Role of the Travel Plan Coordinator

It is essential for a Travel Plan to work successfully that a person be appointed as Travel Plan Coordinator, as they will be the person responsible for the effective implementation of the Travel Plan and the measures it contains. The role of the Travel Plan Coordinator and their responsibilities, which are specific to each individual Travel Plan will be set out within an approved Travel Plan, which needs to be agreed with the Local Planning Authority and/or Transport Authority when required as part of a planning approval. Whilst the role of the Travel Plan Coordinator and their responsibilities will be bespoke to a development, they usually include:

• Implementing Travel Plan Measures

  The Travel Plan will include a package of measures that have been designed to encourage sustainable travel. The Travel Plan Coordinator will be responsible for implementing the measures that they are directly responsible for (setting up car sharing database, producing travel to work leaflet etc.) and ensuring that all other measures have been implemented, such as the installation of secure cycle parking, CCTV and showers etc.

• Liaising with users of the development and promoting sustainable travel

  The Travel Plan Coordinator will be responsible for all matters relating to the promotion of sustainable travel to staff, visitors and customers of commercial developments and the residents at housing developments. This can include the preparation and distribution of sustainable travel information, providing personal journey planning advice, taking part in local and national events such as ‘Bike Week’.

• Liaising with stakeholders, including the Local Planning and Transport Authorities

  As part of a Travel Plan required by a planning approval, it is necessary for the Travel Plan Coordinator to liaise with the Local Planning Authority and/or Transport Authority on a regular basis to obtain information and share ideas, review the Travel Plan on a periodic basis (usually annually) to monitor is effectiveness and to agree new measures required to meet the Travel Plans aims, objectives and targets. The Travel Plan Coordinator will also need to liaise with other interested parties as part of their role, which can include sharing ideas with other adjacent businesses or developments, working with a Transport Authority to obtain/development information to pass on to users and liaising with other groups such as cycle user groups.

• Monitoring the effectiveness of the Travel Plan

  To monitor the effectiveness of a Travel Plan it is necessary to undertake periodic surveys of the travel habits of users, with the data compared against previous survey data and the targets set out in the Travel Plan. Sanderson Associates regularly assist clients with this task and have recently developed an Online Travel Plan Survey Service, which greatly reduces the time and associated costs of undertaking these surveys and can be customised to our client’s specific needs.

• Reviewing the Travel Plan and preparing Action Plans

  It is necessary to undertake periodic reviews of the Travel Plan, usually on an annual basis. These reviews will compare the results of the Travel Plan Surveys against the aims, objectives and targets set out within the Travel Plan. The review will consider what progress has been made to date and what Travel Plan measures have been most effective. An Action Plan is then prepared setting out actions and the Travel Plan measures that are to be maintained and/or developed over the coming year. For Travel Plans that are required as part of a planning approval, it is necessary to consult with the Local Planning Authority and/or Transport Authority, to agree the action plan and conclude the review.