Translink chief has concerns about taxis using bus lanes

The head of Northern Ireland's public transport operator Translink has said he has concerns about more taxis being allowed to use some bus lanes in Belfast.

But Chris Conway said he could "understand why" Infrastructure Minister John O'Dowd made the decision.

In December, Stormont's Department for Infrastructure began permitting more taxis to use some city centre bus lanes in an effort to ease traffic congestion.

It followed complaints of bottlenecks in the run-up to Christmas, with motorists blaming roadworks around the new Grand Central Station public transport hub.

Car journey times in parts of Belfast more than doubled during peak periods, according to figures obtained by BBC News NI.

Mr Conway was speaking on Wednesday at the Northern Ireland Assembly's infrastructure committee, which was discussing the traffic disruption.

When asked about taxis using bus lanes, the Translink chief executive said he would "not make too many comments on that".

"I have concerns about it, but I understand why the minister had to make that decision at the point in time he did it," he added.

Mr Conway said it would take time "before you could really assess whether there was a positive or negative impact".

"I know cyclists are concerned about it because obviously the bus lanes are obviously used for cyclists as well, and that's one of the concerns from a safety perspective," he added.

"But I think we're of the view, let's wait and see and see how it works out."

He told members of the legislative assembly (MLAs) that "taxis do play an important role in terms of supporting public transport".

Hospitality Ulster chief executive Colin Neill said taxis play a "vital" role in helping people get around the city.

He told BBC Radio Ulster's Good Morning Ulster programme that taxis should be considered public transport and would help reduce people driving their own cars.

"If we want less cars to come into the city, we have to make it easy to get around the city for people," he said.

However Alliance assembly member Peter McReynolds, who sits on the infrastructure committee, said he did not agree with Mr Neill's assessment.

"[Taxis] do not operate on fixed routes, they're not open to everybody all at once, their prices can vary as well so I do not consider taxis to be public transport," he said.

McReynolds added measures to allow taxis to operate in some bus lanes before Christmas were introduced "very rapidly" and that the committee has not seen data to back up whether these plans are improving congestion in the city centre.

Mr Conway was also asked about the closure of the Boyne Bridge, which has been blamed in part for recent traffic issues.

It emerged last week Translink has been allowed to resume work to dismantle the bridge after planning issues put the project on hold for over a month.

Campaigners have sought to save the bridge, and there have been calls for compensation for businesses affected by its closure.

Mr Conway said the Department for Communities would be setting up a working group to help support businesses.

When asked about compensation, he said: "I know it's one of the issues that has been asked for.

"I think what the group is to do is to look at how we can best support businesses through the period.

"I'm sure that's one of the questions that will come up."

Mr Conway said businesses would be supported by "making sure their footfall gets back to normal as quickly as possible".