Belfast transport overhaul proposes 20mph limits, expanded Glider services and changes to city centre traffic
Belfast City Centre
Monday 26 October 2026
Plans for a major overhaul of transport across Belfast and its surrounding metropolitan area have been unveiled, including a city centre-wide 20mph speed limit, new Glider routes, expanded cycling infrastructure and measures to reduce through-traffic.
The proposals form part of the draft Eastern Transport Plan (ETP) 2035, which has been opened for public consultation by Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins. They could change how residents, commuters and visitors travel around Belfast over the coming decade.
The consultation comes alongside the publication of Northern Ireland's Transport Strategy 2035, which sets out the Department for Infrastructure's longer-term ambitions for public transport, road networks, accessibility and sustainable travel across both urban and rural communities.
Major changes proposed for Belfast city centre
The draft plan outlines a series of measures intended to give pedestrians, cyclists and public transport greater priority while reducing the dominance of private vehicles in central Belfast.
Among the proposals are:
• A city centre-wide 20mph speed limit.
• More pedestrian-priority streets and a new civic spine connecting key areas of the city centre.
• New Glider routes, simplified bus routing and additional bus priority measures.
• An expanded network of segregated cycling routes.
• Measures to reduce traffic travelling through the city centre and reforms to parking management.
The proposals are intended to improve access to shops, workplaces and services while making streets safer and more welcoming for people travelling on foot, by bicycle or by public transport.
However, the measures remain proposals rather than confirmed changes, with the consultation providing an opportunity for the public to influence the final plan.
New Glider corridors and Park & Ride expansion
Beyond Belfast city centre, the draft plan proposes improvements across the wider metropolitan area, with particular emphasis on connections between residential communities, employment centres and essential services.
Proposals include:
• New Glider corridors along key routes into Belfast.
• New and upgraded cycling infrastructure.
• Targeted 20mph zones and improvements to streets and public spaces in local centres.
• New and expanded Park & Ride facilities.
• Strategic transport network improvements, including additional bus priority measures.
For commuters travelling into Belfast from surrounding areas, the proposals could eventually provide more alternatives to driving into the city centre, although the precise locations, delivery arrangements and timescales for individual schemes have not been established in the information released.
Mid and East Antrim involved in regional transport planning
The draft Eastern Transport Plan has been developed in collaboration with five councils, including Mid and East Antrim Borough Council and Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council.
Belfast City Council, Ards and North Down Borough Council, and Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council have also contributed to its development.
Although the initial consultation concentrates on Belfast city centre and the wider metropolitan area, the Department intends to develop transport plans covering all 11 council areas in Northern Ireland.
Further consultations will follow for areas not included in this first phase, meaning detailed proposals affecting other communities across Mid and East Antrim have yet to be brought forward.
The wider strategy seeks to address transport needs in rural as well as urban communities, including access to employment, education, healthcare and other essential services.
Minister says transport must connect people with opportunities
Launching the consultation, Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins said the new strategy was intended to support economic growth while responding to changing travel needs and environmental challenges.
“The publication of the new Transport Strategy sets out our vision for a more sustainable, safe, accessible, inclusive and effective transport network which meets the needs of both urban and rural communities while supporting economic growth across the region. Shaped by public engagement, it recognises that transport is about people and the opportunities it provides.
“As we respond to climate change, technological advances and changing lifestyles, a modern, efficient and sustainable transport system will be essential to future prosperity.”
The Minister said the first phase of the Eastern Transport Plan would begin translating that wider ambition into proposals for Belfast and its surrounding metropolitan area.
“At its heart, the ETP is about people. I am committed to building a transport network that is accessible and welcoming for people of all backgrounds, incomes and abilities, enabling them to access opportunities and reach their full potential.”
Addressing the wider metropolitan proposals, Ms Kimmins added:
“The Plan reflects our commitment to regional balance, ensuring that communities in both urban and rural areas benefit from improved access to employment, services and opportunities across the wider Metropolitan area.”
Public consultation open until 25 January
Residents, commuters, businesses and other interested parties have until 25 January 2027 to respond to the draft Eastern Transport Plan proposals.
The consultation can be accessed through the Department for Infrastructure website at:
Local consultation events will also take place during the consultation period, with details to be promoted through the Department's social media channels.
The Eastern Transport Plan is the first in a planned series of regional transport plans intended to guide investment priorities through to 2035. The wider Transport Strategy was previously consulted on in June 2025, with the Department reporting broad support for its overall ambitions.
Minister Kimmins urged people to contribute to the latest consultation, saying:
“This draft Plan is an important first step in transforming how people move around the region, and public feedback will play a vital role in shaping its future. I encourage everyone to share their views and engage with the consultation process so that, together, we can create a better transport system for all.”
For people who regularly travel into Belfast, the consultation offers an opportunity to comment on proposals that could affect future commuting, parking, bus journeys and cycling routes.
Decisions on the final measures and their delivery will follow the consultation process, while further regional plans are expected to set out the transport priorities for communities beyond the initial Belfast-focused phase.
