Transport Policy Sub-Committee
10th November 2009
Agenda Item 11
TPSC/09/08
Revision of University Sustainable Transport Strategy
Context:
The University’s Travel Plan is its Sustainable Transport Strategy which was developed and
subsequently approved by the University in 2007. The Strategy relates primarily to the Colchester
campus and resulted from a planning application being rejected to provide further car parking at
the main campus situated in historic parkland on the outskirts of Colchester. Car parking charges
were introduced in 2005 and income ring-fenced for travel measures including the appointment of
a part-time Transport Policy Coordinator in 2007.
The University’s Transport Policy Sub-committee (TPSC) was set up to be responsible for the
development and review of the Strategy. Membership is composed principally of union
representatives and University officers. Over the last three years, a number of transport user
groups have been set up that are active in working with the University to advocate for addressing
the needs of their various users.
The University has recently embarked on the construction of the ‘Knowledge Gateway’ at the
Colchester campus; a major development including research park facilities, student
accommodation and private residences. The infrastructure works are scheduled to start early
2010. The Knowledge Gateway requires a Travel Plan.
Revision of Strategy:
With the appointment of a full-time Transport Policy Coordinator, nearly three years of having a
part-time Coordinator in post, and a move to start addressing business travel and travel issues on
other campuses, it is an opportune time to review the current Strategy. The following suggestions
are based on the observations of the outgoing Transport Policy Coordinator and constitute a
discussion paper for the revision of the Strategy.
The current title of the Strategy implies consideration of transport measures only, rather than
travel or non-travel. As a first point, a revised Strategy should be a ‘Travel’ rather than ‘Transport’
Strategy. The table overleaf outlines suggested objectives, targets, measures for the revised
Strategy and the rationale associated with the suggestions. The most important benefits of such
a revised Strategy to the University would be to:




Ensure the University is proactive in moving to a low carbon economy in the future;
Enhance the well-being of the University community and local community;
Support the core business of the University in attracting more students, in enhancing their
experience and in supporting its Research aspirations;
Establish greater coherence in meeting the environmental, business and social
aspirations of the University.
Suggested Draft Framework for Revision of University Sustainable Transport Strategy
Objectives
1. Reduce the need for unnecessary
University related travel
Targets
i.
Increase the use of videoconferencing and internetbased collaboration and
communications;
ii.
Reduce business car
mileage by 20% over 4
years;
iii.
Minimise academic
conference related air travel
within 4 years;
iv.
v.
Introduce more flexible
working patterns for staff;
Identify and promote
opportunities that
encourage overseas
students to stay in UK
outside of termtime;
Indicators
a. No. of meetings using
University video-conference
facilities;
b. No. of VRE/VLEs being
used by Depts/ Sections
c. Annual business car
mileage;
d. University Business Travel
Tree in place and being
applied
e. Strict guidelines introduced
on University business air
travel;
f. Annual business air miles
per department/section;
g. No. of academic and
professional services staff
working from home on a
regular basis and on an
adhoc basis;
h. HR policy in place to
encourage flexible working;
i. Proportionate reduction in
number of postgraduates
and undergraduates flying
home during Christmas &
Easter holidays and
airmiles saved.
Rationale
1. is self-evident,
particularly for air travel.
Target (i) is to do with
promotion & training and
the Uni is about to roll out
training with ‘sharepoint’.
(ii) is linked to compliance
with (d) and meeting (i)
and might be a rolling
target.
(iii) is very contentious
and would require senior
academic support and
considerable consultation
(iv) is outside the remit of
the Travel Plan
Coordinator. Would
require HR/Unions and
University Steering Group
support.
(v) Lots of p/grads fly
back to China etc during
their year. Work with
Students’ Union, Travel
Soc. and International
Academy etc to arrange
programme for students
to enjoy experience of
Britain e.g hostelling trip
at Easter, hospitality
stays etc.
Suggested Draft Framework for Revision of University Sustainable Transport Strategy
Objectives
2. Enable and support adoption of sustainable
means of travelling by the University
Targets
i.
Increase modal shift for
cycling of at least 10% over
3 years
ii.
Increase modal shift for
walking of at least 10%
over 3 years
iii.
Implement Carsharing
scheme
iv.
Public transport services
address the needs of many
students & staff to reach
the University
Proportion of European
overseas students using
rail/ferry option to travel to
Uni increases by 10% over
3 years;
University suppliers and
contractors adopting
measures to reduce carbon
emissions from travel in
their provision of services
v.
vi.
Indicators
a. Reduction in %age of car
parking registrations from
postcodes within 3 & 5
miles of campus;
b. Modal shift in annual Travel
Plan Club & Uni travel
survey;
c. Provision of cycle &
pedestrian infrastructure on
to, and on campus
including routes, cycle
parking & showers/lockers;
d. Walking & cycle maps
produced & distributed;
e. Provision for disabled users
to access campus via
public transport or other
means cf private car;
f. Promotion of cycling &
walking events and
participation rates;
g. No. of carsharers registered
and general permits
surrendered;
h. No. of applicants benefiting
from University negotiated
travel measures e.g.
discounted season tickets,
loans & cycle to work
scheme;
i. Increase in and
improvement of bus & rail
services serving campuses,
j. Footfall on rail & bus
services for University;
k. no. of students living at
parental/guardian home not
registering for standard car
parking
Rationale
(i) & (ii) Focus on cycle &
walking modes because
of health, cost and CO2
benefits.
Work with LAs & Cycling
Town projects to
upgrade/introduce
improved routes to
campus.
Bring in sufficient
infrastructure
improvements before
restricting parking
registration entitlement.
(iii) Provide incentive for
scheme through provision
of bays.
(iv) Focus on rail/buslinks
and stronger Students’
Union capacity to
negotiate with bus
operators;
(v) Promotion &
awareness raising
amongst students (and
staff) to use alternatives
to air travel.
(vi) part of University’s
procurement strategy.
Suggested Draft Framework for Revision of University Sustainable Transport Strategy
Objectives
3. Ensure University strategic objectives
incorporate sustainable travel aspirations
Targets
i.
Development of Knowledge
Gateway (KG) capitalizes
on opportunities to
encourage sustainable
travel;
ii.
iii.
iv.
v.
Cost effective & well-used
University transport
facilitates required
interaction between
campuses
Growing University
community aware of
opportunity cost of campus
car parking provision;
University international
partnership ventures take
account of sustainable
travel, especially air travel;
University Research project
on sustainable travel, in
collaboration with
international institutional
partners, funded within 5
years
Indicators
a. Infrastructure measures
introduced in favour of
sustainable modes of
travel;
b. Change in bus/rail/cycle
services for University
resulting from KG
infrastructure provision;
c. No. of residential/business
car parking spaces built in
KG development;
d. Inter-campus transport
operations/services, costs
and footfall/goods carried;
e. Real costs of car park
provision reported to TPSC;
f. Proposals and agreed
projects for future campus
car park management;
g. Strategic planning
documents address carbon
emissions component
within proposals;
h. Funded Research project
with international partners;
Rationale
(i) Is an immediate priority
at low cost to University
and of considerable
benefit, both in long term
and in countering the
considerable disruption
that will be caused during
construction phase;
(ii) Requirements
generated by Students’
Union, Faculties etc and
reduces business car
mileage;
(iii) Car User Group
willing to help research
and draw up proposals to
introduce barrier car
parking, restrict car
parking registrations etc.
University should aspire
not to provide more car
parking spaces;
(iv) Any overseas campus
teaching ventures etc
should maximize
communications
technology and minimize
air travel required by
students/staff;
(v) brings the Travel Plan
measures into the
mainstream research
activities of University
and Vision, and supports
international partnerships
and sharing best practice;
Transport Policy Sub-Committee
10th November 2009
Agenda Item 11
TPSC/09/08
Stakeholders:
The key body is the University Transport Policy Sub-Committee which has representation from
the unions, Estates, Commercial University operations and the Car User Group as well as the
Transport (Travel) Policy Coordinator. Valuable input is provided by the transport user groups set
up within the University. The University is also a key member of the Colchester 2020 Travel Plan
Club that negotiates with public transport operators on discounted tickets etc. The Travel Plan
Club will remain a key partner alongside the Local Authorities. Southend also has the MoveEasy
employers’ travel group. Key stakeholders to work with more closely at this juncture are the
Students’ Union on bus services and the Knowledge Gateway Project Officer.
Process:
In revising the University’s Travel Plan that currently has a strong focus on commuter travel and,
in revision, should shift to greater consideration of limiting travel and addressing business travel
and carbon emissions, there is a need to enroll all stakeholders in the process. I suggest having
a VRE (Virtual Research Environment) online platform that will be a forum for the different groups
to develop aspects of the Travel Plan, coordinated by the Travel Policy Coordinator. The
experience, comment and recommendations from the different user groups that all have their own
mailing lists (car, cycle, motorbike, public transport users & walkers) is very useful in identifying
issues and how best to address them. Sharing the development of new initiatives leads to better
choices, increased buy-in (and promotion) from the users and sharing responsibility for what is
implemented. The VRE would be linked to other parts of the University’s website, and provide a
resource for the University in terms of important strategic, regional and internal documents that
can guide the University to promote sustainable travel into the next decade and beyond.
Revisions to Transport Policy Sub-Committee in line with Strategy revisions:
The current Strategy objectives have focused predominantly on reducing car parking demand at
the Colchester campus and the composition of the Transport Policy Sub-Committee reflects this.
Once the Strategy explicitly focuses on wider travel issues for the whole University, the
composition of the body charged with overseeing its development and review should similarly
reflect the various interests. It is suggested that the composition of the Sub-Committee reflect
input from other campuses and the University transport user groups established. I also suggest
that in future, TPSC meetings be held in a video-conferencing room, enabling participation from
other campuses and promoting the use of such facilities.
Transport Policy Sub-Committee is requested to consider this first draft framework and provide
comments and suggestions to advise a further draft version which will be posted on the web site
as a consultative document.
Jo Leyland
Transport Policy Coordinator