Bridging Mobility Gaps: Improving Connectivity and Mobility Access (ICMA)
The overarching objective of the ICMA project (which is funded via INTERREG IVB) is to reduce the environmental impact of transport throughout North West Europe. By focusing on the creation of effective alternatives to private car use, the Bridging Mobility Gaps: Improving Connectivity and Mobility Access (ICMA) initiative brings together experts from the University of Aberdeen’s Centre for Transport Research (CTR) alongside key European partner institutions in Germany, Switzerland, Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands. The three year project (which runs until October 2011) will aim to deliver a wider range of accessible, cost effective and sustainable transport choices for the public with the hope of promoting alternative modes of travel. Particular focus will be given to the delivery of door to door public or private transport options which allow people to complete the first and final miles of their journey home without using a car. In essence the ICMA project aims to reduce private car usage by bridging the mobility gap where there is a missing link in getting efficiently and effectively from A to B in a manner which is both accessible and cost effective. From walking and cycling to bus travel, the project will consider a wide range of transport modes and tackle the technical, economic and social factors which present challenges in the delivery of such services. The proposed outcomes of the project will include the creation of software applications to enhance and promote the use of transport systems and the training of nearly 1000 people to help in the promotion of the initiative at a local level. In summary, the initiative is about pooling the substantial expertise which exists amongst local authorities and transport operators in the North West of Europe to create a “competence hub” of knowledge.
CTR will work closely with partners to develop a cost and pricing model for the sustainable delivery of flexible and demand responsive transport services. This will enable us to develop an understanding of the key cost parameters of multi-modal mobility and Demand Responsive Transport (DRT) offers; to create a transparent bases for optimizing costs and integrating services across different operators; to facilitate pricing of flexible transport provision delivered by more than one service provider (cost-to-operator); and to model and test different pricing approaches for multi-modal mobility and DRT (cost-to-customer). CTR are also the lead partner for developing future technology scenarios for mobility management.
ICMA is led by the Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive (GMPTE)