Travel Plan 2013 - 2018 ‘Supporting Sustainable & Active Travel’
Introduction With over 2,600 staff and over 20,000 students based at Preston the University recognises that our travel demands are significant. This Travel Plan aims to manage and mitigate our environmental impact whilst improving accessibility and conditions for staff, students, visitors as well as our city centre neighbours.
Development of the Travel Plan The University’s five year Travel Plan (2007-2012) was developed from ideas contained within the University’s first Green Travel Plan (2000) together with recommendations from Lancashire County Council. The Plan identified many measures to encourage sustainable commuter travel and set modal split targets for both students and staff. Over the course of the Plan the scope was widened beyond the focus on commuter travel to include elements of business travel and fleet vehicles as well as visitor travel. This new five year Travel Plan recognises the move towards the collection of carbon emissions from both business and commuting travel in line with sector based requirements advised by HEFCE.
Achievements to date • Over 500 cycle parking spaces including 3 compounds and over 20 individual bike lockers • Over 240 tax free bikes for work purchased (since 2008) • In-house cycle training delivered by National Standard Cycle instructors • Annual data on staff and student travel patterns • Car share parking permits and dedicated car share parking • Online private car share database for staff and students • Annual rail season ticket loans for staff • Staff and student bus travel discounts with main providers • 47% increase in Stagecoach Unirider tickets since 2010/11 to date • Data collection of UK and international business travel emissions
Key Outcomes • • • • •
Significant decrease in solo car commuting journeys Reduction in student car use Increase in cycling rates Increase in rail and bus travel Greater awareness of the environmental impacts of travel
Purpose of the Travel Plan Objectives • To reduce the environmental impact of the University's travel demands • To encourage modal shift and reduce the dependence on solo car use • To improve transport modes available • To contribute to the health and well-being of staff and students • To help reduce pressures on parking • To be good neighbours
• • • •
Reduction of fleet size and use of modern and efficient vehicles Virtual conferencing platforms to reduce the need to travel Further promotion of the benefits of sustainable and active travel University’s commitment to meeting the BREEAM criteria for sustainability as a minimum • Student Advantage credits for the purchase of bus and rail tickets • Car parking demand management controls in place and maximum levels of parking space set. • Availability of day time parking at UCLan Sports Arena
Scope
Travel Plan Barriers
• • • •
• Over 40% of staff live over 10 miles from campus • Public transport seen as impractical and expensive compared with the car • Car parking pricing structure and availability of staff car parking • Difficulty changing behaviours • Availability of unrestricted on-street parking (residential and non-residential) • Annual rail price increases and restrictions on the use of Young Persons’ rail cards before 10am • Lack of integrated public transport • City Park and Ride Scheme does not serve the Campus
Commuting journeys by staff and students Business travel by staff and students Fleet vehicles Visitor travel
Travel Plan Opportunities • Proximity of both rail and bus stations • City centre location • Bus services serving heart of campus and good working relationships with bus providers • Large availability of student halls of residence (over 4,000 beds) on or adjacent to campus
Management of the Travel Plan Environmental Sustainability Policy The University’s Environmental Sustainability Policy includes the commitment ‘to reduce the carbon emissions associated with the University’s travel demands’. Our commitment to the building standard BREEAM for new buildings and significant refurbishments also ensures that sustainable travel is catered for.
Environmental Management System The University developed its Environmental Management System, certified to ISO14001:2004 in October 2010 and re-certified in October 2013, following commitment secured from the Vice-Chancellor in the Medium Term Strategy in which the University aims to ‘be a model international University for Sustainability by 2017’. The Environmental Management System (EMS) identifies the significant environmental aspects of the University’s operations, products and services and provides a set of procedures for environmental management within the University. Within the system the University’s commuter and business travel demands have been identified as having a significant environmental impact.
Operational procedures have been written for travel/transport detailing how the University manages and mitigates the impacts of travel. The EMS includes an Environmental Management Plan listing actions to ensure continual improvements are made and a Sustainable and Active Travel Improvement Group provides the forum for consulting and discussing implementation of the Travel Plan.
Carbon Management Plan The Higher Education Funding Council (HEFCE) has set sector-wide carbon reduction targets that are in line with UK Government targets of 34% by 2020 and 80% by 2050 (Climate Change Act, 2008). The HEFCE strategy requires individual institutions to set their own targets for Scope 1 and Scope 2 against a 2005/06 baseline, which equates to a 48% reduction by 2020. These requirements are contained within the University’s five year Carbon Management Plan (2010). In terms of travel, Scope 1 relates to emissions from our fleet vehicles. Scope 3 emissions, which include emissions from business and commuting travel are not currently included within the Carbon Management Plan.
Supporting Strategies
Equality and Diversity
The Travel Plan is implemented and monitored by the Safety, Health and Environment Section based in Facilities Management (FM). However, to maximise its effectiveness, the Travel Plan forms part of a coordinated approach to pursuing Sustainable Development at UCLan and cooperation from across the University’s Services and academic Schools is required. In particular, the Plan requires the continued support from strategies including the Sustainability Strategy, Car Parking Strategy, Vehicle Replacement Strategy, Carbon Management Plan, Estates Strategy and Healthy University Strategy.
An Equality Impact Assessment highlighted that there are no adverse impacts of the Travel Plan on the six equality target groups; Age, Gender, Disability, Race, Religion and Belief or Sexual Orientation. However, modal choice will be determined to some extent by Age, Gender and Disability and the Travel Plan aims to improve facilities for all members of the University community.
Commuter Travel Travel Targets A large part of this Travel Plan is devoted to influencing the travel patterns of significant numbers of daily commuters to the campus. In the Travel Plan 2007-2012 a target to achieve an 18% reduction in solo car commuting rates by staff and students from a base-line of 2004/5 was set by Lancashire County Council (LCC). In this new Travel Plan a new target of 47% solo car commuting from 2012/13 to 2017/18 has been set for staff as it is considered, by LCC, that there is still some scope to encourage staff to switch mode through a range of both incentives and disincentives. However, the target of 16% solo car commuting for students remains the same over the life of this plan.
Monitoring Surveys of staff and students travelling patterns have been conducted annually since 2004/5. These have been used to determine modal split and more recently (2012/13) to estimate the carbon emissions from commuting. Surveys have also been used to determine why particular modes are chosen and what incentives and disincentives would encourage commuters to shift mode to more sustainable and
active options. This qualitative data is used in prioritising travel plan actions. The most current annual survey audit summaries are available as an addendum to this Travel Plan.
Staff Modal Split Mode Car, solo commuter Car Sharing Walk Cycle Train Bus/Coach Motorbike/ Scooter
Student Modal Split
Actual Actual Target Target Target 2004/5 2012/13 2012/13 2014/15 2017/18 61
52
50
50
47
10 11 3 7 5 2
11 12 5 11 8 1
13 14 4.5 9 6.5 2
14 12 5 11 8 -
15 12 6 12 8 -
The survey results (2012/13) show a significant shift away from car use to more sustainable modes of transport over the life of the previous Travel Plan. The most marked change was for solo car commuting which achieved a 9% decrease, the majority of staff switching to public transport which saw increases of 4% and 3% for rail and bus travel respectively. Cycling has increased by 2% taking cycling rates to a more respectable level of 5%.
Mode Car, solo commuter Car Sharing Walk Cycle Train Bus/Coach Motorbike/ Scooter
Actual Actual Target Target Target 2004/5 2012/13 2012/13 2014/15 2017/18 19
15
16
16
16
9.5 44 1 12 6 0.5
7 53 2 15 8 -
12 49 2.5 12 8 -
12 49 2.5 12 8 -
12 49 2.5 12 8 -
Survey results (2012/13) show the majority of students choose to walk to campus. Students commuting from greater distances are more inclined to take public transport, particularly the train which has seen an increase of 3%. Car parking permit policy has meant that fewer students commute to campus by car and as a result the percentage of students car sharing has also decreased.
Postcode Mapping Over 35% of staff live within 4 miles of the campus which is within easy cycling distance and the Travel Plan can influence modal shifts with this group and continue to increase cycling rates. However, the greatest potential to reduce solo car commuting rates is by increasing car sharing as over 40% of staff live over 10 miles from campus.
Lancashire County Council produce postcode maps on our behalf plotting the modal split data obtained from the annual surveys. The maps are useful in highlighting where opportunities for car sharing and bus travel exist.
Car Parking Space and Demand Management At present, the University manages its car parks through a permit allocation system for students and staff as well as providing a limited number of free visitor parking and pay & display for short stay parking. The Car Parking Strategy (2011/12-2015/16) specifies that a maximum of 1400 car park spaces will be provided to accommodate staff, students and visitors. Whilst demand can outstrip supply at peak times the University will continue to concentrate its efforts to control the demand for parking, through measures contained within this Travel Plan, and will not increase supply above 1400. Car parking spaces are also eroded both temporarily, to accommodate construction compounds and permanently under new building footprints. The University ensures, however that the loss of specific car parking spaces to construction is ameliorated through space allocation on campus or through leasing land adjacent to campus whilst ensuring that the total number of spaces remains below 1400. The University also provide facilities in new buildings and significant refurbishments to encourage travel by sustainable modes.
Car Parking Locations
Student Parking
As a city centre campus this Travel Plan monitors where staff and students park in order that we continue to have good relationships with our neighbours.
Staff Parking Car Parking Location University Car Park Public Car Park Park & Ride On Street (residential street) On Street (non-residential street)
2006/7 % 90 2 1 2 5
2009/10 2012/13 % % 90 2 0.4 3.5 4
81 3 0 4 10
The majority of staff car commuters park on University car parks, all staff are entitled to purchase car parking permits no matter how close they live to the University. On Street parking has seen a dramatic 7% increase since 2006/7 whilst University car parking has seen a 9% decrease. This could be due to the national economic situation and personal cost saving choices. The availability of on street parking in Preston along with staff prepared to park and walk further distances to campus may also account for these increases.
Car Parking Location University car park Public car park Park and Ride car park On street (residential street) On street (non-residential street)
2006/7 % 30 21 8 24 17
2009/10 2012/13 % % 25 25 5 28 17
27 26.8 5 24.5 16.6
Students permits are issued subject to strict eligibility criteria based on distance and personal circumstance and as a result similar numbers of students use the University car parks and public car parks. However, on street parking accounts for the majority of student parking at over 41%.
Think about car sharing... UCLan Staff and students can search for a car sharing partner at www.sharedwheels.co.uk
Comparisons with major local employers Staff Modal Split Car Solo Car Share Walk Cycle Train Bus
UCLan (2013)
52 11 12 5 11 8
Edge Hill Lancaster Preston University University City (2012) (2012) Council (2009) 58 18 6 4.5 10 3.3
44 17 4 14 22
70.3* 5.2* 4.3 4.1 2.9 12.7
Royal Preston Hospital (2006) 67 2.7 8.4 6 6
* PCC collect data as Car Driver and Car Passenger rather than Car Solo and Car Sharing so these figures not directly comparable with the other organisations
Single occupancy car use at the University is low in relation to other major local employers, Preston City Council and the Royal Preston Hospital. A comparison between UCLan and other Higher Education institutes shows that whilst solo car commuting rates are average there is a real potential for increasing staff car sharing which help us meet our 2017/18 solo car commuting target. Staff walking rates are significantly greater than other local employers and cycling rates are average (excluding Lancaster University). It has been estimated that cycling can account for 10-15% of journeys to work, and this has been demonstrated by Lancaster University, however, these figures are probably unrealistic in Preston because of a lack of safe cycling routes.
UCLan welcomes the opportunity to share data, benchmark and make publically available all Travel Plans, measures and incentives. It seeks commitment from all major local employers to do the same.
Carbon Emissions The annual travel surveys conducted since 2012/13 have also been used to estimate carbon emissions associated with staff and student commuting. Carbon emissions from commuting will be reported to HEFCE when reporting of Scope 3 travel emissions becomes mandatory in the Estate Management Records.
Business Travel Travel Allowances Business travel allowances are largely managed from the Travel Office, Financial Services. Business travel procedures specify that the maximum car mileage allowance (45p/mile) that can be claimed for any round trip journey is restricted to 150 miles. For distances between 150 miles and 300 miles a lower rate of 25p/mile will be paid to encourage alternative modes. For distances over 300 miles the equivalent second class rail fare can be claimed to encourage rail travel. Mileage rates for cycling are set at 20p/mile.
Carbon Emissions Since 2010/11 the University’s Agresso Financial software has been used to collect domestic business mileage using destinations of travel. Destinations are then used to estimate the carbon emission data for UK business travel by car (grey fleet), hire car, rail, bus/coach and domestic air travel. The Travel Office book international travel and provide data on airport destinations and type of flight (long haul or short haul) from which mileage and carbon emissions can be estimated.
Carbon emissions from business travel (by both staff and students) will be reported to HEFCE when the reporting of Scope 3 travel emissions becomes mandatory in the Estate Management Records. No targets for reducing the carbon emissions of business travel have been agreed as yet.
Fleet Management The University’s total fleet is limited to around 35 vehicles, most of which either have specialised functions (e.g. tractors, fork-lift trucks) or are used almost exclusively on campus (e.g. security, waste and recycling, catering services). A review of the University fleet which is currently underway will see a reduction in fleet size. The vehicle replacement strategy (VRS) specifies that vehicles are selected according to carbon emissions, fuel efficiency as well as value for money. Annual statistics on fleet vehicle mileage and emissions (Scope 1) for all University vehicles (fleet, SU owned and leased vehicles) have been collected since 2005/6.
Visitor Travel Visitors are encouraged to travel to campus by sustainable modes and a Preston Campus and City guide is available to inform visitors of available travel options.
Implementation of the Travel Plan Action Plans Action plans detail short, medium and long term specific travel planning measures to support the aims of the Travel Plan. These are designed to be realistic programmes of work, having regard to staff and financial resources. The action plans include: • • • • •
Measures to encourage car-sharing Measures to encourage active travel (cycling and walking) Measures to encourage rail and bus travel Reducing the need to travel Measures to reduce business travel emissions
Partnership There are many other large employers in Preston who the University will continue to work in partnership with. These include Lancashire County Council, Preston City Council and the Royal Preston Hospital all of whom have site travel plans in place. By working with these partners, the local transport infrastructure as a whole can be developed and improved.
Reporting • Annual Travel Surveys: Modal split audits are reported on annually as a Key Performance Indicator within Facilities Management’s planning and business cycles. • Environmental Management System (ISO14001): Headline actions for business and commuting travel are tracked through the system’s Environmental Management Plan and reported on monthly as a Key Performance Indicator within Facilities Management’s planning and business cycles. The Plan is externally audited by the ISO14001 accredited auditors. • HEFCE/HESA Estate Management Records: It is mandatory to report Scope 1 emissions (fleet vehicles) annually to HEFCE. Currently, Scope 3 (business and commuting travel) reporting to HEFCE is optional but likely to be made mandatory in the future. • Carbon Trust Standard: The University reports carbon emissions from fleet and business travel to the Carbon Trust in advance of certification against the Standard. The University achieved re-certification in 2013.
University of Central Lancashire Preston PR1 2HE
www.uclan.ac.uk
