Landscape Protection
Integrated Transport Measures in National Parks: a Good Practice Guide
Introduction
Defra, the Department for Transport and the Welsh Assembly Government have published a Good Practice Guide on Integrated Transport Measures in National Parks in England and Wales. The study was undertaken by Atkins Transport Planning, with the aim to produce guidance that will highlight good practice in the development and delivery of integrated transport solutions in National Parks, and encourage the wider application of successful local transport measures. The intended audience for the guidance is primarily National Park Authorities and officers and members of local transport authorities responsible for promoting the improvement of local transport and access planning in their areas.
Read the report on the DTI website:
- Integrated transport measures in national parks (on DTI website) - August 2005
The study found that there are essentially four critical factors needed to develop a successful integrated transport scheme:
1. Partnership working
Successful partnerships are those that enable more to be achieved than if the individual partners had not joined together. From a National Park perspective, the study found that there are a lot of partnerships and that many of these have contributed to the implementation of integrated transport measures.
For example, the Hadrian's Wall Bus partnership between Northumberland National Park Authority, Cumbria County Council and local bus operators, and the Yorkshire Dales mapping initiative with Yorkshire Forward and publisher Harvey Maps.
2. The provision and ability to access an appropriate funding source
No scheme can be delivered cost free. From basic promotional activity such as information leaflets, right up to public transport interchanges, there is a cost. The study revealed that very few integrated transport schemes in National Parks are delivered via the Local Transport Plan process, and very little budget is allocated to transport by the National Park Authorities. For example, the Lake District National Park Authority allocates approximately £28,000 per annum which is spent on public transport and transport leaflets. There is, however, some considerable variation, reflecting the different priority that different National Park Authorities give to funding sustainable transport.
3. The effective promotion of services
The success of a scheme is very much dependent on how well it is promoted. The study found that some schemes were under-used and under marketed. In some instances, good promotional leaflets were not backed up by on the ground signage or 'gateways' to the walking, cycling and public transport routes, making them difficult to locate. Other potentially good schemes were not being promoted in the right places or reaching the right audiences so visitors or residents were unaware of the opportunities presented. Most of the successful schemes, however, had fully taken on board the importance of marketing and there were clear benefits associated with the investment in promotion and branding. For example, Peak Connections, the B4 Network, Moorsbus, the Snowdon Sherpa and the Hadrian's Wall Bus have all achieved high public awareness, both locally and nationally, and visitors may consequently be more likely to get out of their cars and try out the available alternatives.
4. The integration of services, tickets and information.
For a sustainable transport scheme to work, access and use of the scheme must be made as easy as possible for the potential user. It will therefore provide an attractive alternative to the convenience of the private car. In terms of public transport, this means that there should be integrated timetables and through-ticketing with connecting services or park and ride sites. Schemes of this nature include the Moorsbus and B4 Network. Establishing integrated ticketing and timetables is not an easy or straightforward task because it requires co-ordinated communication between different operators and stakeholders. It is achievable, however, and the benefits to users and potential users are enormous. Integration of National Park and Local Authority transport policy is also fundamental to the success of many integrated transport schemes. There can be a natural conflict between the functions of a National Park and the duties of a Highway Authority, due to their differing priorities. This does not prevent these organisations from working together to ensure the scheme implemented is the 'best fit' for the area.
Recommendations
This study has highlighted four principal recommendations for the development of transport schemes and services in National Parks.
- local authorities should use accessibility planning techniques to identify transport need across the whole of their authority area and recognise the wider role of transport in improving access to services in decisions on the prioritisation of schemes in National Park areas;
- local authorities should consider the scope for greater consistency in approach towards traffic signing in National Park areas;.
- consideration should be given to formalising partnership work in the National Parks on the lines of the existing accord between the National Park Officers Group and the County Surveyors Society, relating to the 'Principles for Transport in National Parks'; and
- the need for a promotion and marketing strategy to be developed as an integral part of any proposed transport measure.
Page published: 9 August 2005