Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Workplace travel plans (WTPs)
The term 'workplace' is used here in a very broad sense and covers almost all types
of non-residential use other than schools. The main component is businesses (hence
sometimes 'business travel plans') where the focus is on the travel behaviour of
staff. However travel plans are also appropriate for other major generators of travel
including hospitals, universities, freestanding retail developments, sporting venues
and leisure attractions where the additional and often prime concern is the travel
of visitors (hence sometimes 'visitor travel plans'). Government and local authority
offices are also important, not least because of the example they set to others.
As noted previously, these organisations may introduce measures influencing travel
behaviour for their own benefit, whether these are 'one-off' initiatives or a package
of measures designed and implemented as part of a formal travel plan. Typically these
arise because of parking and congestion problems on the site itself or in the immediate
vicinity. They may also reflect concerns to utilise the available space most efficiently in
meeting the relative needs of staff and visitors or as between different categories of staff
(e.g. shift workers or those who need to use cars as part of their work). Potential cost-
savings through teleworking, 'hot-desking', reduction in space needed for employee
parking etc. are further incentives.
Public involvement in WTPs arises from two main sources:
1
promotional activity designed to encourage the voluntary adoption of measures
amongst relevant organisations
2
negotiation on measures to be introduced within a new development as part of a
condition of planning permission (as explained earlier in section 14.9).
In these cases the public objective will typically be to improve the travel choices
on offer and to seek to reduce the amount of car travel generated. Emphasis is on the
preparation of formalised travel plans, both to ensure that the objectives and options
appropriate to the particular situation are examined in a comprehensive and systematic
manner and so that a framework of targets is set against which travel behaviour can
be monitored subsequently. In the case of travel plans prepared in connection with
proposed developments, targets will be linked with the level of car parking or other
facilities being provided so that the level of generated traffic is kept within the limits of
what are considered acceptable conditions.
The travel plan will contain a mix of measures appropriate to the site and
organisation in question but may include:
• publicity and incentives (e.g. season ticket loans) for use of public transport
(sometimes complemented by enhanced services to/from the site)
• car-sharing scheme
• promotion of opportunities and facilities for walking and cycling
• alternative working practices (e.g. flexitime, home-working)
• car parking management (which may include pricing or prioritising elements or
'cash-out' payments for employees who forgo a parking space)
• car pools for business use (to obviate the need for employees to drive to work on
the off-chance that they might need a car during the course of the day).
Much of the early work by local authorities in this field was concerned with
engaging with major employers and encouraging the production of travel plans.
Search WWH ::
Custom Search