Transport for the North (TfN) has updated its transport plan for the region with new policy positions on active travel and multimodal hubs.
The new policies are part of TfN’s work to update its 2019 Strategic Transport Plan (STP).
The documents - which highlight the importance of enabling travel by foot and bicycle, and the need to join-up transport options across different modes - will help shape future statutory advice the sub-national transport body provides to Government, and further embed the “one voice” approach to strategic transport investment and policy-making in the North of England.
On active travel, the policy position highlights four key roles that TfN can play to proactively support ambitions to make cycling and walking a natural choice for shorter journeys:
Promote and support sustained investment in active travel at local level, enabling partners to plan and implement more ambitious and longer-term schemes.
Support partners in their development of proposals as appropriate and continue to raise the profile of active travel generally.
Collate and promote examples of ‘best practice’ and innovation across the North.
Outline how the TfN Analytical Framework can support partners with analysis of active travel and make these tools and data available to partners where possible.
And on multimodal hubs, five key roles for TfN are identified:
Make the strategic case for investment in multimodal hubs in the North.
Support partners in the development of their proposals by providing access to the expertise within TfN.
Provide partners with access to the regional evidence base to support the identification of potential multimodal hub demand.
Collate best practice for partners to apply to their areas.
Undertake work in support of partners to identify multimodal hub locations which would benefit from improved passenger information and marketing.
Martin Tugwell, chief executive of TfN, said: “Getting around by more active means such as walking and cycling, and being able to switch between modes of travel, such as cycling to the station and hopping on a train, can be a real game-changer for people, and also supports our ambitious decarbonisation goals.
“Having been approved by the TfN board these positions will now form part of our evidence base and rationale, strengthening our joined-up working and helping us turn our policies into action.”
Active travel at the Smart Transport Conference
Both Louise Gittins, vice chair, Transport for the North and leader of the council, Cheshire West and Chester Council and Tugwell we be in attendance at the Smart Transport Conference on 10 May at The Queens Hotel in Leeds.
Gittins will be presenting at a plenary session to outline TfN's strategic transport priorities, as well as responding to the Government's recent transport initiatives in its Levelling Up white paper.
Transitioning to active travel solutions will also be one of the eight breakout sessions featured at the one day conference.
Rosslyn Colderley, director (England North), Sustrans will give an overview of all the best active travel strategies currently taking place across her region.
Paul Hodgkins, co-founder & CEO at micromobility company Ginger, will present a case study on how it is working alongside the public sector to introduce a new universal infrastructure project in Middlesborough that can be used for e-bikes and e-scooters alike.
Kit Allwinter, West Yorkshire Combined Authority active travel policy officer, will share best practice on introducing active travel policies to dramatically boost sustainable travel options across the region.
Allwinter said: "Our targets are very ambitious.
"We need a 27% reduction in car km, a 79% increase in walking km and a 2,125% increase in cycling km by 2038."
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