C. Reduce the Environmental Impact of Transport 10: Reduce Green House Gas Emissions from transport 11: Protect biodiversity 12: Reduce noise and air pollution The Consultation document and associated Equality Impact Assessment are available in the Assembly library, on the Department’s website www.drdni.gov.uk/rts/ or by contacting: Louise Fitzpatrick Regional Planning and Transportation Division 3rd Floor, Clarence Court, 10-18 Adelaide Street, BELFAST, BT2 8GB Email: [shapingourfuture@drdni.gov.uk] Telephone: 028 90540186 Textphone: 028 90540642 |