UWTSD – Travel Plan 2015 - 18

Contents

1.Executive Summary

2.Background

3.Travel Survey 2013-14 - Past, present and future travel patterns

Headlines

Implications

4.Key Areas of Focus

5.Travel Plan Targets

Strategy for Target Development

Travel Plan Measures

Funding and Resources

Monitoring and Review

6.Travel Plan Management

Management of the Plan

Annual Action Plans

Travel Plan Co-ordination and Delivery

Governance Arrangement

Partnership Working

Additional context

Wider Impacts

7.Travel Plan Measures and Initiatives

Car Parking

Public Transport

Connectivity of the Campus to the Bus Network

Season Ticket Discounts

Electronic Ticketing

Information Provision

Visitors

Business Travel and Vehicle Fleet

Working Practices

Walking and Cycling

Cycle to Work Salary Sacrifice Lease Scheme

Car Sharing

Car Club

Active Travel Ethos

Active Travel Strategy

Travel Information and Marketing

Website and Intranet

Awareness Events

Personalised Journey Plans

Information Guides and Packs

1.Executive Summary

This University of Wales Trinity Saint David Travel Plan framework document has been formulated in line with the University’s wider estates strategy; and which reflects the substantive change which is planned for the university’s estates portfolio. A new development in the Innovation Quarter of Swansea (SA1) will have a significant impact in reducing the overall m2 of the total estates holdings in Swansea but will also cause additional pressure for parking and public transport to be available at this new development site; it does, however, provide a clear opportunity to design-in sustainable transport options. Also the S4C development in Carmarthen will have significant impact if measures are not taken to manage vehicles coming onto site.

As in other major institutions, many staff experience difficulties in travelling to work; at all of our sites, car parking is restricted and driving to work is becoming increasingly difficult and time-consuming. A Travel Plan aims to actively encourage alternative means of commuting to the University other than as a single occupant in the carby providing more assistance to staff who are considering sharing car journeys, switching to public transport or, if they live close enough, using bicycles or walking.

The setting of Targets against which the success of the travel plan can be measured, will be introduced after aninitial period of monitoring sufficient to have confidence in the baselines to be used.

This Travel Plan framework (Green Transport Plan) presents a long-term management strategy for delivering sustainable transport and associated lifestyle objectives through action, which is articulated in a document that is regularly reviewed. It involves the development of a set of mechanisms, initiatives and targets that together will enable the University to reduce the impact of travel and transport on the environment, whilst bringing a number of other benefits for students, staff and local communities.

2.Background

University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD) has campuses in geographically dispersed locations with the main sites being in and around Swansea’s city centre as well as in the rural towns of Lampeter and Carmarthen. The Wales International Academy of Voice is located in Cardiff and the University has a Business School in London for international students.

New development at the Innovation Quarter Swansea, SA1 (in particular) and the bringing of new site for S4C, adjacent to the Carmarthen campus, will have a significant impact on university travel. In respect of this development there are specific Travel Plans which also forms an important element of the planning process for both SA1 and S4C.

The University has 10491 registered students;and is a major employer with 1554 staff.

Location / Number of Students
2013/14 (Total Student Numbers)
Swansea / 6173
Carmarthen / 2912
Lampeter / 1406
Total / 10491
Carmarthen Campus / Swansea Campus / Lampeter Campus
Academic staff
(inc. Snr. Mgt but
exc. PT Lecturers) / 206 / 214 / 87
APT & C staff
(inc. Student Support
Workers but exc. Casual staff) / 332 / 370 / 125
Operational staff
(cleaners, kitchen
assistants etc.) / 73 / 115 / 32
TOTAL 1554 (EMPLOYEES) / 611 / 699 / 244

Students looking for accommodation in Swansea choose to live in halls of accommodation at Townhill campus or within close range of the City Centre, where there is a sufficient supply of residential property, with convenient public transport links. Car parking is therefore not provided for Swansea students except:Townhill campus(annual charge applies), disabled badge holders and those attending evening classes (subject to available space in the staff car parks).

Historically student parking has been available at both Carmarthen and Lampeter Campuses, however increasing car-usage and ownership has increased pressure on parking availability and as part of this travel plan, measures are to be introduced to actively manage the demands of parking including the potential introduction of on-site permits and parking charges at Carmarthen and Lampeter in the first instance.

Staff live over a very wide area some travelling quite substantial distance to and from remote rural locations; many not well served by public transport. It is therefore important for staff recruitment and retention to ensure that those who need to use cars can do so.

3.Travel Survey 2013-14 - Past, present and future travel patterns

Headlines

A travel survey of existing staff and students was undertaken in December 2014. All staff and students located across all the University’s sites (Swansea, Carmarthen, Lampeter, Cardiff and London) were surveyed capturing commuter travel and cross campus business travel.

The 2013/14 Travel Survey received 849 responses – 353 (41%) responses were staff and 496 (59%) were students; Cardiff and London, however were excluded from the analysis due to an insignificant number of responses.Students represented the majority (59%) of participants, with the highest representation of both staff and students (51%) coming from the Swansea campus.

The survey revealed that the majority of staff members travel to campus five days a week (66%) and the commute is most often between 5-10 miles (Swansea) or 10-25 miles (Carmarthen and Lampeter). Staff members travel mostly by car (71%) and as the only passenger in the vehicle (75%). The majority of students, on the other hand, (30%) spend four working days at their primary campus to which they travel mostly by foot (37%) or car (40%). Of the staff responses 46% were based in the Swansea campuses.

Business Travel - Mileage and Emissions

The University is working towards reducing its overall business associated travel emissions, in developing this Green Travel Plan.

During the 2013/14 academic period university staff travelled 1,830,944 miles through business travel via means of car rental, air and rail travel, resulting in the production of 387,871 kg/CO2e.

Historically travel surveys have been conducted tri-annually from 2002, however with the substantial changes which have already occurred and which are planned these surveys will now be conducted annually – this policy may be reviewed if it is felt the frequency should be extended.

Implications

In terms of cross-campus travel, the survey implies that any travel scheme should be targeted at staff members, as students rarely have reason to visit other campuses. Additionally, since the majority of staff (43%) reported they rarely make such a journey, an inter-campus travel scheme should thus target the 31% of staff members with reason to make weekly or monthly trips, 78% of which use their own car rather than relying on public transportation or a University pool car. 72% of staff and 44% of students travel to the University by car and, of these, almost half drive as the only passenger in the vehicle. The majority of respondents agreed that they might be interested in participating in a car sharing scheme if one were made available at the University.It is important to note that information regarding the extent and usage of a “grey fleet” was not captured in the survey data; this is considered in the following chapter.

4.Key Areas of Focus

The key areas of focus for the Travel Plan are:

  • Single vehicle occupancy;
  • Cross campus travel; and
  • Car parking.

The key areas of focus for the University wide Travel Plan agenda have been informed by the 2014 travel survey and are set out below.

Single Vehicle Occupancy

  • Introduction of a car share scheme for staff and students including incentives such as conveniently located spaces and priority for permit allocation and/or reductions in charges to incentivise the scheme. Introduction of AMP camera to assist, monitor and manage university car parks.

Cross Campus Travel

  • Further investment and promotion of video conferencing facilities throughout the university accompanied by senior management ownership, and policy development. Hot-desking rooms also to be utilised as private 1-2-1 video conference meeting rooms for staff.
  • Investigation and costing of the use of a shuttle bus(es) to run at regular intervals between the Carmarthen and Swansea Campuses – to buy or to lease (likely preferred option) and likely costs of hire/purchase and drivers and insurance. An on-line booking system to encourage car-sharing will be recommended which can be accessed from all campuses.
  • Development of a cross campus car sharing policy. Review of the university pool cars and fleet; investing in low emission/eco-vehicles as part of the universities wider sustainable commitments.

Car Parking

  • Introduction of car parking control measures across the university’s Swansea, Carmarthen and Lampeter campuses in the form of permits, or pay and display parking for both staff and students;
  • Frequent sustainable travel promotional events to encourage engagement by staff and students in sustainable travel practices; and
  • Investigate partnership working with local bus companies to provide discounted travel for both students and staff.

Grey Fleet Transport

A grey fleet consists of vehicles used for business travel which are not owned by the organisation. These include privately rented vehicles, employee-owned vehicles, or those purchased through an employee-ownership scheme. The organisation reimburses drivers using a cash allowance or other personal finance scheme, usually on a pence per mile basis. The University’s mileage rate is currently £0.45 per mile reimbursed for the first 160 miles of an individual journey and £0.25 per mile in excess. Within the University, grey fleet users can range from excessive, frequent drivers to those who may use their own car on a rare trip or when a pool car or public transportation is unavailable.

In order to be certain that drivers are properly insured and the vehicle adheres to both University and UK safety and environmental regulations, it is necessary for the organisation to thoroughly maintain an effective management and monitoring plan. Though it is a requirement for staff to hold a valid driver’s license, have business insurance cover on the vehicle, and confirm that the vehicle is legally compliant, the University currently does not have basic procedures in place for checking these conditions for grey fleet drivers.

According to the Office of Government Commerce ( the cost savings for an organisation are up to 20% for a lease car and up to 45% for a daily hired vehicle more than the mileage reimbursement for a grey fleet vehicle.

Moving away from a grey fleet and adopting a more practical strategy will help to remove unnecessary mileage, minimise risk, and promote a more environmentally efficient and cost effective travel solution.

Addressing the University’s Grey Fleet

The current grey fleet scheme poses many challenges to the University’s travel practices. A shift to a more engaging system will enable the University to better monitor and control business travel, save money, and reduce its carbon footprint. The University is investigating its own approach to address its current grey fleet. For instance, it is considering the possibility of working with a national rental company to introduce a fleet of pool cars for employees to use for business travel. This will include an online system which will allow staff members to check the availability of a car and reserve it. It will also monitor the distance and frequency of journeys taken and by which departments, which will assist in creating an even more efficient University-wide transportation plan.

5.Travel Plan Targets

Strategy for Target Development

Targets are measurable goals, which are set in order to assess whether the objectives of the Travel Plan are being achieved. Travel Plan targets that are specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and time-bound (SMART) will be developed and expanded following the completion of baseline surveys with staff and students. Travel Plan targets that measure the performance in relation to achieving the objectives will be established.

It is proposed that modal split targets relating to different journey purposes (i.e. student, staff and cross campus travel, business journeys) will be set, as well as targets relating to specific Travel Plan measures. The targets for SA1 specifically will be discussed and agreed with the City and County of Swansea before being adopted within the Travel Plan. The targets will be set for the SA1 campus following completion of the baseline travel survey and data collection at 6 months following first occupation. In order to give the Travel Plan direction, indicative modal split targets have been set for student and staff travel to campus based on 2014 travel survey results for students and staff based at the Swansea campus and are set out in Table 6.1.

For the SA1 development, the indicative targets are for a 17% reduction in car travel by students and staff, which is in line with the car travel reduction forecast by the traffic assessment for the new campus based on the good accessibility of SA1 by sustainable modes of transport, its accessibility to the city centre and the implementation of this Travel Plan and associated measures. Introduction of new university–wide targets are to include a decrease in costs associated with travel expenses of 5% annually for faculties and operational units, and the active promotion of the use of video conferencing facilities and the use of Lync.

Table 6-1: Indicative Travel Plan Targets

Current modal split by car (based on 2014 travel survey) / Target modal split by car
Staff / 60.3% / 50.0%
Student / 35.7% / 30.0%

Travel Plan Measures

UWTSD welcomes the opportunity to share data, benchmark and make publically available all Travel Plans, measures and incentives. It seeks commitment from all local stakeholders to buy into this opportunity and do the same. The University is committed to reducing single car occupancy travel for both staff and students. It is also committed to helping to reduce its impact on the environment locally, regionally and nationally. A number of additional areas have been identified where relevant measures will be researched and implemented, for example more sustainable working practices, fleet management and the promotion of eco-driving.

Generic targets are:

  • Continue to increase the number of staff and students cycling;
  • Continue to increase the number of staff and students walking;
  • Continue to increase the number of staff and students travelling by bus;
  • Reverse the decline in the number of staff and students car sharing; and
  • Reduce the number of staff and students single occupancy car journeys.

Specific targets are to be set against baseline figures – once accurately established.

The following measures are likely to be implemented as part of the travel plan:

• Public Transport Information for all staff

• Travel Plan Website

• Consultation events with local and national stakeholders

• Car Sharing Scheme

• Improved Car Parking Management to reflect sustainable travel policies.

• Provision of improved walking and cycling facilities and Bicycle Users Group

Funding and Resources

The University will work with external organisations to deliver this plan. The University is fully committed to the objective and targets given in this Travel Plan, utilising a number of funding sources to financially support it.Additional sources of financial assistance for the measures contained within the travel plan may include:

  • Capital building investment – construction of public transport facilities, installation of cycling-supportive facilities, including parking, changing and showering amenities, and maintaining foot paths.
  • Public Realm commitment – installation of cycle facilities, maintaining foot paths and way finding improvements.
  • Sport and Exercise and Health – commitment to fitness initiatives.
  • Local Sustainable Transport Fund monies that support student cycling and public transport enhancements.

Monitoring and Review

Data will be collected to establish a baseline of travel behaviour, which will enable the Travel Plan to be monitored over time through undertaking repeat surveys. Travel patterns will be collected through a number of data sources, which may include:

  • Travel Survey– to determine travel patterns, modal share and propensity to travel by other modes and car share;
  • Vehicle tripgeneration– establish vehicle trip generations by the campus and vehicle occupancy rates;
  • Car sharemembership – numbers together with potential and actual matches (if a car sharing scheme is introduced);
  • Cycle and pedestrian counts – to establish actual travel on foot and by cycle, together with counts of the number of cycle parked on campus;
  • Car parking counts – undertaken to determine the extent the site is catering for parking demand; and
  • Site overview – a general assessment of the campus, including parking, footpaths, overhanging vegetation and street lighting.

Monitoring will be undertaken to assess whether the objectives and targets identified in this plan have been achieved. Travel Plan monitoring will follow a standard approach annually. An indicative monitoring framework is outline below, which will be formalised as part of the on-going work on the UWTSD wide Travel Plan, so that a standard monitoring approach across all University campuses is undertaken. The Indicative monitoring framework includes: