A new 307 space extension to the Blacks Road Park and Ride facility will open to the public on Monday 19 November following an £870,000 investment.
![Blacks Road Park and Ride extension](https://www.infrastructure-ni.gov.uk/sites/default/files/styles/inline-expandable/public/images/infrastructure/news/extension-blacks-road-park-and-ride.jpg?itok=mJoEuAyN×tamp=1542277655)
These additional spaces, which include eight dedicated disabled parking bays, more than doubles the total number of spaces to over 550. Additional cycle parking facilities have also been provided.
Since the Blacks Road Park and Ride facility opened in 2006 the demand for the available spaces has grown rapidly and this recent investment provides additional safe and convenient parking for people travelling into Belfast. The increase in the number of spaces, as part of the Department’s wider Strategic Park and Ride Delivery Programme 2016-2020, underpins a number of key draft Programme for Government outcomes in relation to sustainability, connectivity and an increase in the use of public transport, walking and cycling.
The opening of the extension coincides with the Department’s ongoing upgrade of the Belfast-bound hard shoulder bus lane on the M1, with the sections between Ballyskeagh and Blacks Road and Stockmans Lane and Broadway, reopening to morning peak period traffic from Friday 16 November.
In addition to the extension, Translink has recently introduced its new 'Urby' express bus service from the Blacks Road Park and Ride, which provides a fast and comfortable journey directly to Belfast city centre.
Notes to editors:
- The extension provides an additional 307 spaces to the existing 250 spaces.
- Translink’s new 'Urby' express service operates on a 10 to 15 minute frequency during the morning peak period, directly to the Europa Bus Centre with a 10 to 15 minute frequency during the evening peak for the return journey. Outside of peak times, buses operate at least every 30 minutes.
- The extension cost in the region of £870k and includes a SUDS drainage attenuation system, which ensures that any surface run-off water is fed into the local drainage system at a controlled rate.
- Reducing journey times on key economic corridors and incentivising more sustainable and efficient ways of travelling such as walking, cycling and public transport are key indicators of the Department’s Outcome and Delivery plan 2018-19.
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