Transport & Travel Research Ltd (TTR)
Here is the Summer 2008 edition of the TTR Newsletter. It contains articles written by TTR staff on a selection of the projects in which we are currently involved. I hope you find them of interest and that you will take the opportunity to review our website which is regularly updated.
TTR Newsletter - Summer 2008
TTR in Europe
This issue features some of TTR's European projects. The company has extensive experience of the European Commission's research and demonstration programmes and transnational networks, having participated in more than 80 EC-supported projects during the last 16 years.
TTR helps local authorities and other organisations to access various gateways to European funding for innovative transport projects. For assistance please contact:
- David Blackledge in UK (tel +44 (0) 1543 416416, email david.blackledge@ttr-ltd.com )
David Blackledge, Chairman & Director of European Affairs
Please note the following TTR-organised events: - - 6th October 2008 - Biomethane for Transport, London (A similar event will be held in Meadowhall, Sheffield , on the 9 th of October, but is already fully booked). - 7th October 2008, London - CIVITAS UK & Ireland Network Meeting - 17th October 2008 - London CIVITAS SMILE Project – Evaluation Training Workshop - 31st October 2008, Liverpool - SUCCESS / MIDAS Network Event
|
Pdf of this article is available to download here
|
TTR recently assisted Merseytravel to deliver a transnational project under the INTERREG IIIB Programme. The project, known as PARTNER, has promoted sustainable travel to and from regional transportation gateways, and the use of sustainable modes of transport by visitors to cities across the Atlantic Area region of Europe . PARTNER involved the cities of Liverpool , Belfast , Dublin , La Rochelle , Rochefort, and Santiago de Compostela. The ultimate aim was to make it easy for people to travel to, from and around the Atlantic Area. The cities worked together to share best practice and identify barriers and drivers to using public transport services when visiting a city for the first time. This consortium approach provided valuable information to the participating cities, not only in terms of shared knowledge and experience, but also by receiving feedback from the other cities on how easy they found it to use their transport system when visiting for project meetings etc. Project partners worked together to develop standards for public transport services to make them easy to use. This was to encourage both visitors and local people to use the services, instead of less sustainable modes such as cars and taxis. Using these standards the project succeeded in implementing both:
The INTEGRA concept As a result, the INTEGRA TM brand was developed by the project to provide a single brand that connects and provides information on the many different public transport operations across the Atlantic Area. It is hoped that, in time, people will associate the brand with good quality services, and that the brand will be adopted by other high quality service providers across Europe . INTEGRA has not been designed to replace existing brands, but can be used together with them. It is intended to be recognised as a European brand that symbolises good sustainable transport services (e.g. a quality symbol), and one that will be easily recognised by transnational travellers. Multi-lingual information provided by INTEGRA-branded products will tell the traveller exactly what to expect when using sustainable modes in a foreign city, by providing information such as:
Next Steps On behalf of Merseytravel, TTR has continued the momentum built by the PARTNER project, by building two new European Consortia to continue and expand the INTEGRA brand across Europe . The following project applications have been submitted to the INTERREG IVB & IVC programmes:
If successful, both projects will increase the adoption of the INTEGRA concept and share information to pro-actively promote sustainable tourism. Both projects will build a network of associate partner cities who will be invited to take part in dissemination events and receive dissemination material. If you are interested in receiving more information regarding INTEGRA, or would like to become an associate partner of the START and INSTIGATE initiatives, please click here |
|
TTR has been appointed by the South Yorkshire CARE 4 AIR programme to develop and manage its ECO Stars Fleet Recognition Scheme. The scheme (www.care4air.org) is run by four local authorities: Barnsley , Sheffield , Rotherham and Doncaster . The aim is to provide recognition for fleet operators of vans, trucks, buses and coaches who have made a commitment to improve operational efficiency and reduce environmental impact. Operators running fleets of cleaner vehicles, with robust fuel management programmes and other best practice measures in place, will be assessed and issued with star ratings for both individual vehicles and their whole operation. Membership of the Scheme brings with it a range of benefits, including star decals issued for vehicles and an operational improvement “road map” developed for each member, recommending measures which could be introduced to help progress to higher star ratings. Operators wishing to find out more about the Scheme should contact the TTR team on 01543 416416, quoting “ ECO Stars”, or email ecostars@ttr-ltd.com . This project builds on TTR's expertise in providing support for fleet operators in developing and implementing fuel management programmes, helping control fuel consumption throughout the entire operation, from fuel selection, purchase and storage, to in-vehicle use. TTR's specialist expertise in the area of cleaner fuels and vehicles, as well as driver incentive schemes, essential to ensure longer-term benefits, can help operators make real savings, both financial and environmental. This work sits alongside a number of studies that we are undertaking on the subject of biofuels, which is a major area of interest to TTR. To find out more about TTR's fleet fuel management programme support capabilities, contact Chris Douglas on 0117 907 4130. |
|
TTR is currently developing travel plans at three key faith destinations in West London , on behalf of the WestTrans group of London Boroughs. The destinations include BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir (Neasden Temple, left), in the London Borough of Brent, NW London, St Mary's Church in Hampton, in the Borough of Richmond (right), and Hounslow Jamia Masjid (Hounslow Mosque). Neasden Temple is the largest Hindu temple outside of India , and the first to open in Europe , whilst Hampton Church was constructed in 1831 by the architect Lapidge, on the site of previous houses of worship dating back to 1342. The three site travel plans vary greatly in scale and scope. For example, Hampton Church has a congregation of 250, Neasden Temple attracts 45,000 visitors each year for Diwali alone and there are around 3,000 visitors to Hounslow Temple for Friday prayers each week. The Vicar at Hampton Church has been very supportive, and encouraged his congregation to complete the travel plan questionnaire as part of his service, which resulted in almost a 100% response rate. The travel plan is very much in keeping with the environmental ethos of the church, which has an environmental and ecological group, and has previously held “Environment Days”. A special environmental service of the London Diocese is being held on the 14th of September, at St Paul 's Cathedral. The travel survey results showed that the congregation at St Mary's Parish Church is already very “green” – the majority walk to church (34%), and a large number cycle or car share (46%). The travel plan includes the provision of better travel information, which will benefit not only the congregation, but also wedding visitors, and better cycle lock up facilities outside the church. The launch of the travel plan is scheduled for Sunday the 21st of September, and activities are also planned for Bike Week in 2009. (http://www.hampton-church.org.uk/index.htm). The work to develop a travel plan for Neasden Temple has just begun, in conjunction with the Temple Committee . Previous work undertaken in 2003 and 2004 showed that there were concerns about bus services serving the site, and that there was a large number of concerns about personal security in the area. It was felt that there was a lack of signage directing visitors to the temple. Travel surveys will be carried out at the temple in September. (http://www.mandir.org/index.htm) |
|
|
TTR is supporting the setting up of the CIVITAS UK & Ireland City Network, which aims to add value to local authorities' efforts to move towards sustainable mobility in towns and cities. The European Union's CIVITAS Initiative was established in 2002 to help cities achieve a more sustainable, cleaner and more energy-efficient transport system, by supporting the implementation of an ambitious, integrated set of technology and policy based measures. The CIVITAS “family” boasts over 130 cities from countries across Europe, all of which have an interest in learning from one other to develop truly sustainable transport systems. A key aim of the UK & Ireland CIVITAS City Network is to bring together technical experts, policy makers and politicians to share best practice in sustainable mobility, and to disseminate lessons from existing and previous CIVITAS projects, consistent with the eight CIVITAS measure categories:
Full membership of the Network is open to all local and regional authorities, including Passenger Transport Authorities, within the UK & Ireland . The first Network meeting will take place at the Department for Transport, Great Minster House, Marsham Street, London on Tuesday the 7th of October, 2008 . To find out more about the Network, to register your interest in becoming a member or to confirm your attendance at the first Network meeting in October, please email civitasuk_irelandnetwork@ttr-ltd.com . |
|
|
The CURACAO Project (Coordination of Urban RoAd User ChArging Organisational Issues), which is co-ordinated by TTR, continues to progress. Its aim is to coordinate research and monitor the results of the implementation of road pricing as a demand management tool in urban areas. Earlier in 2008, the project held its second seminar, in the City Hall, Amsterdam . Among the presentations were papers on experiences of road pricing schemes in London , Rome , Stockholm and The Netherlands. There was a particular focus on reporting the results of the “Spitsmijden” scheme – this is Dutch for “avoiding peak traffic” – which successfully used targeted financial incentives to encourage regular drivers to find alternatives to driving at peak times. July 2008 saw the publication of the project's second annual State-of-the-Art Review of road pricing research and good practice, which draws on the experiences of schemes that have actually been implemented, namely those in London, Stockholm and Rome, as well as on the latest academic research from around the world. This document is available on the CURACAO project website at www.curacaoproject.eu/state-of-the-art-report.php along with all other details of the project. A number of UK local authorities are members of the CURACAO User Group, which meets to exchange experience and ideas on road pricing and related issues. Other local authorities are welcome to attend User Group meetings or to obtain information from the CURACAO knowledge base. Further information is available from the Project Manager, Chris Humphrey, on 0117-907 6521, and at chris.humphrey@ttr-ltd.com |
.jpg){kind=small}
|
A travel plan produced by TTR has recently won a Travel Plan Award. TTR is contracted by B&Q plc to provide support for developing, implementing and evaluating travel plans in stores across the UK . Each plan sets out a long-term strategy for reducing employees' car travel, by raising awareness of, and facilitating, sustainable transport alternatives, and identifying potential improvements to infrastructure. This work has recently included the production, in close collaboration with the client, of a travel plan for the leading DIY chain's Warehouse at Boulevard Retail Park , Peterborough . The travel plan was successful in the Fourth Annual Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Workplace Travel Plan Awards, a Cambridgeshire County Council / Peterborough City Council scheme. The plan was assessed and recognised as meeting the criteria for the 'Step One' award. B&Q and TTR provided evidence demonstrating staff commitment to the store travel plan and clearly identifying its scope. |
|
On the 2nd of September, TTR moved its London Office to a more central location, in Broadway, just off Victoria Street , and near to St James's Park Underground Station. Our London Office had previously been located in Croydon. TTR Executive Director Kieran Holmes says: “Moving to Central London is an important move for the company. Our new office is close to some of our major clients, including the Department for Transport and Transport for London . This will enable us to continue to work closely with these organisations, to deliver the personalised service for which TTR has become well known.” The office will continue to be managed by Sarah Clifford (Associate). Please note our new contact details, as follows, Sarah Clifford, Office Manager Tel.: 0207 340 4526 |
