People’s Award shortlist announced

The shortlist for the inaugural People’s Award - which celebrates the positive impact of transport planning projects on communities – has been revealed by the Transport Planning Society. The shortlist includes a vintage bus route in Sevenoaks that has reportedly boosted the local economy, an employee cycling club for a major car maker in the West Midlands, a community parklet in Hackney and a shared walking and cycling route in Scotland.

The People’s Award is part of the programme led by the Transport Planning Society with support from Arup, Aecom, PBA now part of Stantec, Atkins (a member of the SNC-Lavalin group), Meridian, Steer and Systra. The competitive judging process is led by Stephen Joseph OBE, former chief executive of the Campaign for Better Transport. The winner will be announced at the Transport Planning Day on 13 November at the Institution of Civil Engineers in London.

Lynda Addison OBE, Chair of the Transport Planning Society, said: “We’re delighted with the wide range of quality entries we received from communities across the UK. It was very hard to reach a final shortlist and the calibre of submissions was good. The whole process – from judging to the final winner - sends a positive message to professionals about what is important to communities in terms of transport and best practice in community engagement in transport planning.

“This award recognises the projects and initiatives that have made a genuine contribution to improving people’s accessibility, quality of life and wellbeing and have made such a huge difference to their local communities.”

Lilian Greenwood MP, Chair of the Transport Select Committee, said: “We all rely on transport to connect us to jobs, schools, family, friends and vital services, but it can be easy to forget about the planning that goes into making transport work.

 “These finalists have shown that when communities take centre stage, telling the professionals what good transport looks like, they can deliver real and lasting benefits for local people. I congratulate all the projects who have been shortlisted for this important award, and it was great hearing more about them when they visited the House of Commons today.”

 Victoria Hills, Chief Executive of the Royal Town Planning Institute, and former Chair of the Transport Planning Society, said: “Congratulations to all the finalists of these awards. The work that transport planners do is vital to ensure the connectivity of communities with essential services and jobs whilst balancing environmental and other issues. I am delighted that these awards recognise the importance of the work of transport planners in the UK. “ 

This year’s finalists are: 

• Cycle Centres in Broxtowe
• Hackney Community Parklet
• Jaguar Land Rover Solihull Bicycle User Group
• Loch Earn Railway Path
• Sevenoaks Number 8 Bus
• Sevenoaks Vintage Bus