Where can I get more information on the Eastern Transport Plan (ETP)?
Further information on Eastern Transport Plan (ETP) can be found on the website.
You can also contact the Eastern Transport Team by email
What is the Eastern Transport Plan (ETP)?
The Eastern Transport Plan (ETP) is a framework for making transport policy and investment decisions up until 2035 to ensure the transport network meets the needs of the people and businesses, living, working and visiting the ETP area, now and into the future.
What area does the Eastern Transport Plan (ETP) cover?
The Eastern Transport Plan (ETP) encompasses the following ‘five councils’:
- Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council (ANBC);
- Ards and North Down Borough Council (ANDBC);
- Belfast City Council (BCC);
- Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council (LCCC); and
- Mid and East Antrim Borough Council (MEABC)
How will the Eastern Transport Plan (ETP) link in with local development plans currently being progressed by the Council's covered within the ETP area?
The Eastern Transport Plan (ETP) team are proactively working collaboratively with all the councils in the ETP area to progress the ETP in line with each councils Local Development Plan timetable. Any queries in relation to Local Development Plans within an area should be directly made via the relative council responsible for the particular Local Development Plan.
Will the Eastern Transport Plan (ETP) consider freight transportation for businesses?
The Department for Infrastructure (DfI) understands the importance of freight transport. The Eastern Transport Plan (ETP) will give consideration to the freight network and how it can support the economy.
How will the Eastern Transport Plan (ETP) affect access to and from local communities?
The Eastern Transport Plan (ETP) is an innovative, proactive plan that aims to create an inclusive, accessible transport network to allow people to sustainably and actively travel easily from residential areas to their destination. It will aim to improve access to and between local communities.
Is the Eastern Transport Plan (ETP) going to stop travel by private motor vehicle?
No, the Eastern Transport Plan (ETP) is a multi-modal plan that will aim to balance space for active travel, public transport, and necessary vehicular transport. It will rebalance the transport network to encourage journeys to be made by sustainable modes such as walking or wheeling, cycling and public transport. The Department recognises many car journeys are necessary and while the plan aims to reduce unnecessary car journeys, the option to use private vehicles will remain.
What impact will the Eastern Transport Plan (ETP) have to those individuals with mobility impairment and find it difficult to access public transport?
The Eastern Transport Plan (ETP) will maintain a functioning transport network that considers the needs for all across the ETP area, including those with mobility impairments and those who experience difficulty accessing public transport. The ETP will support cycling infrastructure that will accommodate adapted bikes and favour the most accessible forms of public transport whilst retaining a road network to accommodate necessary car journeys.
What are the aims of the Eastern Transport plan (ETP)?
It aims to:-
- Create an easy accessible, connected, inclusive active travel transport network for sustainable, modern day living.
- Create better, accessible options enhancing individual choice for all different modes of transport with an aim to reduce unnecessary use of private car.
- Create areas for people living or visiting the ETP area to safely meet and experience, which also respect the local built and natural environment.
- Promote better health and wellbeing by encouraging active travel and improving air quality.
- Contribute to more environmental friendly modes of transport, which will have a positive impact towards climate change
- Create a functioning transport network for all that supports and enhances the economy
Will the Eastern Transport Plan (ETP) connect to rural areas?
The Eastern Transport Plan (ETP) covers the entire council areas of
- Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council (ANBC);
- Ards and North Down Borough Council (ANDBC);
- Belfast City Council (BCC);
- Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council (LCCC); and
- Mid and East Antrim Borough Council (MEABC)
A review of all transport links within those council areas will be undertaken including the rural areas. Due to practicality and funding restraints, the ETP will prioritise those schemes that best meet the plans objectives.
The ETP is part of a suite of transport plans that cover all of Northern Ireland. You can find more information on the suite of transport plans for Northern Ireland on the following website: -
Does the Eastern Transport Plan (ETP) include rail as a mode of transport?
The rail network is considered part of the Regional Strategic Transport Network and as such will be considered in the Regional Strategic Transport Network Transport Plan (RSTNTP). Local movements to and from railway stations will be considered under the Eastern Transport Plan (ETP).
What is meant by Demand Management within the Eastern Transport Plan (ETP)?
Demand Management can best be defined as a range of measures that may be implemented in order to manage the demand in use of unnecessary private car journeys. Eastern Transport Plan (ETP) seeks to reduce unnecessary private car use within the transport network through effective demand management measures. ETP will consider a range of measures to manage the demand of private vehicles. Some of those measures could take the form of incentivising the use of more sustainable modes while others would consider making private vehicle use less attractive.
Will Blue Badge parking be removed with the Eastern Transport Plan (ETP)?
The Eastern Transport Plan (ETP) will maintain a functioning network that considers the needs for all across the ETP area whilst favouring sustainable modes. This will include a review of blue badge parking provision to ensure there is an adequate supply within the proposed future transport network.
Will the Eastern Transport Plan (ETP) provide an affordable way to travel?
The Eastern Transport Plan (ETP) focuses on travel demand and patterns rather than an assessment of affordability. However, the Department is supportive of measures that seeks to make the transport network more affordable to all citizens, particularly by sustainable modes.
When will the Eastern Transport Plan (ETP) be published?
The Eastern Transport Plan (ETP) is being integrated with the Local Development Plans of the five council's listed below.
- Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council (ANBC);
- Ards and North Down Borough Council (ANDBC);
- Belfast City Council (BCC);
- Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council (LCCC); and
- Mid and East Antrim Borough Council (MEABC)
As such it will be published in several iterations to tie in with the Local Development Plan timetables of each council. More information can be found on each council's website.
Will the public have an opportunity to engage and give their response to the Eastern Transport Plan (ETP)?
There has already been an engagement survey launched on the Eastern Transport Plan (ETP) which has now closed. The survey responses will be summarised by way of report that will be published in due course. Further updates will be posted on the ETP website.
As the plan develops, there will be opportunities to have your say on the schemes and measures to be included.
Does the Eastern Transport Plan (ETP) link in with the Belfast Cycle Network?
The Eastern Transport Plan (ETP) will promote active travel including cycling. As a mutli-modal plan and with limited road space on the network, all modes cannot be accommodated on all roads. The ETP will seek to strike and balance between all modes to ensure the best possible network is achieved for all.
The ETP intends to build on the work of the Belfast Cycle Network to develop proposals for a comprehensive, safe, accessible cycle network throughout the Belfast area.
The ETP will also consider proposals for cycle networks within the main ETP urban settlements.
Has the Eastern Transport Plan (ETP) secured the funding required?
In recent years, the Northern Ireland Executive has been operating on single year budgets. The Eastern Transport Plan (ETP) is therefore unable to secure funding through to 2035. Some analysis will be undertaken based on historical and predicted future funding to ensure that there is a reasonable chance of delivering the proposed schemes and measures within the plan timeframe.
What Schemes and Measures will the Eastern Transport Plan (ETP) deliver?
The Eastern Transport Plan (ETP) is currently under development and it is too early to provide a list of schemes or measures that will be included. As the plan develops, there will be opportunities to have your say on the schemes and measures to be included.