The express bus route to urban rejuvenation

BRT UK this week held its annual conference in Belfast and the ability of bus-based rapid transit to assist with regeneration was a key theme. Andrew Garnett reports

This year’s BRT-UK conference was held in Belfast. A wise decision, as it turned out, since the event coincided with the news that the Northern Ireland Executive has given the green light for a £150m Bus Rapid Transit corridor in the city.

In his keynote speech to delegates, transport minister Conor Murphy said the planned scheme, which will see a cross-city route linking deprived areas of east and west Belfast with the emerging developments of the Titanic quarter, would be a key...