Helping create a competitive and sustainable future.
The CBI estimate that traffic congestion costs the UK economy over £15 billion each year. Unrestrained traffic growth leading to greater traffic congestion, delayed deliveries, increased fuel consumption, time lost in traffic jams and employee stress caused by the journey to and from work, places an unnecessary burden on both employers and staff.
A Travel Plan (also known as a Commuter Plan) is a strategy designed to reduce the impact of traffic especially for the journey to and from work. It may form part of a wider company transport plan which can include a range of issues including commuting, business travel, fleet management and other commercial activity. It is important to stress that the Plan will be unique to reflect specific site characteristics including company and / or site location, size and activity. It will act to:
- Review existing travel need, demand and patterns.
- Assess options to reduce the need to travel, particularly by car.
- Agree a framework that enables a company to manage the transport needs of their employees.
- Set out a policy statement with targets as appropriate.
A Travel Plan, therefore, allows employers to take a more proactive role in managing employee commuting and / or business travel needs. A Travel Plan is not anti - car. It seeks to encourage staff to consider making use of more sustainable modes of transport whenever possible. It should not penalise those for whom there is no realistic option other than to use their cars. This can be seen as an effective environmental management tool to help improve operational effectiveness and efficiency whilst reducing the overall environmental impact of travel.
Background:
Travel Plans are common in the United States. Federal Law requires companies employing 100 or more members of staff to adopt trip reduction strategies in response to meeting clean air targets. In Europe, the Netherlands has taken a leading role in promoting such measures as part of a strategy to half traffic growth between 1986 and 2010 from the 70 % increase predicted. The Dutch Government have played an important role in encouraging companies to develop such plans assisted by the availability of comprehensive guidance and information.
In the UK many local authorities and a growing number of businesses have taken steps to introduce such initiatives as part of the move to adopting more sustainable transport policies. Organisations as varied as the CBI, RAC, Transport 2000 and Friends of the Earth have produced good practice guides. A National Association for Commuter Travel (ACT) was launched in December 1997. Chester Business Park has developed a Website to help develop its travel plan.
Detailed DETR guidance has also been published. This includes a very comprehensive Travel Plan Resource Pack for employers. This is available free of charge from the Environment and Energy Helpline - see below.
For a more concise overview, the Council has produced 'Steps to Success' a good practice for Cheshire Companies. Copies can also be requested from the address below.
Why adopt a Travel Plan ?
Travel Plans are adopted to meet specific needs and requirements. Often (but not exclusively), they are part of a programme to improve operational effectiveness. Each will be unique and will be influenced by a range of circumstances and the particular needs of the company in question. These in turn will influence the choice of measures available and targets set in each plan. Increasingly, they are required as part of planning permission. Reasons why a plan may be required include:
- Requirement of Planning Permission / Section 106 Agreement.
- Parking Standards.
- Constraints to providing additional car parking spaces.
- More productive use of space.
- Growth of existing site / workforce.
- Reducing traffic congestion.
- Improving organisational effectiveness / efficiency.
- Employee benefits e.g. health.
- Cost savings.
- Environmental image
- Leading by example.
The Options:
Once the specific requirements of a company / site have been identified and existing travel need, demand and patterns have been reviewed options can been identified to reduce the need to travel particularly by car. Options may include:
Measures to encourage greater walking.
- Cycling / powered two wheelers.
- Car sharing.
- Drive share schemes.
- Greater use of passenger transport.
- Pool cars / Van pools,
- Car park management.
- Increased use of flexitime.
- Company culture.
- Home working,
- IS / IT options - tele-working, hot-desking etc
The Benefits:
- Commuter plans can offer many potential benefits:-
- Less parking required. Reduces costs and allows land to be allocated for more productive uses.
- Reduced travel costs and time savings for business travel.
- Reduced traffic congestion. Makes site and nearby road network more accessible especially at peak periods.
- Reduced employee stress and improved health. Reducing traffic congestion can ease access to the workplace for those who still need to use a car. There are proven health benefits for staff who walk or cycle.
Individual travel cost savings and benefits for employees. Can act to enhance staff motivation and morale.
Enhances company's environmental performance and can be promoted as an important part of a recruitment package.
The Role of the Council:
1. Support and advice.
2. Highlight good practice.
3. Networking and communication.
4. Improving travel choice.
5. Leading by example.
Conclusion:
There is growing evidence to suggest that very real advantages can be gained by the adoption of Travel Plans. The Council supports the adoption of such measures as part of our Local Transport Plan Strategy. To find out more we have produced a brochure called Steps to Success - The guide for preparing Travel Plans in Cheshire.
If you wish to discuss these issues in more detail, contact:-
Management of Development Team
Highways Service
Backford Hall
Chester
CH1 6EA
Telephone: 0845 11 333 11
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