DRD needs to to more on NW roads and rail

DERRY City Council says the Department of Regional Development (DRD) has failed to deliver on a raft of targets contained in its Regional Transport Strategy 2002 - 2012 having built just 24km of dual carriageway against a target of 78km; just 22.9km of single carriageway against a target of 40km; and having failed yet to upgrade the Londonderry to Coleraine railway line.
By The Newsroom
Published 7th Jul 2011, 10:13 BST

It is also calling on DRD to provide the necessary funding for the implementation of a local integrated transport plan published by local regeneration firm Ilex in 2009

The local authority has made the criticisms in response to a DRD public consultation on the Regional Transport Strategy 2011.

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Amongst the council’s complaints is that despite having led to the delivery of significant transport infrastructure since 2002, RTS 2002-12 has fallen short in many areas.

“In respect of improvements to the strategic road network, the RTS has fallen well short of its targets with only 24.2km of dual carriageway road being constructed against a target of 78km,” the response states.

“In respect of wide single carriageways only 22.9km has been delivered against a target of 40km. Ten bypass/link roads have been delivered against a target of 16km.

“In addition the railway line to the city from Coleraine has yet to be upgraded. The North West has continued to suffer from under investment in its strategic road network since the inception of the RTS,” the council response adds.

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A new Regional Development Strategy (RDS) is also expected to be published this summer and is expected to project targets as far as 2035.

Derry City Council wants the Department to take account of the Integrated Transport Strategy (ITS) for Londonderry published by Ilex in 2009, which it believes is the way forward for the North West.

“Derry City Council considers that the Integrated Transport Strategy addresses the key transportation needs of the City and North West and calls upon the Department for Regional Development to make the required funding available and lead on the implementation of the Integrated Transport Strategy,” the council response states.

“In particular, Derry City Council calls upon the Department for Regional Development to progress with the essential road improvements along the key transport corridors to and from Derry City and the North West, namely the A5 and A6 Dual Carriageways and the improvements along the A2. Council also calls on DRD to bring forward the upgrade of the railway line between Derry and Coleraine,” it adds.

Related topics:ColeraineNorth West