MINISTERIODE FOMENTO

CENTRO DE ESTUDIOSY EXPERIMENTACIÓNDE OBRAS PÚBLICAS

DIRECCIÓN GENERALDE PLANIFICACIÓN YCOORDINACIÓN TERRITORIAL

SECRETARÍA DE ESTADO DE INFRAESTRUCTURAS Y PLANIFICACIÓN

Professor Tony May

Institute for Transport Studies

University of Leeds

Encuentro:“Transporte urbano”

Madrid, 18 de noviembre de 2004

Urban Transport Plans: is there a role for national government?

Urban Transport Plans: is there a role for national government?

Professor Tony May

Institute for Transport Studies

University of Leeds

Urban Transport Plans

• Why are urban transport plans needed?• What is the case for national government

involvement?• How might national government support

urban transport plans?• What form might such plans take?• The example of Local Transport Plans in

England

Why are urban transport plans needed?

• Urban areas are the focus of many problems– Congestion costs 0.5% of GDP

• and is likely to double in the next decade

– Most urban residents suffer excessive pollution• 97% exposed to excess particulates

– Traffic noise affects many residents• 100m exposed to levels above 55dBA

– Most traffic accidents are in urban areas• 70% of all accidents, 50% of fatalities

The vision for sustainable urban transport

• Supports freedom of movement, health, safety, quality of life now and in the future

• Is environmentally efficient

• Supports a vibrant, inclusive economy, giving access to opportunities and services for all

Source: DGEnv Working Group on Sustainable Urban Transport

Why are urban transport plans needed?

• There is a wide range of possible solutions– Some more cost effective than others– Some more likely to have adverse impacts

• An integrated approach is preferable– But can be difficult to design

• There is a wide range of actors– All of whom need to know what is planned– And all of whom need to be committed

The vision for sustainable urban transport

• Promotes more rational use of private cars• Favours energy efficient, clean vehicles• Provides a quality public transport network• Strengthens the share of walking, cycling• Makes efficient use of land• Manages transport demand• Is integrated, involves all stakeholdersSource: DGEnv Working Group on Sustainable Urban Transport

What is the case for national government involvement?

• Approaches to sustainable urban transport well understood

• But serious barriers to implementation– Poor policy integration and coordination– Counterproductive institutional roles– Unsupportive regulatory frameworks– Weaknesses in pricing and finance– Poor data quality and quantity– Lack of political will

Source: Implementing sustainable urban transport policies: ECMT

What is the case for national government involvement?

• Acknowledging urban transport problems– As of direct concern to the nation

• Providing leadership, vision– To stimulate local politicians, professionals

• Encouraging best practice– Accepting that local skills may be variable

• Ensuring equitable allocation of funds– In a cost-effective way

How might governments support urban transport plans?

• Establishing a clear vision of sustainable urban transport

• Creating a framework for action– Objectives, indicators, appraisal, monitoring

– Range of policy instruments

– Stakeholder involvement

• Offering guidance to promote sustainable urban transport

Source: DGEnv Working Group on Sustainable Urban Transport

How might governments support urban transport plans?

• Making financial support conditional on acceptable plans– Consistent financing for all policy measures

• Setting appropriate regulatory frameworks– For public transport, vehicle safety, emissions

• Encouraging marginal cost pricing– Which charges for externalities

• Promoting public awareness

Source: DGEnv Working Group on Sustainable Urban Transport

How might governments support urban transport plans?

• Improving governance, coordination– Between transport and land use– Between transport and other sectors – Between authorities in a region– Between the public and private sector– Between different tiers of government– With stakeholders and interest groups

Source: DGEnv Working Group on Sustainable Urban Transport

What form might plans take?

• Guidance available from PROSPECTS– Procedures for Recommending Optimal

Sustainable Planning of European City Transport Systems

– Providing cities with guidance in generating optimal land use and transport strategies to meet the challenge of sustainability in their particular circumstances

– Funded by EC DG Research

The Decision Makers’ Guidebook

A logical structureObjetivos

(7)

Evaluación de los problemas (8)

Posibles medidas(9)

Predicción de impactosPredicción

de impactos (12)

Scenarios(11)

Barreras(10)

Posibles estrategias(11)

Optimización(14)

Evaluación ex ante de los problemas

(14)

Comparación de soluciones (14)

Implementar(15)

Evaluación ex post de la actuación (15)

Monitorización(15)

Possible objectives

• PROSPECTS suggested objectives– Economic efficiency

– Protection of the environment

– Liveable streets and neighbourhoods

– Safety

– Equity and social inclusion

– Contribution to economic growth

– Inter-generational equity

• Nationally specified or locally selected

Policy instruments

• The PROSPECTS list– Land use measures– Infrastructure provision– Infrastructure management (and services)– Information provision– Attitudinal measures– Pricing

• Need to consider all types of approach

Contribution of policy instrumentsContribution of policy instruments in City Centres

  Efficiencia Medio ambiente Habitabilidad Seguridad Equidad Economia Generaciones futuras

Usos del suelo    

Infraestructuras  

Gestión

Información    

Actitudes    

Cobro por uso de infraestructuras

Key: Contribucion escasa Contribucion grande

Types of barrier

• The PROSPECTS list– Legal and institutional– Financial– Political and cultural– Practical and technological

• Many of which can be reduced by government action

Political barriers in European cities

Barreras de tipo político y cultural

(% ciudades)0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Cob

ro p

or u

so

de

infra

estru

ctur

as

Con

stru

cció

n

de c

arre

tera

s

Importante Poco importante Sin importancia

Key elements of a strategy

• The PROSPECTS list– Reducing the need to travel

– Reducing car use

– Improving public transport

– Improving the road network

• Second stage issues– Freight

– Walking and cycling

– Special needs

Contributions to strategyContribución a la estrategia

Elemento clave de la estrategia

Reducción de la necesidad de viajar

Reducción del nº de viajes en coche

Mejora del sistema de transporte público

Mejora del rendimiento de la red de carreteras

Instrumentos        

Usos del suelo

Infraestructura  

Gestión

Información

Actitud    

Cobro por el uso de las infraestructuras

Clave: Pequeña contribución Gran contribución

The benefits of integration

• One policy measure can complement another by– Reinforcing its benefits– Overcoming financial barriers– Overcoming political barriers– Compensating losers

• E.g.: public transport improvements and road pricing

An integration matrixMatriz de integración de medidas

 Instrumentos

Tipo de contribución

Usos del suelo Infraestructura Gestión Información Actitud Tarificación

Usos del suelo        

Infraestructura      

Gestión    

Información  

Actitud    

Cobro por el uso de las infraestructuras

 

Clave: Refuerzo de los beneficios Superación de barreras financieras Superación de barreras legales Compensación a los perjudicados

Local Transport Plans in England

• Introduced in 2000– Based on 27 years’ experience with

requirements for annual Transport Policies

• Five year plans to 2005– With Annual Progress Reports– Next round of Plans due in July 2005

• Compulsory, with specified structure• Used as basis for government funding

Local Transport Plans in England

• Specified structure– Objectives

• Based on national objectives, with local emphasis

– Problems• Now and in future, based on objectives

– Strategy• With justification, comparison of alternatives

– Specific policies• Based on government guidance

– Performance indicators and targets

Local Transport Plans in England

• Regular assessment of performance– Initial Plans and Annual Progress Reports– Assessed on a five point scale

• Well above average to well below average

– Some financial support withheld for poor performance

– Support and advice for poor performers– National awards for the best performers

Local Transport Plans in England

• The process itself has been evaluated– In two major studies for Department for

Transport– By the Commission for Integrated Transport

• Perhaps too dirigiste to be acceptable in other countries

• But widely welcomed by English local government