A three year study has been launched to determine the impact of a £15 million investment by the Scottish Government, the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA), and seven local authorities to create innovative transport measures in Scotland’s towns and cities.
Research partners from the University of Aberdeen, Derek Halden Consultancy (DHC) and Integrated Transport Planning (ITP) will collaborate on the study to assess where, why and how the Government's Smarter Choices Smarter Places initiative is making an impact on travel choices and opportunities.
Announced by Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson in August 2008, the investment aims to save people money, improve their health, build stronger communities and improve the environment.
The investment in the towns of Barrhead, Kirkintilloch/Lenzie, Dumfries, Dundee, Glasgow East, Kirkwall, and Larbert/Stenhousemuir, will include new infrastructure, innovative marketing techniques, financial incentives, streetscape improvements and more sharing of vehicles to make better use of urban space and create healthier and cleaner places to live and work.
The research team will survey people from the participating towns to establish whether the potential benefits of the scheme are being achieved and suggest ways to improve the effectiveness of delivery.
The research project will run until June 2012, and interim findings in 2009 and 2010 will be used to refine the programme delivery to ensure better value.
The survey programme will be delivered by teams from MRUK and Count on Us.
Project Director Professor John Nelson, Director of the Centre for Transport Research at the University of Aberdeen said: "The study aims to provide a clear picture of where and how the Scottish Government Smarter Choices Smarter Places initiative provides communities with transport choices which are financially and environmentally effective and beneficial in terms of improving health and strengthening community spirit."
Project Manager Derek Halden, Director of Derek Halden Consultancy said: "The research will separate the wheat of effective change from the chaff of ineffective initiatives. By helping to show what works, the knowledge gained will help Scotland to become a leader in sustainable transport strengthening the economy, creating a fairer society and improving the environment."
Director of ITP Nick Ayland added: "This is a great opportunity for producing robust evidence on what smarter choices measures work, how they interact with infrastructure measures, where they work and why they work. Scottish Government is grasping the nettle on this key issue, but its importance goes way beyond Scotland's national boundaries."
For further details contact Professor John Nelson on 01224 272354, Derek Halden on 0131 524 9610, or Nick Ayland on 0115 988 6905.