US Special Envoy to Northern Ireland, Joe Kennedy III launches ‘Better on Board’ Charter at Belfast Grand Central Station to help Drive Modal Shift

U.S. Special Envoy to Northern Ireland for Economic Affairs, Joe Kennedy III, last week launched a new public transport charter for Belfast during the RE[act] Festival, entitled ‘Better on Board’ which is supported by organisations representing more than 100,000 people across Northern Ireland.

‘Better on Board’ is a movement to drive modal shift and signals an unprecedented collaborative response to achieving a cleaner, greener and healthier Northern Ireland where public transport is the first choice for travel.

The initiative was announced by Mr Kennedy at Translink’s Driving the Future Today! event held at Belfast Grand Central Station as part of the Linen Quarter BID’s RE[act] Festival. It has launched with more than 20 initial partners who collectively represent more than 100,000 people across Northern Ireland – and around 30,000 in Belfast alone.

By supporting the Better on Board Charter, partners have acknowledged the importance of more of their people choosing public transport for the social, economic and environmental well-being of Belfast and beyond.

Launching the initiative, Joe Kennedy III, said: “I am delighted to launch the Better on Board Charter at the very impressive Belfast Grand Central Station which is exactly the type of investment required to achieve modal shift.

“This is an excellent initiative and an example of everyone coming together with a common goal and future vision to reimagine Northern Ireland’s cities and motivate meaningful and tangible change for a better environment for all its people.

“Modal shift will also serve to make Belfast an even more attractive, accessible and modern city for investors and staff. The recently launched hourly Enterprise service connecting Belfast and Dublin and the towns and cities in between will also play a significant role in creating new opportunities for Northern Ireland businesses and its people.”

Chris Conway, Translink CEO, commented: “The Better on Board Charter represents our shared vision for a more connected, accessible, and sustainable region. We’re thrilled to launch this initiative with the backing of several key partners, and we warmly invite more businesses and organisations to join us in this vital journey.

“By working together, we can make a real difference in reducing our emissions, enhancing air quality, and championing healthier and more active travel choices across the city. This is an exciting opportunity for everyone to get ‘on board’, pledge their support, and help drive positive change for a cleaner, greener future.”

Chris McCracken, Managing Director at Linen Quarter BID, said: “With the opening of Belfast Grand Central Station right in the heart of our district, we’re thrilled to partner with Translink to implement this initiative across our member organisations and drive meaningful change for our city.

“The charter is a bold step forward and aligns with our vision for the Linen Quarter to become Northern Ireland’s first sustainable district. By encouraging a shift away from car dependency, collectively, we will ease road congestion, enhance social inclusion, promote active travel and healthier lifestyles, and tackle the climate crisis.”

To find out more about the ‘Better on Board’ Charter, organisations are encouraged to visit translink.co.uk/betteronboard and use the hashtag #BetterOnBoard on social media to join the movement.