Smart Network, Smarter Choices, CENTRO

THE CHALLENGE

The Smart Network, Smarter Choices LSTF programme was established by Centro in partnership with the seven West Midland local authorities. The employer engagement programme aimed to provide employees of large employers, industrial estates, business parks and trip generators on key transport corridors with information and infrastructure aimed at encouraging greater use of sustainable travel modes and a reduction in single occupancy car use.

The employer programme which included provision of a range of employee incentives including cycle training, discounted public transport tickets, information provision and encouragement to be more active also included a grant to employers of up to £10,000 match funded for the employer to put towards on-site sustainable travel facilities and initiatives.

SYSTRA’S ROLE

We led the employer engagement which led to over 150 businesses with a combined total of over 100,000 employees participating in the programme. Our role following initial sign up included developing site specific travel plans, liaising with the stakeholders to deliver appropriate travel plan measures, delivering the grant programme and undertaking monitoring at each of the sites. We maintained contact with the sites throughout the programme providing support and encouragement to key contacts to ensure momentum was maintained.

Following the completion of the main programme several of our team have been retained on secondment to continue the employer engagement programme.

Monitoring of the programme revealed that a 4% reduction in single occupancy car use had been achieved over the 12 month monitoring period with a 5% modal shift away from single occupancy car use within 2 years resulting in a benefit cost ratio of 5:1.