TransportXtra https://www.transportxtra.com/ TransportXtra is the fastest route to transport intelligence with the news and archives of leading transport publications including Local Transport Today, New Transit and Parking Review magazine. en-gb TransportXtra https://www.transportxtra.com/images/TransportXtra-Logo.png https://www.transportxtra.com/ Pathways to an inclusive low-car city https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/70684/pathways-to-an-inclusive-low-car-city

In collaboration with University of Westminster’s Active Travel Academy, climate charity We Are Possible have published a report detailing pathways to achieving an inclusive low-car city. It explores the problems experienced by disabled people in our cities, and the impacts of the low-car transition on disabled people. The report's findings translate into a set of specific policy recommendations outlined at the end of this report. With transport accounting for 27% of the UK’s greenhouse gas em

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Analysis Wed, 23 Feb 2022 13:32:00 GMT 70684
Join in today's discussion on local rail https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/66183/join-in-today-s-discussion-on-local-rail

Local Rail: do we need a new business model? When: 14.00-15.30 Friday 17 July The discussion will look at how local rail services can best be secured and developed in the light of the Covid-19 impacts and the legacy position from the pandemic and lockdown. Panellists: Malcolm Holmes, executive director, West Midlands Rail Executive Nicola Forsdike, rail consultant Nigel Harris, the Railway Consultancy Paul Salveson, rail commentator To attend, visit:

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Lead Story Fri, 17 Jul 2020 09:25:00 GMT 66183
UCL study identifies travel needs of people with mental health conditions https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/61524/ucl-study-identifies-travel-needs-of-people-with-mental-health-conditions

Public bodies and transport operators must do more to enable people with mental health conditions to make journeys, states a new report. An online survey by the UCL’s Centre for Transport Studies revealed the main barriers for people mental health issues. Of the 385 respondents, 90% have anxiety issues, 71% suffer from panic attacks, 68% have depression while 51% have difficulty communicating and 45% have memory loss. The survey was supported by a range of organisations including Sustrans

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Regular news Thu, 4 Jul 2019 17:43:00 GMT 61524
The world of MaaS is ever changing and you can help us tell the story https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/61452/the-world-of-maas-is-ever-changing-and-you-can-help-us-tell-the-story

The Landor LINKS Annual Survey of Mobility as a Service is now in its third year. Whatever sector of transport you work in, MaaS is now having an impact either as a planner, providing public transport, bike share, car hire, leasing, payments, operational support, TRANStech. We'd like to hear from you, so please complete the survey to gauge how MaaS – and our hopes and fears for it – are developing. Take part in the survey today Last year we had more interest from the automotive se

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Lead Story Wed, 26 Jun 2019 16:43:00 GMT 61452
Bids open for Scots active travel fund https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/61380/bids-open-for-scots-active-travel-fund Bidding is open to the Scottish Government’s £2m Smarter Choices Smarter Places Open Fund, which provides revenue funding of between £5,000 and £50,000 for actions such as: producing maps of walking routes; holding car-free days; car-sharing and car clubs; bus service improvements; and feasibility studies. Funding is available for 50 per cent of the total project cost, although 25 per cent of match-funding can be in the form of in-kind contributions. The fund is open to l

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In brief Fri, 21 Jun 2019 09:50:00 GMT 61380
EV car club grant for Scotland https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/61373/ev-car-club-grant-for-scotland Transport Scotland has launched a second round of the Plugged-in Households grant fund, which enables social housing providers, third sector and community organisations to procure electric vehicle car clubs. The £500,000 fund is administered by the Energy Saving Trust. The deadline for applications is 23 August.

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In brief Fri, 21 Jun 2019 09:34:00 GMT 61373
EV charging contract for East Midlands https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/61374/ev-charging-contract-for-east-midlands A consortium of public sector bodies in the East Midlands is procuring a framework for the supply of electric vehicle charging infrastructure. Efficiency East Midlands Ltd’s procurement is split into five lots: consultancy; supply; supply, install and maintain; back office solution; and full solution (consultancy, supply, install, maintenance and back office). The four-year call-off contract will start in September this year. Efficiency East Midlands Ltd is a procurement consortium whose m

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In brief Fri, 21 Jun 2019 09:34:00 GMT 61374
New ride-hailing app launched https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/61362/new-ride-hailing-app-launched A new ride-hailing app allows passengers and drivers to strike their own deals, “without interference from algorithms”. Private hire or Hackney carriage drivers who are fully licensed to operate in any UK district can download the ‘xooox’ app for free. Passengers use the app to search for all available minicabs and taxicabs in their vicinity at that particular moment in time, picking their ride based on a range of criteria, including the type of cab, whether it’s ac

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In brief Fri, 21 Jun 2019 08:59:00 GMT 61362
Highways England appoints Ringway for East https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/61358/highways-england-appoints-ringway-for-east Highways England has awarded Ringway a 1-year maintenance and response contract for its East region. The contract covers winter maintenance, incident response, and routine, reactive and cyclic maintenance, and is worth about £28m a year. It commences on 1 October. The East region covers  Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Hertfordshire, Central Beds, Buckinghamshire, Peterborough and Milton Keynes.

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In brief Fri, 21 Jun 2019 08:56:00 GMT 61358
Drop in severance payments reduces TfLs 100k earners https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/61357/-in-severance-payments-reduces-tfl-s-100k-earners The number of Transport for London staff receiving more than £100k remuneration fell 17 per cent last year, from 564 in 2017/18 to 468 in 2018/19.  The fall is largely explained by fewer staff receiving severance payments that took their remuneration over £100,000. Their number fell from 224 in 2017/18 to 117. Staff with a base salary exceeding £100,000 rose from 169 to 171. A further 100 employees had a base salary of £80k-£100k but received total remunerati

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Secondary stories Fri, 21 Jun 2019 08:46:00 GMT 61357
CBE for CIHTs Percy and EWRs chief https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/61355/cbe-for-ciht-s-percy-and-ewr-s-chief

Sue Percy, the chief executive of the Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation for the last seven years, has been awarded a CBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours for services to transport. Also receiving a CBE were: Simon Blanchflower, chief executive officer of the East West Railway Company and a former Network Rail director; Caroline Low, director of airport expansion and aviation and maritime analysis at the DfT; Ian Findlay, chief officer of Scottish charity Paths for All; Mi

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People/people Fri, 21 Jun 2019 08:40:00 GMT 61355
Tugwell is CIHTs new president https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/61354/tugwell-is-ciht-s-new-president Martin Tugwell, director of the England’s Economic Heartland grouping of local authorities stretching from Swindon/Oxfordshire to Cambridgeshire/Hertfordshire, was this week inaugurated as the president of the Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation for 2019/20. He succeeds Matthew Lugg.  

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People/people Fri, 21 Jun 2019 08:39:00 GMT 61354
Good Journey recruits Booker Hodgson https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/61350/good-journey-recruits-booker--hodgson Good Journey, a social enterprise promoting car-free travel to UK visitor attractions, has recruited two new staff: Jez Booker (as marketing manager) and Caryl Hodgson. Good Journey was launched last year and, among other things, awards the ‘Good Journey Mark’ to places that welcome car-free visitors.  Its directors are Jonathan Bray, Tamsin Omond, John Stewart, Nat Taplin, and Phoebe Taplin. It is funded by the Foundation for Integrated Transport and Esmée Fairbairn Foun

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People/people Fri, 21 Jun 2019 08:37:00 GMT 61350
The first steps towards Living Streets https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/61349/the-first-steps-towards-living-streets

Living Streets started life as the Pedestrians Association, a charity launched in 1929 by the journalist Tom Foley OBE and Nobel Peace Prize winner Viscount Cecil of Chelwood. During the 1930s the charity played an influential role in the introduction of the first Highway Code, the driving test, the 30mph speed limit in built-up areas and zebra crossings. The Pedestrians Association became Living Streets in 2001 and now runs the annual Walk to School Week and campaigns on issues such as the dan

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Viewpoint Fri, 14 Jun 2019 14:33:00 GMT 61349
Taking steps in the right direction https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/61348/taking-steps-in-the-right-direction

Living Streets, the UK charity for everyday walking, has celebrated its 90th anniversary by paying tribute to the journalist and diplomat who took the first steps towards making roads better and safer spaces for pedestrians. Thomas Foley was a journalist who worked for a number of London newspapers. Foley loved walking and never learned to drive. Throughout his life he campaigned to improve life for pedestrians as became increasingly concerned about he dangers posed by growing numbers of cars,

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Regular news Fri, 14 Jun 2019 14:28:00 GMT 61348
The changing world of Mobility as a Service and how to keep up https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/61346/the-changing-world-of-mobility-as-a-service-and-how-to-keep-up-

The Annual Survey of Mobility as a Service is now in its third year. Whatever your work in transport, either as a planner, providing public transport, bike share, car hire, leasing, payments, operational support, TRANStech please complete the survey to gauge how MaaS – and our hopes and fears for it – are developing. Take part in the survey today Last year we had more interest from the automotive sector than public transport – but there are developments coming through now whi

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Lead Story Wed, 12 Jun 2019 12:46:00 GMT 61346
GPs offer patients free bike hire in Cardiff https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/61345/gps-offer-patients-free-bike-hire-in-cardiff

Free bike hire is being offered to patients in Cardiff to help improve their health and wellbeing. The pilot scheme, led by Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, is aimed at people with Type 2 diabetes, and those who are overweight or suffering from low mood, anxiety and depression. Cardiff and Vale UHB say the pilot is the first of its kind in the UK. Initially, the pilot will run at two GP practices, Lansdowne Surgery and Fairwater Health Centre, offering a free six-month membership to th

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Regular news Wed, 12 Jun 2019 11:29:00 GMT 61345
New bike hire for Nottingham https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/61328/new-bike-hire-for-nottingham Nottingham City Council is to introduce a new bike hire scheme, funded with a slice of the city’s recently awarded Transforming Cities Fund grant. Nottingham’s existing Citycard Cycles bike hire scheme features just 40 bikes and seven docking stations, and is operated by the council with support from Hourbike for bookings and payment. Rental is charged at £1 an hour and capped at £4 a day. Nottingham and Derby city councils were jointly awarded £8.3m of Transforming

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In brief Fri, 7 Jun 2019 13:51:00 GMT 61328
Cambs CA fails to appoint new chief https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/61316/cambs-ca-fails-to-appoint-new-chief The Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority has appointed joint interim chief executives John Hill and Kim Sawyer to the post permanently after a recruitment process failed to find a suitable full-time candidate. Martin Whiteley quit as chief executive last year, amid reports of a falling out with mayor James Palmer.

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In brief Fri, 7 Jun 2019 13:02:00 GMT 61316
Ellis replaces Norman at DfT https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/61279/ellis-replaces-norman-at-dft

Northampton North MP Michael Ellis (pictured) has been appointed minister of state at the DfT, replacing Jesse Norman who has moved to the Treasury to become financial secretary. Ellis was a parliamentary under secretary at the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport. His responsibilities are: cycling; walking; electric and autonomous vehicles; the future of mobility; Highways England; international vehicle standards; light rail; local roads policy and funding; the major road network; m

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People/people Fri, 7 Jun 2019 09:03:00 GMT 61279
Gordon leaves Mott for own consultancy https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/61278/gordon-leaves-mott-for-own-consultancy Andrew Gordon has left Mott MacDonald, where he was a technical director, and set up Andrew Gordon Consulting Ltd, specialising in transport modelling and economics.

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People/people Fri, 7 Jun 2019 09:00:00 GMT 61278
Harris joins Markides from Steer https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/61277/harris-joins-markides-from-steer Matt Harris has joined consultant Markides Associates as a director in its transport team. He joins from Steer, where he had worked for seven years, latterly as an associate.

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People/people Fri, 7 Jun 2019 08:58:00 GMT 61277
Senior staff changes at Sustrans https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/61276/senior-staff-changes-at-sustrans Active travel charity Sustrans has appointed John Lauder deputy chief executive and national director for Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Grace Martin takes Lauder’s old post as Scotland director – she was deputy director for Scotland. Daisy Narayanan has been appointed Sustrans’ first director of urbanism. She is currently on secondment to the City of Edinburgh Council, leading its city centre transformation project. The secondment runs for another year

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People/people Fri, 7 Jun 2019 08:53:00 GMT 61276
ONeil is Arrivas UK bus chief https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/61275/o-neil-is-arriva-s-uk-bus-chief Arriva has appointed Paul O’Neil its UK bus managing director, succeeding Kevin O’Connor who left the business last September. O’Neil joins from Rolls-Royce where he had worked for 31 years, most recently as executive vice president for engine assembly and test within civil aerospace.

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People/people Fri, 7 Jun 2019 08:50:00 GMT 61275
Johnson sets up Placemaking https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/61274/johnson-sets-up-placemaking Daniel Johnson has left his position as director of placemaking at London’s New West End Company to set up his own consultancy, Placemaking Ltd. Johnson previously worked for Transport for London for almost 11 years, including as Central London transport programme manager from 2010 to 2017.

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People/people Fri, 7 Jun 2019 08:49:00 GMT 61274
Moore takes Waterman post https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/61273/moore-takes-waterman-post Waterman Group has appointed Paul Moore as director for infrastructure and environment in London and Southern Counties. He joins from Ridge and Partners.

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People/people Fri, 7 Jun 2019 08:47:00 GMT 61273
Sustrans proposes measures to support disabled cyclists https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/61255/sustrans-proposes-measures-to-support-disabled-cyclists

The Blue Badge, Motability and Cycle to Work schemes should be offered to disabled people using bikes, says Sustrans. This would remove some of the barriers to cycling that many disabled people face, believes the walking and cycling charity. “The Blue Badge scheme should be extended so that disabled people can use it with their cycle for better access,” said Tim Burns, Sustrans’ senior policy and partnerships advisor.  A growing number of high footfall city and town cent

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Regular news Thu, 6 Jun 2019 15:49:00 GMT 61255
Campion to head up TRLs parent group https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/61254/campion-to-head-up-trl-s-parent-group

Paul Campion will be the new group chief executive of the board of TRF, the holding company of transport research body TRL. Campion was until recently the chief executive of the Transport Systems Catapult where he worked with government and industry partners developing collaborative investment projects to deliver innovation and growth in the smart mobility sector. The Transport Systems Catapult was merged with the Future Cities Catapult to create the Connected Places Catapult. Prior to headin

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Regular news Thu, 30 May 2019 11:43:00 GMT 61254
Bradfords new 31m Canal Road Cycleway has opened https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/61199/bradford-s-new-3-1m-canal-road-cycleway-has-opened

Bradford’s new £3.1m Canal Road Cycleway has opened. Providing a missing link in cycling infrastructure between Shipley and Bradford, the cycleway is part of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s £60m CityConnect programme aimed at encouraging more people to travel by bike or on foot.  The 2.3km route runs along Hillam Road, Bolton Lane and Valley Road, ending at Lower Kirkgate, near Bradford Forster Square.  To the north the cycleway links to the existi

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Lead Story Mon, 27 May 2019 14:08:00 GMT 61199
Road safety targets and a Vision Zero approach must be adopted across England says RoSPA https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/61107/road-safety-targets-and-a-vision-zero-approach-must-be-adopted-across-england-says-rospa

The Government should take a lead from Scotland and Wales and adopt road safety targets across England to push down the number of deaths and casualties, according to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA). In 2017, 1,544 people were killed on England’s roads – the most since 2011 – and the number of people killed and seriously injured stood at 23,825, which is way above the 2010-2014 average of 21,283. Yet in Scotland the figures are falling, and while in W

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Analysis Sat, 25 May 2019 16:03:00 GMT 61107
Modelling World 2019 Jacobs supports delegate places for students https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/61099/modelling-world-2019-jacobs-supports-delegate-places-for-students

Modelling World 2019, 4 & 5 June, Birmingham: Supported delegate places for students Our event partner Jacobs is kindly sponsoring 10 full delegate places for students who are interested in sharing ideas about the key issues to be discussed at Modelling World. Please apply, by 28 May, with a CV and top two preferences for morning and afternoon sessions to: juliana.orourke@landor.co.uk Jacobs will ask all student ambassadors to gather at lunchtime at the event reception desk for a group ph

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Analysis Sat, 25 May 2019 11:33:00 GMT 61099
Corethree hits record-breaking milestone of 100000000 mobile tickets sold https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/61100/corethree-hits-record-breaking-milestone-of-100-000-000-mobile-tickets-sold

Corethree, Europe’s leading mobile ticketing and data insights provider, today (21 May 2019) announced that it has reached an unprecedented milestone of one hundred million mobile tickets sold on behalf of its transport operator partners; testament to the growing popularity of mobile ticketing technologies and how m-tickets are becoming the default choice for consumers to travel and experience the smart city.  Corethree provides m-ticketing and cutting-edge data insights to some of

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Lead Story Sat, 25 May 2019 09:19:00 GMT 61100
HE trials driverless dump truck https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/61150/he-trials-driverless-dump-truck Highways England is funding a £150,000 trial of a driverless dump truck on the A14 Cambridge to Huntingdon construction project in Cambridgeshire. The vehicle is programmed remotely to follow a pre-determined route and has the capability to detect and avoid obstacles and other vehicles on its route. Highways England said the widespread use of autonomous dump trucks on its construction projects was likely to be two to three years away.

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In brief Fri, 24 May 2019 11:05:00 GMT 61150
Dilks responds to CoMoUKs London calling https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/61147/dilks-responds-to-comouk-s-london-calling

CoMoUK, the charity that promotes the social, environmental and economic benefits of shared transport, or collaborative mobility, has been on a journey. The organisation started life as Carplus, promoting the benefits of the UK’s car club and car sharing sectors. In 2016 Carplus launched Bikeplus to cater for the growing popularity of public bike share schemes. Last year, the two activities were united under the CoMo name. The organisation performs its charitable mission through education

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Analysis Fri, 24 May 2019 10:56:00 GMT 61147
Monitoring of active travel must improve https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/61134/monitoring-of-active-travel-must-improve- Welsh local authorities have been asked to improve their monitoring of active travel as they were awarded grants by the Welsh Government. Deputy transport minister Lee Waters told Assembly Members that, where active travel paths were built, there was no requirement to install user counters.  “So we’re not really building up the rich baseline information we need to measure growth in usage,” he said. “I’ve asked the local authorities to set up a working group o

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Regular news Fri, 24 May 2019 10:20:00 GMT 61134
TfL to start collecting data on Tube users https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/61126/tfl-to-start-collecting-data-on-tube-users

Transport for London is to start capturing depersonalised wi-fi connection data from millions of London Underground passengers’ phones from early July.       TfL ran a four-week pilot of capturing wi-fi data in 2016 and has developed the system in-house. When a device such as a smart phone has wi-fi enabled, it continually searches for a wi-fi network by sending out a unique identifier – known as a Media Access Control address – to nearby routers.  TfL sa

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Regular news Fri, 24 May 2019 09:53:00 GMT 61126
Drilling into the detail of CCCs zero emission transport vision https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/61118/drilling-into-the-detail-of-ccc-s-zero-emission-transport-vision

Transport inevitably forms a key focus for the Committee on Climate Change’s (CCC) analysis into how the UK economy can achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Putting aviation and shipping to one side, surface transport accounted for 23 per cent of emissions in 2017, of which cars accounted for 14 per cent, HGVs 4 per cent, vans 4 per cent, and buses, rail, and other transport (including mopeds and motorcycles) 1 per cent.  The Committee’s 304-page technical report

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Regular news Fri, 24 May 2019 09:25:00 GMT 61118
Grieve is SEStrans new director https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/61113/grieve-is-sestran-s-new-director

Jim Grieve (pictured) has been appointed director of the South East Scotland Transport Partnership (SEStran). Grieve was SEStran’s head of programmes and interim partnership director during the absence of director George Eckton. Eckton left the organisation late last year.

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People/people Fri, 24 May 2019 09:06:00 GMT 61113
Shoveller leaves Stagecoach Rail for NR https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/61112/shoveller-leaves-stagecoach-rail-for-nr Tim Shoveller, managing director of Stagecoach Group’s UK rail division, has quit to join Network Rail as managing director for its new North West and Central region. Shoveller’s departure comes amid uncertainty over Stagecoach’s future in the UK rail industry, the DfT having disqualified the company from bidding for the East Midlands Trains, Southeastern,?and West Coast Partnership franchises (LTT 12 Apr). The company has launched a legal challenge against the East Midlands Tr

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People/people Fri, 24 May 2019 09:01:00 GMT 61112
Elliott heads TfGMs rail programme https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/61111/elliott-heads-tfgm-s-rail-programme Transport for Greater Manchester has promoted Simon Elliott to head of rail programme. He was a senior project manager.  

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People/people Fri, 24 May 2019 08:59:00 GMT 61111
Cycle Enfields political champion quits https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/61110/cycle-enfield-s-political-champion-quits Daniel Anderson, the deputy leader of the London Borough of Enfield and lead member for the borough’s Cycle Enfield initiative, has stood down after falling out with the council’s leader, Nesil Caliskan. Cycle Enfield includes the borough’s Transport for London-funded Mini-Holland programme. Some of the measures have been controversial but were strongly defended by Anderson.

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People/people Fri, 24 May 2019 08:56:00 GMT 61110
Chris Martin Obituary https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/61108/chris-martin-obituary

Chris Martin (pictured), head of business development at public transport consultant the TAS Partnership, has died following a long battle with cancer. Martin joined TAS in 2008 as a senior consultant and served as a director from 2012 to 2017. He previously worked in the bus and rail industries, latterly as a depot manager for Arriva North East (2004 to 2008). 

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People/people Fri, 24 May 2019 08:41:00 GMT 61108
TfL to convert and rebase London ONE model into Aimsun Next https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/61104/tfl-to--and-rebase-london-one-model-into-aimsun-next

Aimsun has a long working history with TfL, and its software is already licensed to TfL through the city’s Strategic Modelling Framework and the Operational Modelling Frameworks, which were put in place back in 2015 and recently extended to 2020. The idea behind this current project is not only to consolidate existing models into an integrated, multi-level platform for modelling the city’s transport — with all the efficiency, consistency and cost reduction that this implies &m

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Lead Story Thu, 23 May 2019 15:31:00 GMT 61104
Glasgow launches ambitious zero carbon programme https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/61102/glasgow-launches-ambitious-zero-carbon-programme

With Scotland having set itself a target of net zero carbon emissions by 2045, both Glasgow and Edinburgh will start work on a range of programmes to ensure they reach this target, with both cities unveiling ambitious plans to cut greenhouse emissions to a neutral level. Glasgow wants to reach the target "well before" 2045, while Edinburgh has set its target to 2030. Glasgow has already established the first Low Emission Zone outside of London, while the UK’s biggest onshore wind far

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Analysis Thu, 23 May 2019 10:57:00 GMT 61102
Make using the bus as easy as ordering pizza https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/61103/make-using-the-bus-as-easy-as-ordering-pizza Bus operators can best secure their future by serving young passengers better, says independent watchdog Transport Focus, as it publishes a new report and video. Overall satisfaction for young bus passengers (16 to 18-year olds) has risen to 80 per cent (from 77 per cent in 2017), however they remain the least satisfied group of passengers. Transport Focus has published Making bus a better choice for young people – a good practice guide

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Executive summary Thu, 23 May 2019 10:54:00 GMT 61103
Swecos acquisition expands UK interest https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/61083/sweco-s-acquisition-expands-uk-interest Engineering consultancy Sweco UK has bought MLM Group, a privately-owned engineering, environmental and building control consultancy. MLM Group  employs 460 people in 13 offices, predominantly in London, Southern England and Ireland, and has an annual revenue of about £40m. Earnings before interest, tax and depreciation are about £4m. Sweco said the acquisition would create a £108m turnover business with 26 offices and 1,340 employees across the UK and Ireland. Max Joy, pr

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In brief Fri, 10 May 2019 13:31:00 GMT 61083
Lets talk about Healthy Streets https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/61079/let-s-talk-about-healthy-streets A transport consultant says councils should contact her if they are uncertain about whether they can use the phrase Healthy Streets to describe their street improvement programmes. Lucy Saunders, a former consultant on transport and health to the Greater London Authority, has set up her own Healthy Streets consultancy and told LTT in March that she had registered the phrase as a trademark (LTT 29 Mar). Transport for London told LTT last month that it believed it could still use the term, which i

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In brief Fri, 10 May 2019 13:16:00 GMT 61079
Aberdeen eyes lasting legacy from hydrogen fuel cell trials https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/61071/aberdeen-eyes-lasting-legacy-from-hydrogen-fuel-cell-trials Aberdeen City Council is exploring how to ensure the current programme of hydrogen vehicle projects in the city-region turns into a long-lasting sustainable business.  The city-region is a demonstrator for hydrogen fuel cell applications in transport, with funding currently coming from nine EU and UK-funded projects. The area has two hydrogen refuelling stations, at Kittybrewster and the Aberdeen City Hydrogen Energy Storage (ACHES) facility at Cove. The hydrogen is produced at the station

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Regular news Fri, 10 May 2019 12:03:00 GMT 61071
City plans 15mph limits to show active travel rules the Square Mile https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/61063/city-plans-15mph-limits-to-show-active-travel-rules-the-square-mile

If you thought the debate about the appropriate speed limit for urban areas was between 30mph and 20mph, then think again: the City of London Corporation wants the speed limit on all of its roads cut to 15mph. The proposal is one of many eye-catching aspects of a new transport strategy to give pedestrians and cyclists more priority. The strategy also sets a 25 per cent traffic reduction target by 2030 as a “minimum aspiration”.  The Corporation already has a 20mph speed limit a

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Regular news Fri, 10 May 2019 11:34:00 GMT 61063
Poor rural bus provision not an inevitability https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/61060/poor-rural-bus-provision-not-an-inevitability- There is no good reason why rural bus service provision in parts of England has to be so inferior to that of Sweden, Germany and Switzerland, according to a Foundation of Integrated Transport report. Report author John Whitelegg compares bus provision in Shropshire with the three countries. Shropshire Council has cut its bus subsidy budget by £405,000 in 2019/20. Whitelegg is a Shropshire resident and a visiting professor at Liverpool John Moores University.  The report says rural b

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Regular news Fri, 10 May 2019 11:22:00 GMT 61060
Valley Lines transfer business case https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/61054/valley-lines-transfer-business-case Transport for Wales has submitted the first iteration of its business case for the transfer of the Core Valley Lines from Network Rail to Transport for Wales to the UK Government. In March, the Welsh Government voiced concerns that DfT resources diverted to Brexit preparations threatened the asset transfer process (LTT 29 Mar). This week, however, the Welsh Government told a National Assembly for Wales committee that the transfer was planned to occur on 20 September. TfW aims to submit a second

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In brief Fri, 10 May 2019 10:57:00 GMT 61054
Community transport decision delayed https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/61052/community-transport-decision-delayed Welsh traffic commissioner Nick Jones has still not reached a decision following a hearing into a community transport operator’s use of Section 19 and 22 permits last winter (LTT 01 Mar). Jones took evidence on the operations of Mountain Ash-based Accessible Caring Transport on 27 February. The hearing concerned whether the operator’s activities were exclusively non-commercial. Commercial activities would require an operators licence.  At the end of the hearing, he indicated tha

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In brief Fri, 10 May 2019 10:38:00 GMT 61052
North-south transport divide decried https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/61048/north-south-transport-divide-decried “To live outside London and not drive a car is an exercise in resilience and stoicism,” author Lynsey Hanley suggested in The Guardian on 7 May. “In the north-west of England, where I live, public transport exists mainly to drive people bonkers. “Distances that took half an hour to cover in London can take three times as long and cost twice as much,” she said. “Everyday journeys on public transport are blighted by car-oriented planning, deregulation and a lac

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Media monitor Fri, 10 May 2019 10:25:00 GMT 61048
Airport expansion called for despite acknowledgement of carbon concerns https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/61047/airport-expansion-called-for-despite-acknowledgement-of-carbon-concerns

In the aftermath of the Extinction Rebellion climate change protests in London, towards the end of April, there was a significant backlash in the media from those who claim to see no inherent contradiction between the two aims of reducing carbon emissions and supporting economic growth, in particular when it comes to the aviation industry. “It’s time to stop arguing about expanding Heathrow and get on building,” said Jasmine Whitbread, the chief executive of the London First bu

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Media monitor Fri, 10 May 2019 10:21:00 GMT 61047
Carbon capture https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/61043/carbon-capture Once upon a time, there was a world in which  concerns about climate change didn’t exist. Natural disasters occasionally occurred around the world and no one drew links between them, or pointed the finger of blame at man’s carbon dioxide emissions. These were just random events. Stuff happens.  During those days, UK transport policy concentrated on things such as reducing journey times, tackling congestion, improving road safety, growing the economy, social equity and, yes

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Main editorial comment Fri, 10 May 2019 09:50:00 GMT 61043
Why I joined Extinction Rebellion and broke the law https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/61042/why-i-joined-extinction-rebellion-and-broke-the-law After a lifetime of paying my taxes, avoiding parking fines and generally obeying the law, a few days ago I defied an order to leave a protest area, was arrested, went back, was arrested again, and charged (‘Transport academic arrested at protest’ LTT 26 Apr). In the back of a Black Maria I found myself face-to-face with a consultant from one of the top transport consultancies who had just committed a similar offence. “I can’t understand some of my colleagues,” he s

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Letters to the editor Fri, 10 May 2019 09:48:00 GMT 61042
Zanzottera is Sheffields active travel chief https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/61028/zanzottera-is-sheffield-s-active-travel-chief

Sheffield City Region Combined Authority has appointed Pete Zanzottera (pictured) as its active travel project director, working for Dame Sarah Storey who was recently appointed active travel commissioner (LTT 12 Apr). Zanzottera is a sustainable travel consultant.

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People/people Fri, 10 May 2019 08:55:00 GMT 61028
TRLs chief Wallis to retire https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/61027/trl-s-chief-wallis-to-retire Rob Wallis is to retire from his positions as chief executive of the Transport Research Laboratory and parent company the Transport Research Foundation. Announcing that he will step down later this year, Wallis said: “TRL is now at the forefront of new innovations in automation, connectivity, electrification and shared mobility services – and has reasserted its world-recognised relevance.” Wallis joined TRL six years ago from the British Standards Institution. 

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People/people Fri, 10 May 2019 08:53:00 GMT 61027
Fuller joins Road Safety Foundation https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/61026/fuller-joins-road-safety-foundation Kate Fuller has joined the Road Safety Foundation as road safety engineering director. She was TRL’s future mobility and sustainable transport portfolio leader. 

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People/people Fri, 10 May 2019 08:51:00 GMT 61026
Narayanan joins Transport for Edinburgh https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/61025/narayanan-joins-transport-for-edinburgh The City of Edinburgh Council has appointed two new board members to its company, Transport for Edinburgh. Daisy Narayanan is a Sustrans employee who is currently seconded to the council until September to oversee the development of the city centre transformation project. Donald Macleod is a Tesco bank employee and former non-executive director of municipally-owned Lothian Buses.

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People/people Fri, 10 May 2019 08:49:00 GMT 61025
New board appointments at FirstGroup https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/61024/new-board-appointments-at-firstgroup FirstGroup has appointed Ryan Mangold as its new chief financial officer. Mangold was group finance director of homebuilder Taylor Wimpey for eight years until April 2018. Julia Steyn has been appointed an independent non-executive director. She was General Motors’ vice president for urban mobility and Maven until earlier this year. Maven is the personal mobility brand for all of GM’s car- and ride-sharing offerings, including its strategic alliance with US firm Lyft.

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People/people Fri, 10 May 2019 08:47:00 GMT 61024
Wingfield joins PWLC Projects https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/61023/wingfield-joins-pwlc-projects John Paddington has joined Transport for the West Midlands to work on technologies such as driverless cars, mobility as a service (MaaS), and 5G. He joins from Conigital Group, where he was a senior project manager.

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People/people Fri, 10 May 2019 08:45:00 GMT 61023
Plummer to retire https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/61022/plummer-to-retire Rail Delivery Group chief executive Paul Plummer is to retire this autumn.

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People/people Fri, 10 May 2019 08:43:00 GMT 61022
Negotiate or disruption will go on campaigners tell ministers https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/60929/negotiate-or-disruption-will-go-on-campaigners-tell-ministers

Direct action climate group Extinction Rebellion was this week continuing to stage protests in London in an effort to force the Government to take more action to cut carbon dioxide emissions.  More than 1,100 protestors have so far been arrested for taking part in demonstrations that have blocked key parts of central London’s road network including Oxford Circus, Waterloo Bridge and Parliament Square. Elsewhere, protestors smashed up the glass entrance of Shell’s offices, climb

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Regular news Fri, 26 Apr 2019 12:55:00 GMT 60929
Councils get to work exploring PRT option for Glasgow Airport https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/60924/councils-get-to-work-exploring-prt-option-for-glasgow-airport

A personal rapid transit (PRT) shuttle between Paisley Gilmour Street railway station and Glasgow Airport could deliver a journey time between Glasgow city centre and the  airport comparable with building a rail link to the airport, according to councils. Renfrewshire and Glasgow City councils are exploring the  idea of a PRT shuttle between Gilmour Street and the airport following the collapse of plans for  an airport rail branch that would have been served by tram-train vehicle

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Regular news Fri, 26 Apr 2019 12:34:00 GMT 60924
Leeds prepares to procure 1000-bike cycle hire scheme https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/60919/leeds-prepares-to-procure-1-000-bike-cycle-hire-scheme

Leeds City Council is to procure a public bike hire scheme this summer, one year on from Chinese firm Ofo’s decision to abandon the launch of a dockless scheme in the city. The council wants the initial scheme to have 1,000 bikes. Procurement will commence in early summer with the intention of launching the scheme next spring. Last February the council chose Ofo as its preferred operator for a scheme focused on the city centre and surrounding area (LTT 16 Feb 18). Ofo, however, abandoned

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Regular news Fri, 26 Apr 2019 12:21:00 GMT 60919
More active travel cash for Scotland https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/60916/more-active-travel-cash-for-scotland The Scottish Government has allocated £950,000 to a new fund to help social housing landlords make provision for walking and cycling. The Social Housing Fund for Improved Walking and Cycling Facilities is available to housing association and tenement residential properties, and will prioritise areas of high deprivation. Social housing providers can bid for up to £25,000 for infrastructure such as cycle parking shelters, street furniture such as seating, litter bins, bollards and plan

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In brief Fri, 26 Apr 2019 12:12:00 GMT 60916
Crunch meeting to determine future of Bank junction scheme https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/60915/crunch-meeting-to-determine-future-of-bank-junction-scheme

A decision on whether to pursue further traffic restrictions at Bank Junction in the City of London will be made next month. The ‘Bank on safety’ project introduced in 2017 saw all motor vehicles except buses banned from crossing the junction between 7am and 7pm Monday to Friday. The City of London Corporation regarded this as an interim project, ahead of the more substantial ‘All change at Bank’ programme. In January, the Corporation authorised design work to commence

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Regular news Fri, 26 Apr 2019 12:04:00 GMT 60915
We can still use healthy streets TfL https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/60912/we-can-still-use-healthy-streets--tfl Transport for London says it can continue to use the term ‘healthy streets’, although it has now been trademarked by former Greater London Authority officer Lucy Saunders. Saunders has set up a consultancy of the same name and told LTT last month that no one could use the term without her permission, irrespective of whether the first letters of each word were capitalised or not (LTT 29 Mar). A TfL spokesman told LTT: “We understand this won’t affect our use of the words &

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In brief Fri, 26 Apr 2019 11:47:00 GMT 60912
Bath Tories pledge new transport study https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/60910/bath-tories-pledge-new-transport-study The Conservatives on Bath and North East Somerset Council have promised a “comprehensive” transport study for the area if the party is re-elected to power next month. Its manifesto also promises a “bus station feasibility study”. On air quality, the council has dropped plans for a Class D charging clean air zone (CAZ), which would have included cars, in favour of a Class C scheme that will cover taxis, private hire vehicles, vans, buses, coaches, and lorries (LTT 15 Mar).

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In brief Fri, 26 Apr 2019 11:40:00 GMT 60910
Three more Low Emission Bus Zones https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/60909/three-more-low-emission-bus-zones Transport for London has introduced three more Low Emission Bus Zones: Lewisham to Catford; Stratford; and Edmonton to Seven Sisters. More than 1,330 buses across 79 different bus routes enter the zones and all now meet the minimum Euro VI standard. This takes the number of zones to ten. All the capital’s buses are due to meet the Euro VI standard by October next year.

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In brief Fri, 26 Apr 2019 11:38:00 GMT 60909
Oxford to trial EV charging superhub https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/60906/oxford-to-trial-ev-charging-superhub- Oxford is the setting for a project to trial electric vehicle charging from a hybrid battery storage system connected to a National Grid substation.  The £41m three-year Energy Superhub Oxford project is led by Pivot Power LLP. Other partners are Habitat Energy Ltd, the University of Oxford, Oxford City Council, Kensa Contracting Ltd, and RedT Energy (UK) Ltd.  Pivot Power and RedT will install a 50MW hybrid energy storage system to balance more intermittent renewable energy on

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Regular news Fri, 26 Apr 2019 11:32:00 GMT 60906
Research claims NO2 link to kids asthma https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/60904/research-claims-no2-link-to-kids-asthma New research says millions of childhood asthma cases around the world could be attributable to traffic-related nitrogen dioxide concentrations.  The researchers applied statistical analysis to global datasets of asthma incident rates and nitrogen dioxide concentrations. They estimate four million new child asthma cases could be attributable to NO2 annually, citing a 95 per cent confidence interval of 1.8-5.2 million.The research, published in Lancet Planetary Health, says the majority of c

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Regular news Fri, 26 Apr 2019 11:26:00 GMT 60904
US car share firm buys Drivy https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/60892/us-car-share-firm-buys-drivy US car sharing platform Getaround has purchased Drivy, Europe’s largest car sharing platform, for $300m. Drivy, based in Paris, currently operates in France, the UK, Spain, Germany, Belgium and Austria. Of the more than 55,000 cars registered on the platform, 1,400 are in the UK where there are 25,000 users. Vehicles are sourced from private owners and dedicated fleets. Users locate available vehicles using an app, and their phone allows them to open the car and drive away. The combined co

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In brief Fri, 26 Apr 2019 10:31:00 GMT 60892
Beryl Bikes to launch in Poole https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/60891/beryl-bikes-to-launch-in-poole Beryl Bikes is to launch a dockless bike hire scheme in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole this summer under a five-year partnership with the new unitary council for the conurbation. The company plans to have 1,000 bikes on the streets by late summer. Users of the Beryl app will pay 5p per minute for hire, with different payment choices: pay-as-you-ride (with a £1 unlock fee), minute bundles (no unlock fee), or a 24-hour day pass (£12). The bikes can be rented from marked ‘Ber

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In brief Fri, 26 Apr 2019 10:22:00 GMT 60891
Academics unite in Independent to promote child cycling https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/60888/academics-unite-in-independent-to-promote-child-cycling “Cycling to school could become mainstream – but better transport planning is desperately needed,” four transport academics proclaimed in The Independent on 23 April. “Hostile cycling environments, where riders are expected to mix with buses and other large vehicles, are off-putting for commuters, let along for children,” Rachel Aldred (University of Westminster), Anna Goodman (London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine), James Woodcock (University of Cambridge)

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Media monitor Fri, 26 Apr 2019 10:14:00 GMT 60888
Professional bodies must speak out on climate change https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/60883/professional-bodies-must-speak-out-on-climate-change

Regarding the letters from Paul Biggs and Malcolm Heymer (Letters LTT 12 Apr), it is a fact that the concentration of carbon dioxide in the global atmosphere has been rising since the Industrial Revolution, and is doing so exponentially. Moreover, it has been growing in parallel with the rise in the global temperature. That cannot be ignored – nor indeed can its implications for the future as we emit more gases. As for the criticism that their concentration was probably much higher a mill

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Letters to the editor Fri, 26 Apr 2019 09:55:00 GMT 60883
Dont give space to those who question climate orthodoxy https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/60882/don-t-give-space-to-those-who-question-climate-orthodoxy Congratulations are certainly deserved for reaching 30 years of publishing Local Transport Today.  In your editorial you say there is “never any difficulty filling the pages with interesting content”. Yet you include a long comment by a climate denier with no reference to transport (‘An apocalyptic climate article with no foundation in science’).  If you want LTT to be here in the next 30 years perhaps it’s time to focus on the right questions and give l

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Letters to the editor Fri, 26 Apr 2019 09:53:00 GMT 60882
Put buses at the heart of the climate change fight https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/60881/put-buses-at-the-heart-of-the-climate-change-fight It is good to see that Mayer Hillman continues to argue clearly and passionately the case for transport to make its contribution to combating climate change (‘Climate change poses moral questions for the work of transport professionals’ LTT 29 Mar). In 2007 I invited Mayer to speak on this subject when the Association of Transport Co-ordinating Officers held its annual conference in Llandudno. What he said then was very similar to what he says in LTT. I found his address inspiring a

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Letters to the editor Fri, 26 Apr 2019 09:50:00 GMT 60881
Fidler succeeds Pendlebury at DfT https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/60874/fidler-succeeds-pendlebury-at-dft

Stephen Fidler (pictured) is to become the DfT’s new director of local transport. He will succeed Graham Pendlebury who is retiring at the end of May. Fidler is currently deputy director in the DfT’s strategic roads division. He has previously worked in the local transport directorate as head of the local infrastructure division, and head of the buses and taxis division. In the latter position he oversaw the passage of the Bus Services Bill, which became the Bus Services Act 2017.

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People/people Fri, 26 Apr 2019 09:27:00 GMT 60874
Poulton leads Glasgows transport strategy https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/60873/poulton-leads-glasgow-s-transport-strategy Marshall Poulton has rejoined Glasgow City Council as its head of transport strategy. Poulton has been assistant director of transport at Newcastle City Council since June 2017. He ran his own transport consultancy from 2013 to 2017. Before that he was the City of Edinburgh Council’s head of transport (2008 to 2013) and Transport for London’s head of technology and systems (2005 to 2008). From 1995 to 2005 he worked for Glasgow City Council, including as head of traffic and transport

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People/people Fri, 26 Apr 2019 09:06:00 GMT 60873
Cardwell rejoins Jacobs from WSP https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/60872/cardwell-rejoins-jacobs-from-wsp Leighton Cardwell has returned to consultant Jacobs as its director of operations and cities growth director, based in Leeds. He moves from WSP where he had been technical director and discipline lead (north) since December 2016. Cardwell was a technical director at Jacobs from 2013 to 2016. 

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People/people Fri, 26 Apr 2019 09:01:00 GMT 60872
Herts Uni appoints Joseph as visiting prof https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/60871/herts-uni-appoints-joseph-as-visiting-prof Stephen Joseph has been appointed a visiting professor at the University of Hertfordshire’s new smart mobility research unit. Since leaving the Campaign for Better Transport last summer Joseph has run his own consultancy, Stephen Joseph Associates. The university is also launching an urbanism unit.

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People/people Fri, 26 Apr 2019 08:58:00 GMT 60871
Vidler is CPTs new chief executive https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/60870/vidler-is-cpt-s-new-chief-executive Graham Vidler has been appointed chief executive of bus and coach industry body the Confederation of Passenger Transport. He moves from the Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association where he was director of external affairs. Also joining the CPT’s new external relations unit are Tom Brackenbury as external relations manager and Alison Edwards as policy and public affairs manager. Interim chief executive Peter Gomersall is returning to the role of deputy chief executive.

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People/people Fri, 26 Apr 2019 08:53:00 GMT 60870
Wolstenholme departs HS2 board https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/60869/wolstenholme-departs-hs2-board Former Crossrail chief executive Andrew Wolstenholme has left the board of Government company HS2 Ltd less than a year after his appointment last June. Wolstenholme left Crossrail last spring to join BAE Systems, shortly before it emerged that the rail project was running years late and billions of pounds over budget. The DfT has appointed two new non-executive directors to HS2 Ltd: former Birmingham City Council chief executive Stephen Hughes, and Dame Judith Hackett, chair of manufacturing tra

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People/people Fri, 26 Apr 2019 08:51:00 GMT 60869
Co-wheels secures investors https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/60860/co-wheels-secures-investors Car club operator Co-wheels has secured investment and become part of the Oply car sharing network. Co-wheels is part of Oply UK Limited, a new joint venture with investment from Luxemburg-based mobility provider ExaMotive SA, and China’s largest car manufacturer SAIC Motor, the owners of the British motoring brand MG. ExaMotive operates the Oply carshare network currently serving multiple German cities and soon to be rolled out across Europe. Co-wheels currently operates car sharing in

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Regular news Fri, 12 Apr 2019 14:13:00 GMT 60860
Boroughs weigh-up one-way car club model https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/60857/boroughs-weigh-up-one-way-car-club-model The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea looks set to  approve the operation of floating, or one-way, car clubs. Will Pascall, the council’s lead member for streets, planning and transport, told colleague he was “minded” to permit them in the borough. “We have had ‘round trip’ car clubs in the borough for many years, with car club members collecting a car from a designated bay and returning it at the end of the hire period to the same bay. Floating ca

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Regular news Fri, 12 Apr 2019 14:07:00 GMT 60857
Visitor bus service for Peak District https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/60854/visitor-bus-service-for-peak-district The Peak District National Park Authority is inviting bus operators to bid to operate a summertime visitor route in the Hope Valley, connecting with trains on the  Manchester to Sheffield Hope Valley line. The three-year contract for the Edale Explorer requires the service to operate 42 days each summer. Bidders are invited to submit bids for four route options, of which three would start from Edale railway station and also serve Hope station. The fourth option allows operators to propose a

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In brief Fri, 12 Apr 2019 13:59:00 GMT 60854
Police Scotlands focus on inter-urban roads questioned https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/60851/police-scotland-s-focus-on-inter-urban-roads-questioned Police Scotland’s road policing priorities may be based on a flawed understanding of accident casualty distributions, an academic supporter of more 20mph limits has said.  Green MSP Mark Ruskell commissioned Adrian Davis, professor of transport and health at Edinburgh’s Napier University, to consider how the police should approach enforcement of 20mph  limits if the Restricted Roads (20mph speed limit) Scotland Bill   becomes law.   Ruskell’s Bill would ma

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Regular news Fri, 12 Apr 2019 13:52:00 GMT 60851
Rapid charging hubs for capital https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/60828/rapid-charging-hubs-for-capital Transport for London is drawing up plans for electric vehicle rapid charging hubs across the capital for use by taxis and the public.  Julian Bell, London Councils’ transport and environment committee chair, told members that  there would be one such hub site per sub-region of London, and TfL was currently developing designs for the first two sites, in Greenwich and the City of London.  “The hubs will consist of a cluster of rapid charge points to support both taxi a

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Regular news Fri, 12 Apr 2019 12:38:00 GMT 60828
TfL rethinks active travel metric https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/60817/tfl-rethinks-active-travel-metric Transport for London has abandoned work on a method for assessing if active travel investments lead to more physical activity. “Over the last year we have worked with specialist academics looking to identify a suitable [active travel] metric,” it says. “It has been concluded that it is not possible to identify a means of gathering responses to a survey of a large enough sample size from a localised intervention area, meaning we cannot use survey methodology to assess whether o

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Regular news Fri, 12 Apr 2019 11:33:00 GMT 60817
Camden aims to grow stagnant cycle levels https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/60816/camden-aims-to-grow-stagnant-cycle-levels The London Borough of Camden has voiced disappointment with the cycling mode share of its residents.  Camden has delivered numerous schemes to benefit cyclists in recent years, including innovations such as segregated stepped cycle tracks, light segregation on Royal College Street and early release cycle signals at junctions. Further investment is taking place through multiple programmes, such as the central London cycle grid, Cycle Superhighways, and Quietways. Stepped track cycleway prov

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Regular news Fri, 12 Apr 2019 11:31:00 GMT 60816
TfL rebrands cycle routes as Cycleways https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/60815/tfl-rebrands-cycle-routes-as-cycleways Transport for London is to rebrand its Cycle Superhighways and Quietways as Cycleways. Superhighways and Quietways currently have their own numbering systems and no decision has yet been made on how the unified network will be numbered. Signage and road markings on the routes will be changed to reflect the new brand. All future cycle routes funded by TfL will have to meet  new quality standards  (LTT 08 Jan). A TfL spokesman told LTT: “In future, rather than focusing on faster su

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In brief Fri, 12 Apr 2019 11:29:00 GMT 60815
Khans low emission tax attacked on grounds that poor will have to pay it https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/60795/khan-s-low-emission-tax-attacked-on-grounds-that-poor-will-have-to-pay-it

On 2 April London mayor Sadiq Khan used a column in The Times to justify the introduction of an Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) in the capital the following week. “The air in London is a killer,” he began, clearly intending to pull no punches. “Breathing it increases the chance of cancers, strokes, heart disease, diabetes, dementia and asthma. “We know that one of the primary causes of air pollution is filthy fumes from diesel cars, buses, vans motorbikes, lorries and tax

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Media monitor Fri, 12 Apr 2019 10:13:00 GMT 60795
Clean air needs national leadership but councils cant shirk their responsibilities https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/60792/clean-air-needs-national-leadership-but-councils-can-t-shirk-their-responsibilities

ClientEarth has successfully challenged the UK Government in court three times over its failure to get to grips with illegal and harmful levels of air pollution across the country. We have done this to enforce what we know is the Government’s legal, and moral, duty to protect people’s health from toxic air. The UK Government’s response has been to pass the buck to local authorities and we have long argued against this approach. But this is where we are now. Our main concern is

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Viewpoint Fri, 12 Apr 2019 10:05:00 GMT 60792
30 years of change https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/60790/30-years-of-change Thirty years ago this month, some enlightened individuals took a punt in the publishing world. They recognised that the transport sector was awash with single mode publications about buses and trains, and well-served by publications about the nuts and bolts of infrastructure, too. But there was nothing directly targeted at the professional working in the fields of transport policy, planning, and practice. And so it was that, with support from the Association of Transport Co-ordinating Officers a

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Main editorial comment Fri, 12 Apr 2019 09:57:00 GMT 60790
Transport spending shaped by the ballot box https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/60789/transport-spending-shaped-by-the-ballot-box Your editorial (‘Politics and the MRN’, LTT 20 Mar) outlined the astounding level of partisan funding deployed by this Government. Your analysis that Conservatives “have unashamedly used transport as a political tool”, by allocating all of the Large Local Majors Fund pot to Tory constituencies has other parallels that should concern us all. The context for the complaint of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority about the omission by the DfT of busy urban roads in West Yor

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Letters to the editor Fri, 12 Apr 2019 09:54:00 GMT 60789
Trademarking news was no April Fool https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/60788/trademarking-news-was-no-april-fool When I first read your story about a company registering the phrase ‘healthy streets’ as a trademark, I thought it was an April Fool (“‘Healthy Streets’ phrase is trademarked” LTT 29 Mar). Then I looked online and saw that it seemed to be serious.  Clearly, many of us have been missing an opportunity to make some money. Following this precedent I am pleased to announce the formation of my new companies: Filtered Permeability Ltd, Brexit Ltd and Free Spee

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Letters to the editor Fri, 12 Apr 2019 09:46:00 GMT 60788
Mobility scooters must feature in DfTs regulatory review https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/60787/mobility-scooters-must-feature-in-dft-s-regulatory-review

I read with interest of the DfT’s regulatory review regarding micromobility vehicles (‘Regulatory reviews to smooth way for new mobility products’ LTT 29 Mar). However, similar machines, in the form of mobility scooters and powered wheelchairs, have been around for years. In view of changing road conditions over time, a full review is really overdue. There is nothing like losing the ability to walk much, if at all, to restrict someone’s ability to get out of their home a

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Letters to the editor Fri, 12 Apr 2019 09:39:00 GMT 60787
Flawed thinking from the 20mph and climate cults https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/60785/flawed-thinking-from-the-20mph-and-climate-cults- In response to Francis King (Letters LTT 29 Mar), having walked 4,315km in 2018 according to my fitness watch, I have no need to stand on corners.  It is obviously ridiculous to claim that cyclists shouldn’t be overtaken. Cyclists, including myself, will inevitably be overtaken in 20mph limits, particularly when they aren’t cycling at 20mph.  Others can of course cycle faster than 20mph, so I presume Mr King would support speed limit enforcement against cyclists in enforc

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Letters to the editor Fri, 12 Apr 2019 09:20:00 GMT 60785
Bennett succeeds Addison as TPS chair https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/60781/bennett-succeeds-addison-as-tps-chair

Stephen Bennett (pictured) has been appointed chair of the Transport Planning Society  succeeding Lynda Addison who has completed two years of service. Bennett is director of transport consulting at Arup and has been a TPS board member since 2015. Five new members have been appointed to the TPS board: Justin Bishop a senior consultant at Arup; Mark Frost, head of traffic, transport and environmental strategy at the London Borough of Hounslow; Martin Gilmour, a DfT policy advisor curren

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People/people Fri, 12 Apr 2019 09:04:00 GMT 60781
Sheffield City Region CA seeks active travel director to work with Storey https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/60780/sheffield-city-region-ca-seeks-active-travel-director-to-work-with-storey

British Paralympian Dame Sarah Storey (pictured) has been appointed active travel commissioner at the Sheffield City Region Combined Authority, which is led by Labour elector mayor Dan Jarvis. Storey is Britain’s most successful female Paralympian, having won 14 gold medals in swimming and cycling. The combined authority is now recruiting an active travel project director on a two-year contract, due to commence on 23 April. The director will work a minimum of four days a week, taking their

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People/people Fri, 12 Apr 2019 08:59:00 GMT 60780
New MDs for Stagecoach bus operations https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/60778/new-mds-for-stagecoach-bus-operations Stagecoach has appointed new managing directors for its West and East of Scotland bus operations. Fiona Doherty joins to lead the West of Scotland bus operations, succeeding Tom Bridge who left last year. Doherty was Forth Ports’ port manager – East Coast Scotland. Douglas Robertson will lead the East of Scotland operations, succeeding Paul Thomas who died last year. Robertson was the East of Scotland commercial director.  

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People/people Fri, 12 Apr 2019 08:54:00 GMT 60778
Elliott joins MJM Consulting Engineers https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/60777/elliott-joins-mjm-consulting-engineers Rachael Elliott has joined MJM Consulting Engineers in Wakefield as a principal consultant, taking a lead in the delivery of travel planning and development planning. She moves from TPS Transport Consultants, where she was also a principal consultant.

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People/people Fri, 12 Apr 2019 08:48:00 GMT 60777
Launch event for driverless futures https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/60717/launch-event-for-driverless-futures A launch event for a new research project into the governance of automated vehicles will take place  in London on 4 April. ‘Driverless Futures?’ is funded by the Economic and Social Research Council and includes researchers from University College London and the University of the West of England, together with partners from the Government and industry. The project will run to the end of 2021. To register to attend the event visit https://driverless-futures.com/project-launch/

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In brief Fri, 29 Mar 2019 12:12:00 GMT 60717
Well meet NO2 limit by 2021 says Birmingham City Council https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/60695/we-ll-meet-no2-limit-by-2021-says-birmingham-city-council The Government expects Birmingham City Council’s air quality action plan to deliver compliance with the EU annual mean nitrogen dioxide limit “by 2021 at the latest”.  The Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs this month approved Birmingham’s action plan, which includes a Class D charging clean air zone within the city’s ring road (LTT 15 Mar). The 2021 compliance date is contained in a follow-up direction issued to the council.  The Hig

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Regular news Fri, 29 Mar 2019 11:13:00 GMT 60695
Climate change poses moral questions for the work of transport professionals https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/60665/climate-change-poses-moral-questions-for-the-work-of-transport-professionals

Our lifestyles are motivated by self-interest combined with a determination to improve ever-rising standards of living that are nearly all dependent on fossil fuels. However, as we are learning to our cost, any use of these fuels adds to the concentration of greenhouse gases, notably carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. They remain in the atmosphere for hundreds of years. It is their concentration, not the emissions themselves, which cause temperatures to rise. This is a fact that seems to be overl

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Viewpoint Fri, 29 Mar 2019 09:41:00 GMT 60665
Riley leaves Highways England https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/60651/riley-leaves-highways-england Graham Riley has left Highways England where he was an asset manager and departmental representative to set up Graham Riley Tender Support Services, specialising in tender preparation and validation.

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People/people Fri, 29 Mar 2019 08:50:00 GMT 60651
Murphy is director of CTA in Scotland https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/60650/murphy-is-director-of-cta-in-scotland The Community Transport Association has appointed Rachel Murphy as its new director for Scotland. She was previously the CTA’s Scotland support and engagement executive.

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People/people Fri, 29 Mar 2019 08:48:00 GMT 60650
Holland joins Zeelo from Arriva Click https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/60649/holland-joins-zeelo-from-arriva-click Arriva Click’s business development manager Jack Holland is leaving to join shared transportation service provider Zeelo.

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People/people Fri, 29 Mar 2019 08:46:00 GMT 60649
SEStran to appoint interim director https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/60648/sestran-to-appoint-interim-director The South East Scotland transport partnership (SEStran) is to recruit a new director on an internal secondment arrangement for an initial 12-month period. SEStran’s previous director, George Eckton, had been absent for some time and the partnership accepted his resignation last December. The future of Scotland’s seven statutory regional transport partnerships is uncertain given the ongoing review of transport governance as part of the Scottish Government’s new national transpor

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People/people Fri, 29 Mar 2019 08:44:00 GMT 60648
Booth retires from Bus Users in Scotland https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/60647/booth-retires-from-bus-users-in-scotland Gavin Booth, Bus Users UK's director for Scotland, has retired. Booth worked for the Scottish Bus Group as group marketing manager from 1985 to 1988 before becoming a freelance transport consultant, journalist and author. In the 1990s he joined Caroline Cahm, founder of the National Federation of Bus Users, which became Bus Users UK in 2004. He succeeded her as chair of the organisation and went on to establish Bus Users Scotland in 2013.

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People/people Fri, 29 Mar 2019 08:42:00 GMT 60647
Kelly appointed at Heathrow Aircraft Holdings https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/60646/kelly-appointed-at-heathrow-aircraft-holdings Former Labour transport secretary Ruth Kelly has joined the board of Heathrow Airport Holdings Ltd as a non-executive director.

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People/people Fri, 29 Mar 2019 08:36:00 GMT 60646
Big Pedal event trials road closures at 40 schools https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/60702/big-pedal-event-trials-road-closures-at-40-schools

Roads have been closed to traffic outside 40 schools across England, Scotland and Wales for a two-week trial period as part of the Big Pedal event. This is the Big Pedal’s tenth year, but it is the first time schools have closed streets, working in partnership with walking and cycling charity Sustrans, the campaign group Playing Out and local authorities. More than 2,200 schools are taking part in this year’s event, which runs until 5 April. Sustrans is helping schools and local au

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Regular news Fri, 29 Mar 2019 00:00:00 GMT 60702
Plowden joins TfLs consulting arm https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/60652/plowden-joins-tfl-s-consulting-arm

Ben Plowden (pictured) has joined Transport for London’s commercial consulting and international operations division, to develop the organisation’s overseas activities. Plowden was TfL’s surface transport director for strategy and network development. These responsibilities have been transferred to David Hughes, TfL’s new investment delivery planning director, as part of the organisation’s ongoing restructuring. Hughes was London Underground’s director of stra

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People/people Fri, 29 Mar 2019 00:00:00 GMT 60652
New awards to bring transport technology centre stage https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/60682/new-awards-to-bring-transport-technology-centre-stage

We’re seeing these developments on the ground now, changing the way people travel. Sometimes it’s trial on a small scale with local introductions of new services across a limited area. The flexible on demand driven bus service in launched by Arriva started in an area of Sittingbourne just 4 miles wide and 6 miles long. A single bus route converted by TransDev to ‘pay for how far you travel’ measured by Bluetooth beacons. One Royal Mail depot trialling electric cargo trike

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Regular feature Fri, 29 Mar 2019 00:00:00 GMT 60682
Transport laws to be reviewed to improve everyday journeys https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/60579/transport-laws-to-be-reviewed-to-improve-everyday-journeys

The biggest review into transport in a generation will pave the way for transforming the way people and goods move around our cities, the government has announced in its Future of mobility: urban strategy. Also, in a boost for sustainable transport, the government has announced the first winners of the Transforming Cities Fund and awarded £60 million to 10 city regions for schemes supporting low-carbon vehicles, cycling and walking projects, and smart traffic controls. The Transforming Cit

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Regular news Wed, 20 Mar 2019 11:43:00 GMT 60579
Eleven boroughs share 53m for Liveable Neighbourhoods https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/60566/eleven-boroughs-share-53m-for-liveable-neighbourhoods- Eleven London councils will share £53m from Transport for London for projects to make their streets more people-friendly.  The grant has been awarded in the second phase of the Liveable Neighbourhoods programme, which attracted 22 bids.  The winning bids comprise a range of projects designed to cut rat-running, make junctions safer, implement new walking and cycling infrastructure, create ‘pocket parks’ and revamp public spaces. The projects are: • Shortlands,

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Regular news Fri, 15 Mar 2019 13:03:00 GMT 60566
Young peoples travel probe https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/60556/young-people-s-travel-probe The National Infrastructure Commission’s young professionals panel is to research how generational shifts are altering the demands placed on UK infrastructure. The work will focus on the trends associated with ‘Millennials and Generation Z’ – that is, people born between 1981 and 2012.  Said the NIC: “Recognising that technological change is triggering patterns of behaviour that vary between age groups, the investigation will examine how young people will aff

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Regular news Fri, 15 Mar 2019 12:37:00 GMT 60556
Scots road traffic hits new high as bus travel hits record low https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/60522/scots-road-traffic-hits-new-high-as-bus-travel-hits-record-low

Road traffic in Scotland grew 3.3 per cent to a new record in 2017, according to Transport Scotland’s annual compendium of transport statistics. The growth was more than double the 1.3 per cent recorded in Great Britain as a whole.   An estimated 48.0 billion vehicle kilometres were driven on Scotland’s roads in 2017, up 36 per cent on the 35.2 billion in 1993, the first year that estimates were made for all roads. Estimated traffic levels on local authority roads in 2017 were

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Regular news Fri, 15 Mar 2019 10:42:00 GMT 60522
Single funding stream for Scots active travel https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/60520/single-funding-stream-for-scots-active-travel Sustrans Scotland has launched a new grant scheme for active travel infrastructure, funded by the Scottish Government. The Places for Everyone fund replaces three existing programmes – Community Links, Community Links PLUS, and Safer Routes to School.  It will fund projects such as: protected cycleways; public realm improvements; improved junctions/crossings; 20mph schemes with physical speed restrictions; and ‘filtered permeability’ schemes to prioritise active travel.

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Regular news Fri, 15 Mar 2019 10:33:00 GMT 60520
Warwicks appoints rail advisers https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/60513/warwicks-appoints-rail-advisers Warwickshire County Council has appointed consultants to serve as rail project advisers. Chester-based BTTC Infrastructure and an SLC-AECOM joint venture have been appointed to lot one, covering activities such as: business case development, feasibility work, procurement assessment, commercial negotiations, and representing the council at public inquiries and other meetings. Lot two, covering project design and delivery, has been awarded to an SLC-AECOM joint venture.

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Regular news Fri, 15 Mar 2019 10:17:00 GMT 60513
TfL reviews future of road charge contracts https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/60510/tfl-reviews-future-of-road-charge-contracts Transport for London is exploring the future of its road user charging contracts in the context of a future increase in demand for the services.  TfL currently runs three charging schemes: the congestion charge; the capital-wide low emission zone (LEZ); and the ultra low emission zone (ULEZ) being introduced next month  (replacing the toxicity charge).  Three contracts cover their operation: • detection and enforcement infrastructure – Siemens • business operat

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Regular news Fri, 15 Mar 2019 10:07:00 GMT 60510
Failing Grayling meme crosses the Atlantic https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/60508/-failing-grayling-meme-crosses-the-atlantic On 3 March the description of the current British secretary of state for transport as ‘Failing Grayling’ crossed the Atlantic Ocean and appeared in no less distinguished a publication than The New York Times. “While the trials, tribulations and humiliations of Prime Minister Theresa May have occupied center stage in the carnival of British politics, Chris Grayling has starred in a black comedy sideshow of his own,” The NYT said in the article, “How does he survive?

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Media monitor Fri, 15 Mar 2019 09:58:00 GMT 60508
Holmes is West Mids rail director https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/60496/holmes-is-west-mids-rail-director

Malcolm Holmes (pictured) has been appointed executive director of the West Midlands Rail Executive, the trading name for local authority company West Midlands Rail Ltd, which was set up with the purpose of specifying and managing rail franchising for the West Midlands. Holmes has been performing the role in an interim capacity for several years. The council members of the rail executive are: Birmingham; Coventry; Dudley; Herefordshire; Northamptonshire; Sandwell; Solihull; Shropshire; Staffords

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People/people Fri, 15 Mar 2019 09:00:00 GMT 60496
Jones is East Yorkshires operations manager https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/60495/jones-is-east-yorkshire-s-operations-manager Barry Jones has been appointed operations manager for bus operator East Yorkshire, the new brand that has replaced East Yorkshire Motor Services following its acquisition by the Go-Ahead Group last summer. Jones will join next month from a transport company in Oman, where he has spent three years and where he led the launch of Mwasalat Bus. Prior to that he spent two years with First in Bradford. He previously worked in the rail industry. 

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People/people Fri, 15 Mar 2019 08:58:00 GMT 60495
McCormick joins motorways team in Oz https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/60494/mccormick-joins-motorways-team-in-oz Former AECOM consultant Paul McCormick has joined Transport for New South Wales in Australia, working as a senior executive in its motorways team. McCormick worked for AECOM from 2012 to 2018, including as managing director for transportation in the UK and Ireland from 2016-2017. 

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People/people Fri, 15 Mar 2019 08:55:00 GMT 60494
Brown is new transport efficiency chair https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/60493/brown-is-new-transport-efficiency-chair The Government has appointed Mike Brown, the commissioner of Transport for London, as chair of the Transport Infrastructure Efficiency Taskforce. The taskforce is a collaboration between the DfT, TfL, HS2 Ltd, Network Rail and Highways England. Set up in 2017, it was initially chaired by Crossrail chief executive Andrew Wolstenholme, who left the transport sector last year to join BAE Systems.

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People/people Fri, 15 Mar 2019 08:52:00 GMT 60493
Nexus Heather Blevins appointed https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/60492/nexus-heather-blevins-appointed Nexus, the Tyne and Wear PTE, has appointed Heather Blevins to the new position of head of learning, to deliver training programmes for staff. Blevins has previously worked in learning and development for Coventry City Council and Warwickshire County Council.

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People/people Fri, 15 Mar 2019 08:49:00 GMT 60492
Ben Hamilton-Baillie https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/60491/ben-hamilton-baillie Street designer and ‘shared space’ advocate Ben Hamilton-Baillie has died from cancer at the age of 63. Paying tribute to his work, Martin Cassini, who campaigns for traffic system reform, said: “Ben coined the term ‘shared space’, later preferring ‘low-speed environments’. He leaves a huge hole and an important legacy.” LTT will carry a tribute in the next issue.

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People/people Fri, 15 Mar 2019 08:34:00 GMT 60491
Edinburgh Sunday streets closure plan https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/60392/edinburgh-sunday-streets-closure-plan The City of Edinburgh Council has identified a loop of city centre streets that could be closed to vehicles on the first Sunday of every month, between 10am and 5pm, under its ‘Open Streets’ programme. The closures could affect the ‘Old Town loop’ of streets, featuring the Royal Mile, Holyrood, Cowgate, Grassmarket, West Port, Lady Lawson St, Castle Terrace and Johnston Terrace. 

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In brief Fri, 1 Mar 2019 14:46:00 GMT 60392
Scots Tories oppose parking levy power https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/60391/scots-tories-oppose-parking-levy-power The Scottish Conservatives have voiced opposition to the Scottish Government’s plan to give councils the power to introduce workplace parking levies. Jackson Carlaw, the interim leader of the Scottish Conservatives, told Parliament that a £400 annual charge “would be equivalent to increasing the basic rate of tax paid by a worker on the real living wage from 20p in the pound to 30p in the pound”. Scotland’s deputy first minister John Swinney replied, saying that it

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In brief Fri, 1 Mar 2019 14:44:00 GMT 60391
Digital Highway Code urged for CAVs https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/60385/digital-highway-code-urged-for-cavs Intelligent transport society ITS (UK) is calling for a ‘Digital Highway Code’ to be written to define the legal basis for implementing connected and automated vehicles on Britain’s road network. The society makes the recommendation in its response to the Law Commission consultation on the legal matters surrounding CAVs. The code should “define the expected behaviour of any vehicle, be it CAV or an existing one, the specific behaviour of a CAV, and the behaviour of other

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In brief Fri, 1 Mar 2019 14:22:00 GMT 60385
Gilligan lambasts Khan over cycling delivery record https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/60350/gilligan-lambasts-khan-over-cycling-delivery-record On 25 February London’s former cycling commissioner, Andrew Gilligan, was strongly critical of London mayor Sadiq Khan’s record on cycling in The Guardian. “Among the more amusing frauds of the energy company Enron was the time it decided to create an entire fake trading floor at its Texas HQ to fool Wall Street analysts visiting for its AGM,” he began. “Now, however, the mayor of London, Sadiq Khan appears to be aiming for something even more ambitious – an e

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Media monitor Fri, 1 Mar 2019 12:27:00 GMT 60350
Transport officer changes at Hants https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/60337/transport-officer-changes-at-hants Peter Shelley, Hampshire County Council’s head of passenger transport, is to retire on 31 March. He has held the post for the last ten years, overseeing a 20 per cent increase in patronage in that time. Frank Baxter, formerly Hampshire’s strategic transport manager, will take on the new role of head of integrated transport, combining the transport planning function with the passenger transport remit. Andrew Wilson, who has led Solent Transport (a partnership of Hampshire County Counc

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People/people Fri, 1 Mar 2019 10:46:00 GMT 60337
Muscroft joins PJA from Motion https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/60336/muscroft-joins-pja-from-motion Consultant PJA has appointed Jerry Muscroft as a director of its Reading office. He was previously a director at transport planning consultancy Motion and before that a director of transport and infrastructure planning at Capita Symonds. 

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People/people Fri, 1 Mar 2019 10:42:00 GMT 60336
Chisholm joins Arup from Atkins https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/60335/chisholm-joins-arup-from-atkins Douglas Chisholm has joined consultant Arup as an associate director to help drive the firm’s highways and water advisory businesses, leading new business growth. He was transportation programme director at Atkins.

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People/people Fri, 1 Mar 2019 10:40:00 GMT 60335
Mole and Wildman join Sweco https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/60334/mole-and-wildman-join-sweco Joanna Mole has joined consultancy Sweco’s Midlands team as director of strategic consulting for transportation, based in Solihull. She joins from Jacobs where she was a project director. David Wildman has joined Sweco as technical director, transport planning, in Manchester to lead the firm’s local government transport planning team in the north of England. He joins from WSP where he was a technical director. 

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People/people Fri, 1 Mar 2019 10:38:00 GMT 60334
Local data exposes limitations of Defras pollution modelling https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/60323/local-data-exposes-limitations-of-defra-s-pollution-modelling The limitations of the  Government’s national air quality modelling are highlighted by results of local air quality analysis in Middlesbrough, Coventry and Greater Manchester. Councils covering the areas were among those directed by the Government in July 2017 to draw up action plans to bring the annual mean nitrogen dioxide concentrations down to below the EU limit value in the shortest possible time. The direction came after the Government’s Pollution Climate Mapping (PCM) mo

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Regular news Fri, 1 Mar 2019 09:45:00 GMT 60323
Default 20 limit will put Scotland ahead of England on active travel https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/60313/default-20-limit-will-put-scotland-ahead-of-england-on-active-travel- Making 20mph the default speed limit for built-up roads in Scotland will reinforce the perception that the Scottish Government cares more about vulnerable road users than England, campaigners have told MSPs. “We applaud the Scottish Government in progressing this Bill to its current stage,” 20’s Plenty for Us has told the Scottish Parliament’s rural economy and connectivity committee.   “It provides a huge opportunity to align Scotland to what is becoming bes

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Regular news Fri, 1 Mar 2019 09:04:00 GMT 60313
We wont increase enforcement for default 20mph limits say police https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/60311/we-won-t-increase-enforcement-for-default-20mph-limits-say-police

There will be no big increase in 20mph speed limit enforcement if the lower speed becomes the default limit on Scotland’s restricted roads, the police have said.  Police Scotland has told the Scottish Parliament’s rural economy and connectivity committee that cutting the speed limit from 60mph to 50mph on single carriageway roads would be a better road safety policy than a default 20mph limit in urban areas. Reflecting on Green MSP Mark Ruskell’s Restricted Roads (20mph

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Regular news Fri, 1 Mar 2019 08:51:00 GMT 60311
'Congestion pricing will stop self-driving cars clogging up streets' https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/60307/-congestion-pricing-will-stop-self-driving-cars-clogging-up-streets-

The most effective way to combat the threat of gridlock as self-driving cars become more common is through congestion pricing, states new research. The ability of autonomous vehicles (AVs) to cruise will blur the boundary between parking and travel, says the study by transportation planner Adam Millard-Ball, an associate professor of environmental studies at the University of California, Santa Cruz. Parking charges will no longer be an effective congestion management tool, warns Millard-Ball. &

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Regular news Thu, 28 Feb 2019 08:55:00 GMT 60307
Action plan to develop land around Crewe station https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/60305/action-plan-to-develop-land-around-crewe-station

A six-week consultation to discuss possible developments around Crewe railway station has been launched by Cheshire East Council.  An action plan is being drawn up to manage development and support the regeneration of the site around the station ahead of HS2’s arrival, scheduled for 2027. This will help identify the most immediate opportunities around the railway station, and ensure that related growth and development is ‘plan-led’, says the council.  The action pl

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Regular news Wed, 20 Feb 2019 14:43:00 GMT 60305
National Travel Survey to ask if respondents suffer loneliness https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/60282/national-travel-survey-to-ask-if-respondents-suffer-loneliness

Participants in England’s National Travel Survey (NTS) are to be asked questions about whether they suffer from loneliness, despite a pilot survey finding some respondents were anxious about why the Government was asking such questions in a travel survey.  NatCen Social Research, which is contracted by the Government to conduct the NTS in England, ran a pilot study asking people how often they felt they lacked companionship, how often they felt left out, how often they felt isolated

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Regular news Fri, 15 Feb 2019 13:34:00 GMT 60282
Free bus travel for under 30s https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/60253/free-bus-travel-for-under-30s Bus franchising and free bus travel for the under 30s are vital components of a transport policy to cut UK carbon dioxide emissions, says Transport for Quality of Life in a report on reforming public transport to help achieve the Paris Agreement goals on climate change. Report authors Lisa Hopkinson and Lynn Sloman call for a “guiding mind” to plan urban public transport. They say the UK’s deregulated bus networks compare unfavourably with the planned transport systems in plac

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Regular news Fri, 15 Feb 2019 11:52:00 GMT 60253
HS2 cash should fund buses says Guardian as Mirror warns of huge cuts https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/60228/hs2-cash-should-fund-buses-says-guardian-as-mirror-warns-of-huge-cuts

On 3 Februay The Guardian’s economics editor, Larry Elliott, indirectly criticised the Government’s planned HS2 high-speed rail project by suggesting that the money earmarked for the scheme could be far more productively spent improving the country’s bus infrastructure. “Britain has a productivity problem,” he began. “And a lot of it has to do with buses. Public transport really matters.” Taking the city of Birmingham as an example, Elliott observed th

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Media monitor Fri, 15 Feb 2019 09:33:00 GMT 60228
TfL cuts size of severance payments to senior staff https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/60224/tfl-cuts-size-of-severance-payments-to-senior-staff Transport for London has introduced revised contractual arrangements for all new senior staff in response to the recommendations of a review ordered by mayor Sadiq Khan.  The mayor was angered by TfL making more than £50m in severance payments in each of 2016/17 and 2017/18. This included salary in lieu of notice, one-off voluntary severance payments, and payments for annual leave not taken. Former managing director of surface transport, Leon Daniels, left in December 2017 with almo

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Regular news Fri, 15 Feb 2019 09:01:00 GMT 60224
Robinson leads TfW in North Wales https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/60222/robinson-leads-tfw-in-north-wales Transport for Wales has appointed Lee Robinson as its development director for North Wales. Robinson, who will be based in Wrexham, has been director of economy and place at Wrexham County Borough Council for nine years. Minister for transport and minister for North Wales, Ken Skates, said Robinson would play a key role in delivering the new rail franchise and developing the North Wales Metro public transport plans, including an integrated Shotton station, a new Deeside Parkway station and a new

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People/people Fri, 15 Feb 2019 08:56:00 GMT 60222
Scots infrastructure commissioners https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/60221/scots-infrastructure-commissioners The Scottish Government has appointed an Infrastructure Commission for Scotland to advise on the priorities for a 30-year infrastructure strategy. Chaired by Ian Russell CBE, the chair of the Scottish Futures Trust, its membership includes two commissioners with a strong transport pedigree: Professor Iain Docherty, professor of public policy and governance at the University of Glasgow, and Rachel Skinner, UK head of transport at consultant WSP. Sara Thiam, director of the Institution of Civil En

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People/people Fri, 15 Feb 2019 08:53:00 GMT 60221
Ramsey is NECAs transport lead https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/60220/ramsey-is-neca-s-transport-lead Sheena Ramsey has been named lead chief executive for transport at the North East Combined Authority. Ramsey is chief executive of Gateshead Council, one of four councils that make up NECA (along with South Tyneside, Sunderland and Durham). Former members Newcastle, North Tyneside and Northumberland have formed their own North of Tyne Combined Authority. 

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People/people Fri, 15 Feb 2019 08:51:00 GMT 60220
Paterson joins Peter Brett from SYSTRA https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/60219/paterson-joins-peter-brett-from-systra Grant Paterson has joined consultant Peter Brett Associates in Edinburgh as a principal transport modeller, moving from SYSTRA, where he was a principal consultant.

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People/people Fri, 15 Feb 2019 08:49:00 GMT 60219
PTV appoints Oliver https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/60218/ptv-appoints-oliver PTV Group has appointed Michael Oliver as its technical director for Northwest Europe, based in Birmingham. He was solution director for PTV Visum.

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People/people Fri, 15 Feb 2019 08:47:00 GMT 60218
FTA appoints Veitch https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/60217/fta-appoints-veitch Alex Veitch has been appointed head of multi-modal policy at the Freight Transport Association. He was its head of global policy.

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People/people Fri, 15 Feb 2019 08:45:00 GMT 60217
Station-led regeneration schemes can be complex expensive and time-consuming and need careful risk management https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/60216/station-led-regeneration-schemes-can-be-complex-expensive-and-time-consuming-and-need-careful-risk-management

A look at viability, funding and investment in railway stations and station-led development. By Michael Bray, Senior Associate in the real estate team, Burges Salmon There is an increasing trend to refurbish and redevelop our railway stations, ranging from the restoration of historical stations such as Wakefield Kirkgate, to landmark regional hubs and international gateways such as Birmingham New Street and King’s Cross St Pancras. Railway stations can be destinations in their o

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Analysis Wed, 13 Feb 2019 15:17:00 GMT 60216
Shared mobility success needs collaboration more than competition https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/60215/shared-mobility-success-needs-collaboration-more-than-competition

It’s clear that the auto industry has its sights on shared mobility, but in a model that is much closer to Uber and Lyft’s taxi-alternative than true co-mobility or shared modes such as Uber Pool or Lyft Line, which connect potential clients with other passengers with the same route or location. BMW and Daimler have launched a combined car-sharing venture called  ‘Jurbey’ and, under the terms of their deal, reports Automotive News, which includes Daimler's Car2Go and

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Analysis Tue, 12 Feb 2019 12:01:00 GMT 60215
Work together to develop shared mobility pledges https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/60214/work-together-to-develop-shared-mobility-pledges

Local authorities can radically improve their transport system by increasing the use of shared modes, especially active ones, but need operational and regulatory guidance. CoMoUK is supporting local authorities by bringing together stakeholders, including the DfT, to help deliver shared mobility goals, a process that will kick off at the Shared Transport Masterclass in Leicester on 22 February Cities in the UK are on the precipice of an upcoming revolution in the way we provide transport. The p

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Regular news Tue, 12 Feb 2019 10:25:00 GMT 60214
Rail finance meets smart contracting https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/60210/rail-finance-meets-smart-contracting

Advances in technology may provide new opportunities in metropolitan railway finance, says Joseph Potvin, Executive Director, Xalgorithms Foundation It is common knowledge that commercial and residential properties within an easy walk of metropolitan train stations are in relatively greater demand, which tends to be reflected in their significantly higher lease and sale values. This mobility premium has long been the basis for so-called Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) initiatives.&nbs

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Regular news Mon, 11 Feb 2019 12:35:00 GMT 60210
Towards a rail industry that supports local growth and boosts local economies https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/60209/towards-a-rail-industry-that-supports-local-growth-and-boosts-local-economies

Campaign for Better Transport has called on the Government to invest £4.8 billion in expanding the railway network to reach the most disconnected and disadvantaged communities. In a new report, The case for expanding the rail network, it outlines how a national reopening programme would initially create 33 new rail lines with 72 new stations, allowing an additional 20 million rail passenger journeys a year by bringing over 500,000 people within walking distance of a train station. It

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Lead Story Mon, 11 Feb 2019 12:16:00 GMT 60209
Shared Mobility Pledges accelerate the growth and quality of shared transport services https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/60208/shared-mobility-pledges-accelerate-the-growth-and-quality-of-shared-transport-services CoMoUK is joining forces with European partners to create The Shared Mobility Pledge as part of the ShareNorth programme. The pledge scheme will be launched at the Shared Transport Masterclass in Leicester on Friday 22nd February, during which participants will work together to determine the key challenges and opportunities to be address by the pledges. CoMoUK is calling upon stakeholders with an interest in creating future mobility systems for their area to sign a commitment to take action to a

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Regular news Mon, 11 Feb 2019 10:23:00 GMT 60208
Impact report shows car sharings significant social and environmental benefits https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/60207/impact-report-shows-car-sharing-s-significant-social-and-environmental-benefits

Zipcar, a company that helped define the sharing economy, has released the findings of its 2018 Impact Report. For the first time, the report comprehensively captures key findings gathered over Zipcar’s eighteen years of mobility leadership. The findings, combined with objective third-party research, offer tangible evidence that car sharing continues to provide both members, and the cities they live in, with significant and distinct social and environmental benefits, at a time when new mob

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Lead Story Wed, 6 Feb 2019 13:35:00 GMT 60207
6 million to support ultra-low emission taxis https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/60206/-6-million-to-support-ultra-low-emission-taxis

The government has awarded more than £6 million to support ultra-low emission taxis right across the country, furthering its ambition for a zero emission future. The funding will see almost 300 rapid chargepoints and 46 fast chargepoints installed for ultra-low emission taxis in 17 local authorities, including in Greater Manchester, Brighton and Hove, Leicester and the north east. This announcement marks another milestone in the delivery of the government’s Road to Zero strateg

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Lead Story Wed, 6 Feb 2019 13:23:00 GMT 60206
Shared Transport Masterclass join us to set up practical shared mobility frameworks across the UK https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/60205/shared-transport-masterclass-join-us-to-set-up-practical-shared-mobility-frameworks-across-the-uk

Shared mobility modes have great potential to address congestion and poor air quality challenges, but the practical delivery of an integrated shared mobility strategy is complex. The Shared Transport Masterclass on February 22 will bring together operators, local authorities and potential mobility users to take the first steps in creating a practical framework, based on 'mobility pledges', that can guide the set-up for successful shared mobility. The mobility pledges are rooted in work tha

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Lead Story Wed, 6 Feb 2019 12:51:00 GMT 60205
A third of UK children grow up in areas with unsafe levels of air pollution https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/60204/a-third-of-uk-children-grow-up-in-areas-with-unsafe-levels-of-air-pollution

UNICEF UK has launched a report into air pollution, including a national call to action and recommended measures for government, in order to urgently reduce levels of air pollutants in areas populated by children. Notes the UK Health Alliance on Climate Change, responding to the report: 'Around a third of UK children are growing up in areas with unsafe levels of air pollution and without urgent intervention, toxic levels of air pollution are expected to persist fo

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Regular news Wed, 6 Feb 2019 10:49:00 GMT 60204
Rail-Powered Property - Property-Powered Rail a transformational approach? https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/60202/rail-powered-property--property-powered-rail-a-transformational-approach-

Between 31 May 2018 and 31 July 2018, the Department for Transport held a 'Call for ideas' in respect of rail market-led proposals (MLPs); essentially a call for proposals that were 'financially credible without government support'. There was a strong response to this call for ideas, with the department receiving 30 submissions, although DfT has not yet commented on the relative merits of these. An MLP is defined as 'a project promoted by the private sector which addresses an opportunity not ne

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Regular news Mon, 4 Feb 2019 14:22:00 GMT 60202
Plan drawn up to re-open Soham rail station https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/60158/plan-drawn-up-to-re-open-soham-rail-station

A project is underway to explore the possibility of re-opening a rail station at Soham in East Cambridgeshire. The new station would help to reconnect the town with the Ipswich to Peterborough line, as well as help improve prospects for economic growth, jobs and investment in the area. The Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority has commissioned Network Rail to assess the viability of re-opening the station.  The early design work factors in the potential for a second platform

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Regular news Fri, 1 Feb 2019 16:45:00 GMT 60158
Labour commissions Goodwin to review UK transport funding https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/60157/labour-commissions-goodwin-to-review-uk-transport-funding

Shadow transport secretary Andy McDonald has appointed transport academic Phil Goodwin to advise on reforming how UK transport provision is paid for and funded.  Goodwin’s recommendations are likely to inform what McDonald calls a “new social contract for transport” that will be a key plank of Labour’s next General Election manifesto. The work will look at “who benefits from transport provision, including indirect beneficiaries as well as travellers themselve

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Lead Story Fri, 1 Feb 2019 15:00:00 GMT 60157
Cambs CA pursues Enhanced Partnership with bus operators https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/60127/cambs-ca-pursues-enhanced-partnership-with-bus-operators The Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority is to develop an Enhanced Partnership with bus operators, while keeping franchising alive as a longer-term option.  The CA, led by Conservative mayor James Palmer, this week  authorised preparation of a business case assessing different bus operating models, including the Enhanced Partnership and franchising options that feature in the Bus Services Act 2017.  The business case is not expected to be completed until early in 2

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Regular news Fri, 1 Feb 2019 13:16:00 GMT 60127
Cambs CA tenders transport support https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/60126/cambs-ca-tenders-transport-support The Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority is to hold a mini-tender to select who will provide its transport officer expertise from the end of March. The CA currently uses the services of consultant Inner Circle, which was selected without competition from a Crown Commercial Services framework. Inner Circle’s contract commenced last June. In July, Chris Twigg, one of the consultant’s directors, was seconded to become the CA’s interim director of transport under a s

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Regular news Fri, 1 Feb 2019 13:07:00 GMT 60126
Transport for the North's staff numbers continue to grow https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/60118/transport-for-the-north-s-staff-numbers-continue-to-grow Transport for the North is  increasing its workforce and reducing its reliance on consultants.  By next month TfN expects to directly employ 122 staff, with 92 permanent posts, 25 ‘transition’ posts (fixed term contracts of up to two years), and five apprentices. By March 2020 the workforce is expected to have grown to 153 (118 permanent posts, 28 transition posts and seven apprentices). Teams being strengthened include those covering Northern Powerhouse Rail, strategic

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Regular news Fri, 1 Feb 2019 12:24:00 GMT 60118
Croydon to roll-out school streets https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/60111/croydon-to-roll-out-school-streets- The London Borough of Croydon is to roll-out more school streets schemes, which see streets around schools closed to unauthorised vehicles at the start and end of the school day. Councillor Stuart King, Croydon’s lead member for environment and transport, told colleagues that three pilot schemes implemented in 2017 had reduced the number of car trips by 254. A further 31 schools have expressed interest in the initiative and eight are proposed for delivery in September. 

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In brief Fri, 1 Feb 2019 11:56:00 GMT 60111
Transports impact on jobs probed https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/60104/transport-s-impact-on-jobs-probed The relationship between transport improvements and the spatial distribution of employment is to be explored in new research for the DfT.  The DfT’s WebTAG guidance says improved access from transport may affect productivity by affecting the spatial distribution of employment – referred to as ‘move to more/less productive jobs’. The new research will assess whether the guidance remains fit-for-purpose and, if not, outline potential improvements.  “The me

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Regular news Fri, 1 Feb 2019 11:31:00 GMT 60104
Mixed views on Scots 20mph default speed limit proposal https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/60102/mixed-views-on-scots-20mph-default-speed-limit-proposal

North Ayrshire Council has endorsed the Bill to introduce a 20mph speed limit across most of Scotland’s built-up roads, but on the condition that the Scottish Government provides councils with additional funding to cover the associated costs.  Green MSP Mark Ruskell’s Restricted Roads (20mph Speed Limit) Scotland Bill would cut the default speed limit from 30 to 20mph on roads that have streetlights placed less than 185 metres apart, are C class of unclassified, and have not ha

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Regular news Fri, 1 Feb 2019 11:19:00 GMT 60102
Oxfordshire County Council trials future traffic management https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/60096/oxfordshire-county-council-trials-future-traffic-management Oxfordshire County Council has secured £1.25m from the GovTech Catalyst initiative to research how new traffic data sources could be used to help manage traffic. The project will explore ways to harness and process data, including from sources such as connected and autonomous vehicles, and push out information to the road network or direct to road users. 

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In brief Fri, 1 Feb 2019 11:01:00 GMT 60096
Tender issued for South Yorks active travel commissioner https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/60070/tender-issued-for-south-yorks-active-travel-commissioner The Sheffield City Region Combined Authority is taking the unusual step of using a tender notice to recruit an active travel commissioner who will work with elected mayor Dan Jarvis. Explaining why a tender notice rather than a job advertisement was being used, a Sheffield City Region spokeswoman told LTT: “It’s gone out to tender, rather than being advertised as a ‘job’, because that way it leaves the post open to either a suitably qualified individual, or else an organ

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Regular news Fri, 1 Feb 2019 09:02:00 GMT 60070
Gilbert is TfWs active travel lead https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/60067/gilbert-is-tfw-s-active-travel-lead Matthew Gilbert is the active travel lead officer at Transport for Wales, the Welsh Government’s not-for-profit company. He joined late last year from Bridgend County Borough Council, where he was transportation policy and strategy officer.  

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People/people Fri, 1 Feb 2019 08:53:00 GMT 60067
Edwards chairs Urban Transport Group https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/60066/edwards-chairs-urban-transport-group

Stephen Edwards (pictured), executive director of South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive (SYPTE), is the new chair of the Urban Transport Group. His appointment follows the end of the two-year term of Tobyn Hughes, the managing director of Nexus.

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People/people Fri, 1 Feb 2019 08:49:00 GMT 60066
Armitage focuses on C4ST https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/60065/armitage-focuses-on-c4st Richard Armitage is “mothballing” his company, Richard Armitage Transport Consultancy Ltd, and will undertake all future transport consultancy work through the Centre for Sustainable Transport Ltd (C4ST).

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People/people Fri, 1 Feb 2019 08:46:00 GMT 60065
Comber joins First Essex from Arriva https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/60064/comber-joins-first-essex-from-arriva Anthony Comber has been appointed director of business development at First Bus Essex. He joins from Arriva Group, where he was business development lead for Arriva Southern Counties. 

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People/people Fri, 1 Feb 2019 08:44:00 GMT 60064
Hodder joins Stagecoach from Wiltshire https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/60063/hodder-joins-stagecoach-from-wiltshire Bus operator Stagecoach South West has appointed Karen Hodder as its commercial director. She joins from Wiltshire Council, where she was head of marketing. Hodder replaces Robert Williams, who left Stagecoach last year to become chief executive of Reading Buses.

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People/people Fri, 1 Feb 2019 08:40:00 GMT 60063
French joins The Harrogate Bus Company https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/60062/french-joins-the-harrogate-bus-company Alan French has joined The Harrogate Bus Company as its general manager. He joins from Stagecoach North West, where he was operations manager in Chester. 

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People/people Fri, 1 Feb 2019 08:38:00 GMT 60062
RSSBs Phillips appointed to TfL board https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/60061/rssb-s-phillips-appointed-to-tfl-board London mayor Sadiq Khan has appointed Mark Phillips to the board of Transport for London. Phillips is the chief executive of the Rail Safety and Standards Board (RSSB); a director of CIRAS the confidential reporting system (a subsidiary of RSSB); deputy chair of the British Transport Police Authority; and a member of the Government’s transport research and innovation board. His appointment will expire on 6 September 2020, co-terminus with the appointment expiry dates of other board members

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People/people Fri, 1 Feb 2019 08:36:00 GMT 60061
Boosting active travel it's all about the funding https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/60060/boosting-active-travel-it-s-all-about-the-funding

The end of 2018 and beginning of 2019 have seen a host of consultations, reports and inquiries into why it’s so necessary to boost walking and cycling levels; both through securing long-term investment and fully integrating quality cycling and walking infrastructure with public transport, homes and work. First, the Department of Health and Social Care launched its ‘Prevention is better than cure' vision, which specifically mentions the need to 'coordinate transport, housing, educat

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Regular news Thu, 31 Jan 2019 09:30:00 GMT 60060
Incorporating shared mobility into transport strategies lessons from Europe https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/60059/incorporating-shared-mobility-into-transport-strategies-lessons-from-europe

EU partners will continue to work over the next three years to raise the profile of shared transport solutions as part of the SHARE-North project. Speakers from project members CoMoUK and SHARE-North will be speaking at the Shared Transport Masterclass on February 22 in Leicester. The aim of the SHARE-North project is to develop, implement, promote and assess shared transport options such as car clubs, bike share, ride sharing and other shared transport options. CoMoUK will focus on engagi

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Regular news Mon, 28 Jan 2019 13:04:00 GMT 60059
Rise in cycling could prevent 34000 life-threatening illnesses by 2040 says Sustrans https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/60058/rise-in-cycling-could-prevent-34-000-life-threatening-illnesses-by-2040-says-sustrans

The NHS will save £319m if cycling doubles in seven UK cities every eight years by 2040, according a new report from Sustrans. The charity calculates that 34,000 life-threatening illnesses - including Type 2 diabetes, stroke, breast cancer and depression - would be prevented, along with 628 early deaths. Transforming Cities: The potential of everyday cycling uses data from Sustrans’ 2017 Bike Life studies of B

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Regular news Sun, 27 Jan 2019 22:04:00 GMT 60058
TfL reports rising ad revenues as it goes digital https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/60056/tfl-reports-rising-ad-revenues-as-it-goes-digital

Transport for London (TfL) generated more than £150m in advertising revenue in 2017/18, which was invested in transport network improvements. TfL’s second Annual Advertising Report (2017/18) highlights the shift to more digital screens on escalators and platforms. In 2017/2018 TfL says that more than 16,000 advertisements ran on its network, generating about £152m, compared with £142m in 2016/2017. TfL sees advertising at the heart of its new growth strategy, which seek

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Regular news Thu, 24 Jan 2019 10:14:00 GMT 60056
Amsterdam e-bike sharing startups to get 12m subsidy from Brussels https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/60052/amsterdam-e-bike-sharing-startups-to-get-1-2m-subsidy-from-brussels E-bike sharing startups from Amsterdam including Cargoroo and Urbee, along with the Municipality, have received a substantial share of around a million subsidy from Brussels, reports Silicon Canals. Reportedly, in total Europe will donate a subsidy of €8.8m for the international project. The lifecycle of project spans over three years, and it will take place in seven cities, across five countries in collaboration with various institutes, as per the latest report on fd.nl. According to Jar

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Regular news Wed, 23 Jan 2019 15:24:00 GMT 60052
Car2Go offers free-floating EV share across central Paris https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/60051/car2go-offers-free-floating-ev-share-across-central-paris

Since Bolloré’s pioneering Autolib car share service pulled out of Paris last year, Daimler’s Car2Go has delivered on its plan to offer 400 electric cars for free-floating sharing across the French capital. The service is simple: all you need is the app to grab a car2go anywhere in the home area of Paris. Parking is free in the designated zone.  More cars are to follow over the course of this year, says Car2Go's CEO Olivier Reppert, who considers Paris an ideal ground fo

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Executive summary Wed, 23 Jan 2019 15:14:00 GMT 60051
Shared-transportation options can help cities lessen congestion and improve air quality says McKinsey https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/60050/shared-transportation-options-can-help-cities-lessen-congestion-and-improve-air-quality-says-mckinsey Through seamless mobility, the use of connectivity, autonomy, and sharing technologies, cities can accommodate more traffic more efficiently, says a new McKinsey report. 'We have a vision for a future that addresses these challenges: seamless mobility. Leaders from both the public sector and the private sector will need to work together to achieve this future. To do so, they can use tools that optimise supply, optimise  demand, and improve sustaina

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Regular news Wed, 23 Jan 2019 14:53:00 GMT 60050
Social ride-sharing app 'helps users move with people they trust' https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/60049/social-ride-sharing-app-helps-users-move-with-people-they-trust-

HERE Mobility, the mobility unit of HERE Technologies, has announced the launch of their new all-in-one mobility app. Just as platforms like LinkedIn, Airbnb, and Facebook have leveraged social connectivity,?SoMo (based on Social Mobility),?taps into the power of social networks to reimagine the future of transportation. SoMo?merges mobility and sociability and enables users to plan, share, and ride in a way that’s simple, hassle-free, and?good for the planet. SoMo is a first-of-its-kind m

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Regular news Wed, 23 Jan 2019 14:29:00 GMT 60049
Make public transport integral part of new developments study says https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/60048/make-public-transport-integral-part-of-new-developments-study-says

A new national planning framework is urgently needed to place public transport, rather than car-based “low density sprawl”, at the heart of policy for new developments, says a new report by the Urban Transport Group. This would enable the “agglomeration” of economies – where firms benefit from close proximity to each other – and meet housing demand without making congestion and air quality worse, according to The Place To

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Regular news Tue, 22 Jan 2019 10:47:00 GMT 60048
High staff turnover in Whitehall undermining policy delivery https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/60045/high-staff-turnover-in-whitehall-undermining-policy-delivery-

The DfT lost about 17 per cent of its headquarters staff in 2017/18, the fourth highest staff turnover of all Whitehall departments, according to a new report  by the Institute for Government. It says high staff turnover is undermining the delivery of Government programmes and policies.  Two of the three departments with higher turnovers have strong connections to transport – the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government lost almost a quarter of staff, and the Treas

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Regular news Fri, 18 Jan 2019 13:40:00 GMT 60045
Bus body questions TfWs role https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/60024/bus-body-questions-tfw-s-role Bus industry organisation CPT Wales has called for clearer accountability around Transport for Wales and highlighted the lack of transport expertise among its board members. The comments feature in CPT Wales’ written submission to a National Assembly for Wales inquiry into TfW’s future development.  “There is no public organisational chart of the structure of TfW, and very few staff are directly employed,” says CPT Wales director John Pockett. “Most are consu

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Regular news Fri, 18 Jan 2019 12:26:00 GMT 60024
DfT not fit to lead on active travel policy PACTS tells MPs https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/60016/dft-not-fit-to-lead-on-active-travel-policy-pacts-tells-mps

THE DfT should not lead on active travel policy but should instead be the delivery arm for other client departments, MPs have been told. The Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety (PACTS) makes the comments in evidence to the House of Commons transport committee’s new active travel inquiry.  PACTS believes the DfT will struggle to orchestrate cross-departmental active travel initiatives. “The DfT is not a powerful department in Whitehall. PACTS has seen how diffic

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Regular news Fri, 18 Jan 2019 11:33:00 GMT 60016
Vision Zero agenda a fantasy' https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/60011/vision-zero-agenda-a-fantasy- The ‘vision zero’ approach to road safety, as championed by London mayor Sadiq Khan and Transport for London, is a “fantasy”, says the Alliance of British Drivers. “It is obvious that zero road casualties is an impossibility. Even if vehicles could be prevented from colliding, or could collide without causing injury, the likes of cyclists, for example, will still injure or kill themselves by falling off their bikes.” It believes vision zero will be used to jus

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In brief Fri, 18 Jan 2019 11:17:00 GMT 60011
Bloom joins TfN from Highways England https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/59981/bloom-joins-tfn-from-highways-england Statutory sub-national transport body Transport for the North has appointed Jeremy Bloom as its strategy and programme director. Bloom will join in April from Highways England where he is network planning director.  He has worked for HE for 13 years. Previous employers include consultancies AECOM and Parsons Brinckerhoff, Network Rail, and London Underground.

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People/people Fri, 18 Jan 2019 08:46:00 GMT 59981
Goggin is Steers UK MD as Daly promoted https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/59980/goggin-is-steer-s-uk-md-as-daly-promoted

Mike Goggin (pictured) has been appointed UK managing director of consultant Steer, succeeding Sharon Daly who has been promoted to become global chief operating officer covering the firm’s 20 offices across Europe, North America, South America, and India. Goggin moves from being Steer’s group client engagement director. He re-joined the company in 2011 after two years as Network Rail’s director of stations and customer service. 

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People/people Fri, 18 Jan 2019 08:44:00 GMT 59980
Stewart leads Atkins transport division https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/59979/stewart-leads-atkins-transport-division Consultant Atkins, part of the SNC-Lavalin Group, has appointed Lizi Stewart as managing director for its transportation division in the UK and Europe. She joins from Arcadis, where she was managing director of highways and aviation. 

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People/people Fri, 18 Jan 2019 08:41:00 GMT 59979
Hill leaves Southwark for Kingston/Sutton https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/59978/hill-leaves-southwark-for-kingston-sutton Matthew Hill has moved from head of highways at the London Borough of Southwark to become assistant director of highways, transport and regulatory services for the London boroughs of Kingston and Sutton shared service. Dale Foden is acting head of highways at Southwark.

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People/people Fri, 18 Jan 2019 08:39:00 GMT 59978
Bates joins Vivid from Buro Happold https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/59977/bates-joins-vivid-from-buro-happold Phil Bates has been appointed head of economic infrastructure at Vivid Economics, moving from Buro Happold where he has been director for strategic infrastructure since 2012. Prior to that, Bates was a director at Leigh Fisher and Steer Davies Gleave.

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People/people Fri, 18 Jan 2019 08:37:00 GMT 59977
Barnes replaces McArthur as Tracsis chief https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/59976/barnes-replaces-mcarthur-as-tracsis-chief Transport data and software firm Tracsis has named Chris Barnes, the current managing director of Ricardo UK Ltd’s automotive consulting division, as its new chief executive officer – designate. The announcement comes after current chief executive John McArthur notified the board of plans to step down in the first half of this year to focus on family and other non-business matters. He will continue with Tracsis in a part-time capacity, advising on mergers and acquisitions.

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People/people Fri, 18 Jan 2019 08:35:00 GMT 59976
Quarter of DfT staff may help out on Brexit https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/59965/quarter-of-dft-staff-may-help-out-on-brexit The DfT’s ability to handle its normal workload in the coming months could be severely constrained by headquarters staff being put into Brexit-related operational roles, such as dealing with lorries at Dover. Sky News reported that a quarter of DfT HQ staff could be affected. The Government this week stepped up its preparations for a no-deal Brexit on 29 March by testing contingency measures for handling lorry traffic in Kent in the event of delays at Dover and Eurotunnel.  Preparat

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Lead Story Tue, 8 Jan 2019 16:37:00 GMT 59965
Council may ask staff to work from home https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/59956/council-may-ask-staff-to-work-from-home Staff at Kent County Council  may be asked to work from home  whenever possible for three to six months in the event of a no-deal Brexit, to reduce pressure on the county’s road network. The council’s information and communications technology (ICT) team is exploring how to ensure the council’s IT systems can accommodate the increase in remote working.  Kent is also exploring opportunities for employees to work in places such as libraries and other council offic

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Regular news Tue, 8 Jan 2019 16:00:00 GMT 59956
Record trips on Santander Cycles https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/59950/record-trips-on-santander-cycles More than 10.5 million trips were made on Transport for London’s Santander Cycles bike hire scheme in 2018 – a new record. A number of improvements were made to the dock-based scheme during the year, including expansion to Brixton in February (with seven new docking stations and 200 new bikes), and the introduction of contactless payment  in November. The bike hire scheme is the largest in Europe, covering 100 square kilometres, stretching from Brixton in the south to Camden in

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In brief Tue, 8 Jan 2019 15:38:00 GMT 59950
Fund a range of MaaS pilots MPs urge DfT https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/59944/fund-a-range-of-maas-pilots-mps-urge-dft The Government should fund a pilot programme of Mobility as a Service (MaaS) applications across the country to learn about its potential, the House of Commons transport committee has said.  The MPs voice concern that the Government “does not yet seem to have recognised the full extent of the role MaaS could play in transforming mobility, delivering truly integrated transport solutions, or the wider benefits this could bring, for example by helping to reduce congestion and encouragin

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Regular news Tue, 8 Jan 2019 15:13:00 GMT 59944
A701 Straiton transport study https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/59922/a701-straiton-transport-study A study of options for improving conditions for pedestrians, cyclists and public transport on the A701 just south of the Edinburgh city bypass at Straiton is being commissioned by the South East Scotland transport partnership (SEStran). The study will look at  the road between Straiton Junction and Gowkley Moss roundabout, a 2.5-mile stretch serving large retail and leisure developments. The work will complement Midlothian Council’s plan to build a relief road. 

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In brief Tue, 8 Jan 2019 13:39:00 GMT 59922
Liverpool CR launches new transport studies https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/59901/liverpool-cr-launches-new-transport-studies The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority is to launch four investigations into aspects of the conurbation’s transport network. One workstream will explore the case for devolving Network Rail’s Merseyrail Electrics infrastructure to the conurbation. The self-contained Merseyrail Electrics franchise is already managed by Merseytravel, the area’s Passenger Transport Executive, and an entire new fleet of trains for the franchise is due to be delivered by Stadler in 2019 and 20

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Regular news Tue, 8 Jan 2019 11:52:00 GMT 59901
Feet on the ground https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/59877/feet-on-the-ground The rapid growth of new forms of mobility and mobility services in recent years has posed challenges not only for transport practitioners, but also for the humble journalist who reports from the transport field. How much space should be devoted to reporting on all these shiny new things originating from a myriad of entrepreneurs and companies located across the globe? It would be easy to get carried away and present each development as the ‘next big thing’, but might that also risk e

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Main editorial comment Tue, 8 Jan 2019 10:05:00 GMT 59877
Changing accident liability laws rough justice for drivers https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/59873/changing-accident-liability-laws--rough-justice-for-drivers ‘Innocent until proved guilty’ has been the fundamental cornerstone of the British legal system for hundreds of years, has been adopted in other countries, and is still practiced in many of our old colonial countries. Reading in the latest LTT that the Government is even considering changing that established fundamental right for road accidents (under proposed strict liability legislation) to appease a few militant cyclist and pedestrian organisations is beyond belief (‘Review

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Letters to the editor Tue, 8 Jan 2019 09:43:00 GMT 59873
CB for DfTs roads chief Hayes https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/59863/cb-for-dft-s-roads-chief-hayes Patricia Hayes, the DfT’s director general for roads, devolution and motoring, has been appointed a CB, Order of the Bath, in the new year honours.  Other appointments included:  Order of the British Empire, CBE: Bridget Rosewell, economist and commissioner on the National Infrastructure Commission, for services to the economy; Nick Forbes, leader of Newcastle City Council, for services to local government. Order of the British Empire, OBE: Joan Aitken, the soon-to- retire tra

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People/people Tue, 8 Jan 2019 08:50:00 GMT 59863
Waddington chairs Transport for Wales https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/59862/waddington-chairs-transport-for-wales Scott Waddington has been appointed the chair of Welsh Government company Transport for Wales. Waddington recently stood down as chief executive of Welsh brewer and pub company SA Brain. 

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People/people Tue, 8 Jan 2019 08:47:00 GMT 59862
Solheim is new Nextbike MD https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/59861/solheim-is-new-nextbike-md Krysia Solheim has been appointed managing director of bike hire firm Nextbike UK Ltd, succeeding Julian Scriven, who has been appointed chairman. Solheim was business operations manager of Nextbike’s North American operations until August when she was appointed commercial director of the UK operations. Scriven has also taken up the position of managing director of Brompton bike hire, the bike hire arm of folding bike manufacturer Brompton. 

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People/people Tue, 8 Jan 2019 08:44:00 GMT 59861
Martin is Luton Airports new CEO https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/59860/martin-is-luton-airport-s-new-ceo Alberto Martin has been appointed chief executive of London Luton Airport, following Nick Barton’s departure for an unspecified post. Martin was planning and investment director.

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People/people Tue, 8 Jan 2019 08:40:00 GMT 59860
Tarrant chairs Rees Jeffreys Road Fund https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/59859/tarrant-chairs-rees-jeffreys-road-fund David Tarrant will take up the chairmanship of the Rees Jeffreys Road Fund next month, succeeding David Hutchinson. Tarrant has just retired from consultant Mott MacDonald. The Fund provides bursaries for traffic engineering and planning courses, and grants for research and schemes to improve the road network and roadside environment.

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People/people Tue, 8 Jan 2019 08:37:00 GMT 59859
Regulatory reviews to smooth way for new mobility products https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/60737/regulatory-reviews-to-smooth-way-for-new-mobility-products

The DfT has announced regulatory reviews to smooth the way for “micromobility vehicles” on Britain’s streets, Mobility as a Service products, and new forms of flexible bus service.  The work programme is outlined in the DfT’s new future of mobility strategy for urban areas.  On micromobility, it says: “We are seeing the rapid development of vehicles such as electric scooters and skateboards, low-powered last mile delivery solutions and a blurring of prev

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Lead Story Fri, 4 Jan 2019 00:00:00 GMT 60737
Healthy Streets phrase is trademarked https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/60738/-healthy-streets-phrase-is-trademarked The words ‘Healthy Streets’  have been registered as a trademark by a transport and health consultant, meaning they cannot be used by other bodies without her permission.  The Healthy Streets brand is central to the transport strategy of Transport for London and the capital’s mayor, Sadiq Khan.  The trademark registration has been made by Lucy Saunders, a consultant in public health for TfL and the Greater London Authority. Saunders this week left their employm

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Lead Story Fri, 4 Jan 2019 00:00:00 GMT 60738
Survey of TROs launched https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/59806/survey-of-tros-launched The DfT, GeoPlace, the British Parking Association and Ordnance Survey are conducting a ‘discovery’ into the process by which Traffic Regulation Order (TROs) are made, and how TRO data is made available and used. Abbas Lokat, a senior consultant at GeoPlace, said: “We want to understand if there is a growing demand for open, machine-readable traffic regulation orders.” A draft data model for TROs will be produced, compatible with both Connected and Automated Vehicles and

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In brief Mon, 17 Dec 2018 15:27:00 GMT 59806
Jones steps down before M4 decision https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/59779/jones-steps-down-before-m4-decision

Carwyn Jones has stepped down as first minister of Wales without taking a decision on building the M4 Relief Road around Newport.  Mark Drakeford, who became first minister on Wednesday, has been ambiguous about the controversial ‘black route’ being promoted by the Welsh Government. Assembly Members who oppose the 14-mile black route now claim that the construction cost has increased to at least £2bn. The Government recently issued a prior information notice for the

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Regular news Mon, 17 Dec 2018 13:56:00 GMT 59779
Blueprint for rural public transport https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/59772/blueprint-for-rural-public-transport Councils should have a duty to provide suitable public transport to ensure rural communities are not left isolated, says the Campaign for Better Transport. It wants the Government to set up a ringfenced fund for rural transport and says neighbouring rural local authorities should join forces to form ‘combined transport authorities’ (CTAs) with responsibility for  public transport provision.  The CBT says the ‘Total Transport’ concept should be built upon &ndas

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Regular news Mon, 17 Dec 2018 13:32:00 GMT 59772
WECAs transport plan reliant on massive increase in funds https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/59767/weca-s-transport-plan-reliant-on-massive-increase-in-funds

Transport spending in Bristol and the surrounding area would have to more than double over the next 17 years to deliver a new transport plan prepared by the West of England Combined Authority (WECA) and the area’s four unitary authorities. The most expensive part of the £10bn estimated cost of the plan is a rail-based mass transit system, requiring underground running in places and with a price tag of £3bn-£5bn. David Carter, the West of England Combined Authority&rsquo

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Regular news Mon, 17 Dec 2018 13:19:00 GMT 59767
Third Metrobus route set for launch https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/59766/third-metrobus-route-set-for-launch A third Metrobus route in Bristol will commence operations next month. Service M1 between Cribbs Causeway, to the north of Bristol, and Hengrove Park to the south will commence on 6 January.  Bristol Community Transport is the operator, acting as a sub-contractor to FirstGroup (LTT 13 Apr). Services will be provided by gas-powered buses. The first Metrobus route to commence operation was the M3 between Emersons Green and Bristol city centre on 29 May. A Sunday service was introduced on 16

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Regular news Mon, 17 Dec 2018 13:17:00 GMT 59766
Mental health days lost double at TfL https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/59747/mental-health-days-lost-double-at-tfl Transport for London has seen a doubling in the number of work days lost to mental health issues in the last four years, from about 2,500 every four weeks at the start of 2014/15 to about 5,000 in 2018/19. In all, 67,928 working days were lost to staff sickness in quarter two of 2018/19 – 4.37 per cent of all working days. Rikard Moen, TfL’s head of occupational health, said: “We offer a wide range of support to staff facing mental health issues and encourage people to report h

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In brief Mon, 17 Dec 2018 11:58:00 GMT 59747
Capitals bus use forecast to fall further https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/59745/capital-s-bus-use-forecast-to-fall-further

Transport for London this week put back the date for achieving an operating surplus by a year, to 2022/23, blaming the delayed opening of the Elizabeth line (Crossrail) and a  decline in bus passenger numbers.   The new business plan assumes that the delay to Crossrail opening will have a net operating impact (income and cost) of £600m over the next three years – £200m in 2019/20,  £300m in 2020/21, and £100m in 2021/22. The major impact is delayed p

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Regular news Mon, 17 Dec 2018 11:52:00 GMT 59745
Driverless bus - London Assembly - Crossrail https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/59721/driverless-bus--london-assembly--crossrail The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy’s press release announcing funding for a driverless bus project between Fife and Edinburgh says the bus will travel across the “Forth Bridge – a UNESCO World Heritage site”. If that’s the case then passengers are in for a bumpy ride because the Forth Bridge is the rail bridge, which was granted World Heritage Status in 2015. Perhaps the buses ought to have drivers after all. The London Assembly’s b

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In Passing Mon, 17 Dec 2018 10:21:00 GMT 59721
Melville leads PJAs London office https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/59709/melville-leads-pja-s-london-office Transport planning, engineering and placemaking consultant PJA has appointed Keith Melville as director of its London office. He joins from Tyréns UK and is one of eight new appointments, taking PJA’s headcount to 67. The other new recruits are: Andrea Nelmes (principal flood risk & drainage engineer); Richard Brommell (associate engineer); Kay Nicholls (principal consultant); Daniel Bowditch (graduate consultant); Matthew Larter (graduate engineer); Jenny Campion (business and

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People/people Mon, 17 Dec 2018 09:08:00 GMT 59709
Change at the top of HS2 and Crossrail https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/59708/change-at-the-top-of-hs2-and-crossrail Allan Cooke CBE, a former chairman of consultant WS Atkins, has been appointed chairman of HS2 Ltd, following the resignation of Sir Terry Morgan after just a few months in post. Morgan quit because of the problems besetting London’s Crossrail project, of which he was also chair. The DfT and TfL have recommended to the board of Crossrail Ltd that Tony Meggs be appointed its new chairman. Meggs was previously chief executive of the Infrastructure and Projects Authority. The DfT has accepted

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People/people Mon, 17 Dec 2018 09:00:00 GMT 59708
Gilmore is new Scots traffic commissioner https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/59707/gilmore-is-new-scots-traffic-commissioner Claire Gilmore has been appointed traffic commissioner for Scotland to succeed Joan Aitken, who will retire in February. Gilmore, a lawyer and qualified engineer, is currently the senior investigating officer in the office of the Commissioner for Standards in Public Life in Scotland.

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People/people Mon, 17 Dec 2018 08:58:00 GMT 59707
Mahal joins Tracsis from the AA https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/59706/mahal-joins-tracsis-from-the-aa Baljit Mahal has been appointed operations manager for the Central UK region of Tracsis Traffic Data, based in new offices in Coleshill. He joins from the AA, where he was regional operations & contracts manager.

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People/people Mon, 17 Dec 2018 08:56:00 GMT 59706
Eogan joins Momentum in Dublin https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/59705/eogan-joins-momentum-in-dublin Consultant Momentum Transport has strengthened its Dublin operation with the appointment of Deirdre Eogan as principal consultant within its transport planning division.

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People/people Mon, 17 Dec 2018 08:55:00 GMT 59705
Barrack leaves Carbon Heros https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/59704/barrack-leaves-carbon-heros Craig Barrack has left his position as managing director of car sharing specialist Carbon Heroes, which he founded in 2007, to joined call centre and customer experience assurance firm Empirix, working on business development. Regarding the future of Carbon Heroes, Barrack told LTT: “I’m currently in discussion with the rest of the management team in how they want to take things forward for the company.”

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People/people Mon, 17 Dec 2018 08:51:00 GMT 59704
Vision Zero operation targets dangerous driving in the capital https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/59634/vision-zero-operation-targets-dangerous-driving-in-the-capital

A two-week operation to target illegal and dangerous driving across London resulted in the arrest of 176 drivers for drink, drug, dangerous and disqualified driving. The operation is part of a joint Vision Zero commitment by Transport for London (TfL) and the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) to eliminate death and serious injury on London’s roads by 2041. During the operation, 4,758 offences were identified – more than 800 offences higher than an average two-week period in 2016. T

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Regular news Fri, 30 Nov 2018 16:00:00 GMT 59634
Service sector jobs growth city living lie behind rail boom https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/59628/service-sector-jobs-growth--city-living-lie-behind-rail-boom-

Rail passenger demand growth over the last 20 years has been heavily influenced by factors that are omitted from forecasting models, such as changes to the structure of the UK economy and population distribution, a new report concludes.   The Independent Transport Commission report explores factors underpinning the more than doubling of rail passenger journeys since privatisation in 1995/96, a period when population grew by only 15 per cent.  The report’s authors are Ian Willia

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Regular news Fri, 23 Nov 2018 16:15:00 GMT 59628
DriveNow expands London coverage https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/59602/drivenow-expands-london-coverage Point-to-point car club operator DriveNow has expanded its London operations to encompass nine boroughs. DriveNow, owned by BMW, has added Westminster, Tower Hamlets, Southwark, Barnet and Brent to the original four boroughs of Hackney, Haringey, Islington and Waltham Forest.

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In brief Fri, 23 Nov 2018 14:12:00 GMT 59602
London Councils aims to revive capitals stalled car club vision https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/59598/london-councils-aims-to-revive-capital-s-stalled-car-club-vision Borough association London Councils is setting up a working group to find ways of improving the car club sector’s fortunes in the capital. London Councils says the  capital’s car club strategy, launched in 2015, has failed to deliver its promises. The strategy was drawn up by the ‘Car Club Coalition’ that was facilitated by Transport for London and included representatives of car club operators, London Councils, the Greater London Authority, and other stakeholders.&

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Regular news Fri, 23 Nov 2018 14:01:00 GMT 59598
Scots transport and health briefings https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/59569/scots-transport-and-health-briefings Transport and public health expert Adrian Davis is to compile a Scotland-specific research archive on the connections between transport and health. Davis, who was recently appointed professor of transport and health at Edinburgh Napier University’s Transport Research Institute (TRI), will summarise academic research findings in a new Essential Evidence 4 Scotland series that will be hosted on TRI’s website. The initiative is part-funded by the Paths for All charity. Davis has pledged

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In brief Fri, 23 Nov 2018 12:06:00 GMT 59569
Council to put obese kids on e-bikes https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/59566/council-to-put-obese-kids-on-e-bikes Five electric bikes are to be acquired by Conwy County Borough Council to provide cycling opportunities for “hard to reach” overweight children. The initiative will cost £10,000, with the authority providing £5,000. An officers’ report for Conwy’s cabinet said that 32 per cent of boys and 30 per cent of girls in Conwy are overweight or obese.  “Having run a pilot project on a smaller scale within a local school using traditional bicycles, the evid

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Regular news Fri, 23 Nov 2018 11:49:00 GMT 59566
Standard and Uber back electric vehicle-dominated London https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/59556/standard-and-uber-back-electric-vehicle-dominated-london

On 13 November London’s Evening Standard newspaper published an eight-page supplement in association with Uber dedicated to improving the capital’s air quality by reducing the amount of pollution generated by transport. “London is gearing up for an electric future and The Evening Standard is fully behind the drive to get our city charged up,” the supplement’s introductory article began. “We believe that the answer [to air pollution] lies partly in accelerating

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Regular news Fri, 23 Nov 2018 11:05:00 GMT 59556
Davis cements the connection between transport and health https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/59555/davis-cements-the-connection-between-transport-and-health

For over 30 years Adrian Davis has been at the forefront of the drive to connect and carry forward the disciplines of public health and transport planning. As he observes, for much of this time he has been paving a way into new territory: “In terms of my own journey, there has not been a route map, because the job had previously not been invented.”  His work has recently taken a new turn with his appointment to the part-time post of professor of transport and health in the Tran

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Regular news Fri, 23 Nov 2018 10:59:00 GMT 59555
Councils spot train potential where operators are silent https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/59551/councils-spot-train-potential-where-operators-are-silent So, four West Northamptonshire councils propose a study into reopening the Market Harborough to Northampton railway (“Northants champions ‘North-South railway” LTT 09 Nov). Good for them. And good for Leicestershire and Northamptonshire County Councils that they purchased the trackbed when it closed and protected it ever since.  But why does it take a local initiative to spot the potential of a link between the Midland and West Coast Main Lines along a corridor dominated

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Letters to the editor Fri, 23 Nov 2018 10:17:00 GMT 59551
DRT a commercial urban service and a rural lifeline? https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/59547/drt-a-commercial-urban-service-and-a-rural-lifeline- In a Viewpoint column last summer I identified the reasons why demand responsive transport (DRT) in the UK had failed to live up to its promise and potential (LTT 21 Jul 17). I also expressed hope that the ‘Total Transport’ initiative would help unlock the constraints on DRT and so match progress that other parts of the world have made in the ‘ride sharing’ environment.  The great concern at the time was whether the substantial benefits promised by Total Transport c

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Letters to the editor Fri, 23 Nov 2018 09:56:00 GMT 59547
A concessionary bus pass opened my eyes to another world https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/59545/a-concessionary-bus-pass-opened-my-eyes-to-another-world When my elderly Polo failed its MOT because of multiple defects, I decided to give public transport a try.  Not only were driving and road rage becoming increasingly stressful, there was also the financial benefit of my concessionary travel pass, which was a real bonus when compared to the cost of running a car. Although I thought of regressing back to cycling, the feedback from my ageing knees said otherwise. Besides, there were frequent bus services from my home to convenient supermarket

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Letters to the editor Fri, 23 Nov 2018 09:46:00 GMT 59545
Mann joins WECA from Bristol https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/59541/mann-joins-weca-from-bristol

After nine years as director of transport at Bristol City Council, Peter Mann (pictured) has transferred to the West of England Combined Authority to take up the position of head of strategic transport integration. Whilst at Bristol, Mann oversaw projects including delivery of the Metrobus rapid transit system, the city’s first 15 residents’ parking schemes and a citywide 20 mph speed limit. Prior to joining Bristol he held senior transport roles at Oxford City and Oxfordshire County

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People/people Fri, 23 Nov 2018 09:27:00 GMT 59541
ITP recruits three from SYSTRA https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/59540/itp-recruits-three-from-systra Consultant ITP has recruited three public transport consultants from SYSTRA. Denise Faber joins as director of public transport, Peter Hardy joins as technical director, and Tatum Houlston joins as a senior transport planner. 

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People/people Fri, 23 Nov 2018 09:24:00 GMT 59540
Norman promoted Jones re-appointed https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/59539/norman-promoted-jones-re-appointed Jesse Norman has been promoted to minister of state for transport following Jo Johnson’s resignation in protest at the Government’s Brexit strategy. Johnson’s departure also sees the return of Andrew Jones to the DfT as a parliamentary under secretary responsible for rail. Jones, the MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough, served as a DfT minister from 2015 to 2017.

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People/people Fri, 23 Nov 2018 09:22:00 GMT 59539
Gregory is FirstGroups new chief https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/59538/gregory-is-firstgroup-s-new-chief FirstGroup has appointed Matthew Gregory as chief executive, succeeding Tim O’Toole who was sacked this summer (LTT 08 Jun). Gregory has been chief financial officer since December 2015. Nick Chevis, First’s director of finance, becomes interim chief financial officer. Recruitment of a permanent CFO is underway. Gregory will receive a base salary of £635,000 and a pension contribution of 15 per cent of salary. He has an annual bonus opportunity of 150 per cent and long-term inc

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People/people Fri, 23 Nov 2018 09:20:00 GMT 59538
Kenny rejoins Jacobs https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/59537/kenny-rejoins-jacobs Kate Kenny has rejoined consultant Jacobs as director of growth for London and cities. She joined Arcadis last summer, initially as a senior technical director and then a partner.

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People/people Fri, 23 Nov 2018 09:18:00 GMT 59537
Mudhar joins Royal Haskoning https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/59536/mudhar-joins-royal-haskoning Amrit Mudhar has joined consultant Royal HaskoningDHV as a principal transport planner based in Birmingham. She moves from Amey, where she was a senior transport planner.

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People/people Fri, 23 Nov 2018 09:16:00 GMT 59536
Bradford is MD at NX West Midlands https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/59535/bradford-is-md-at-nx-west-midlands National Express West Midlands has appointed David Bradford as managing director, promoting him from commercial director. He succeeds Paul Thomas who joined Stagecoach this summer (LTT 07 Jul).

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People/people Fri, 23 Nov 2018 09:00:00 GMT 59535
DfT unveils measures to improve safety for vulnerable road users https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/59534/dft-unveils-measures-to-improve-safety-for-vulnerable-road-users

Councils will get new powers allowing the use of CCTV and ANPR cameras to enforce parking restrictions in cycle lanes as part of a government ‘action plan’ to improve road safety for pedestrians and cyclists. The two-year plan, published today, will end the requirement for civil enforcement officers to issue penalty charge notices to vehicles parked in cycle lanes. Among a raft of

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Regular news Thu, 22 Nov 2018 18:36:00 GMT 59534
Edinburgh unveils plans to end dominance of car on George Street https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/59527/edinburgh-unveils-plans-to-end-dominance-of-car-on-george-street

People-friendly spaces a dedicated cycleway and plazas are among proposals for Edinburgh’s George Street and New Town public realm design project. A draft concept design for the area, which has been produced after extensive consultation with a range of stakeholders including community and specialist interest groups, went on show at Edinburgh’s City Art Centre for the first time on 8 November. As part of the wider City Centre Transformation project, the George Street and New Town (G

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Regular news Fri, 16 Nov 2018 11:42:00 GMT 59527
Tower Hamlets funds community air quality action plans https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/59522/tower-hamlets-funds-community-air-quality-action-plans

Tower Hamlets Council is making over £120,000 available to community groups, schools, local businesses and housing associations who want to in reducing air pollution in the east London borough. To be eligible for funding, projects must be related to either reducing air pollution emissions, reducing air exposure to pollution or increasing awareness of air pollution; be directly relevant to actions in the council’s Air Quality Action Plan (AQAP); have a measurable impact; and have wid

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Regular news Mon, 12 Nov 2018 14:58:00 GMT 59522
Traffic-free routes on National Cycle Network to double says Sustrans https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/59515/traffic-free-routes-on-national-cycle-network-to-double-says-sustrans

Plans to make 10,000 miles of the National Cycle Network (NCN) traffic-free have been announced by Sustrans. Since the network was launched 23 years ago, the active travel charity has installed more than 5,000 traffic-free miles and aims to double this by 2040. This is among the pledges in a major review of the network, publis

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Regular news Mon, 12 Nov 2018 00:07:00 GMT 59515
Infrastructure resilience probed https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/59466/infrastructure-resilience-probed Chancellor Philip Hammond has asked the National Infrastructure Commission to study the resilience of the nation’s infrastructure to things such as natural hazards, malicious threats and accidents. “Analysis of malicious threats, skills and the financial stability of infrastructure operators are expected to be limited to the scoping stages of the study,” says the Treasury. A number of topics are outside the study’s scope, including the foreign ownership of assets, industr

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In brief Fri, 9 Nov 2018 12:09:00 GMT 59466
Generational changes in travel come under DfTs spotlight https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/59460/generational-changes-in-travel-come-under-dft-s-spotlight

People born more recently display lower rates of driver licence holding, car access and mileage compared to earlier generations, according to a new DfT report.  Car travel econometrics draws on data from the National Travel Survey to study factors affecting licence holding, car ownership and use.  “Being born more recently is associated with lower rates of licence holding, car access and mileage relative to those born earlier than 1955,” says the DfT. “This could in

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Regular news Fri, 9 Nov 2018 11:43:00 GMT 59460
Inaccurate bus stop locations highlighted https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/59446/inaccurate-bus-stop-locations-highlighted

Locational information about many bus stops in a dataset used by journey planning apps is inaccurate to some degree, according to a public transport app and website company. Journey planning apps such as Traveline, Citymapper and Google Maps all take data from NaPTAN (the National Public Transport Access Nodes) dataset. NaPTAN identifies all 400,000+ public transport points including bus stops, coach stations, railway stations, taxi ranks and ferry terminals. Public transport app and website b

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Regular news Fri, 9 Nov 2018 11:05:00 GMT 59446
Government reduces plug-in car grant rates https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/59428/government-reduces-plug-in-car-grant-rates The Government has cut the level of grant support to buyers of pure electric vehicles, and eliminated the grant for plug-in hybrids.  The Plug-in Car Grant was introduced in 2011 and has so far supported the purchase of more than 160,000 ultra-low emission vehicles, of which 100,000 were plug-in hybrids. Until now, for grant-making purposes, ultra-low emission vehicles have been placed in one of three categories, according to their carbon dioxide emissions: • Category 1 – carb

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Regular news Fri, 9 Nov 2018 10:17:00 GMT 59428
Why do we subsidise the travel of the wealthy more than the travel of the poor? https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/59418/why-do-we-subsidise-the-travel-of-the-wealthy-more-than-the-travel-of-the-poor-

Everyone needs transport to move around and to access everyday needs, but for each individual those needs are different, and they change over time and space: herein lie the seeds of inequalities in transport. In light of the current DfT review on transport and inequality, it is important to estimate the nature and scale of transport inequalities in Great Britain and how this impacts on quality of life, and then to discuss the implications in terms of transport investment and subsidy decisions.&n

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Viewpoint Fri, 9 Nov 2018 09:37:00 GMT 59418
The time is ripe for cycle taxis https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/59415/the-time-is-ripe-for-cycle-taxis The work we did in Lewisham in the 2000s providing cycle taxis (a rickshaw taxi service – Ed) for the purposes of short-distance trips within a large urban housing estate, demonstrated how such a scheme enhances community cohesion.  The situation of an ageing population and difficulty for bus service penetration meant the cycle taxis service was seen in a very positive light. Work done in partnership with the local health authority also demonstrated the service in a positive way. The

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Letters to the editor Fri, 9 Nov 2018 09:26:00 GMT 59415
Papers debate ethics of autonomous vehicle decision-making https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/59410/papers-debate-ethics-of-autonomous-vehicle-decision-making

On 1 November the City AM newspaper debated the pros and cons of driverless cars in what turned out to be a brief spate of media articles on the subject of autonomous vehicles. “There are approximately 1.3 million global road deaths each year and 95% of these are caused by human error,” the ‘pro’ columnist, artificial intelligence expert Daniel Pitchford, began. “The deaths due to driverless cars currently stand at four. Autonomous vehicles therefore offer a signifi

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Media monitor Fri, 9 Nov 2018 09:07:00 GMT 59410
Kirkman joins SYSTRA from Liverpool City Region Combined Authority https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/59407/kirkman-joins-systra-from-liverpool-city-region-combined-authority

Darren Kirkman (pictured) has joined consultant SYSTRA as an associate in its Manchester office, where he will focus on growing the company’s transport planning business in the North West. He was previously lead officer for freight and logistics at the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, and prior to that held a range of policy and strategy roles at Merseytravel and Transport for Greater Manchester.

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People/people Fri, 9 Nov 2018 08:55:00 GMT 59407
Martin retires from Dorset https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/59406/martin-retires-from-dorset Andrew Martin, Dorset County Council’s service director for highways, is retiring after 37 years service with the council.

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People/people Fri, 9 Nov 2018 08:53:00 GMT 59406
Ruth Cadbury transport committee appointee https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/59405/ruth-cadbury-transport-committee-appointee  Ruth Cadbury, the Labour MP for Brentford and Isleworth in London, has been appointed a member of the House of Commons transport committee.

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People/people Fri, 9 Nov 2018 08:51:00 GMT 59405
Welsh government appoints John Lloyd Jones https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/59404/welsh-government-appoints-john-lloyd-jones The Welsh Government has made appointments to the National Infrastructure Commission for Wales. The commission will be chaired by John Lloyd Jones. Other members are: Tom Crick, Ceri Doyle, Richard Feasey, Stephen Gifford (head of economic regulation at the Civil Aviation Authority), Helen Howells, Rob Irvine, Eluned Parrot, Roderick Smith (a former chief scientific advisory to the DfT), Chris Sutton, Emma Thomas, and Tom Wharf.

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People/people Fri, 9 Nov 2018 08:47:00 GMT 59404
John Disney https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/59403/john-disney John Disney, a senior lecturer at Nottingham Business School, Nottingham Trent University, has died at the age of 58. Disney was a frequent contributor to LTT’s letters pages on public transport matters, and a specialist on rural public transport, especially bus services. He had been due to give evidence to last month’s House of Commons transport committee inquiry into the health of bus services. Committee chair Lilian Greenwood, the MP for Nottingham South, paid tribute to Disney at

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People/people Fri, 9 Nov 2018 08:44:00 GMT 59403
332m funding boost for activity boosting game https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/59393/-3-32m-funding-boost-for-activity-boosting-game

An innovative physical activity programme which uses the technology found in high street reward cards to turn cities and towns into giant, mass participation games, is rolling out across the country, thanks to a new £3.32 million National Lottery grant from Sport England. The unique family game, called Beat the Street, rewards players who cycle, run or walk with points and prizes, encouraging families to get out and about and increase their physical activity.  Fifty-nine towns and ci

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Regular news Mon, 5 Nov 2018 13:43:00 GMT 59393
Transport planning and the environment are key issues in new public health vision https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/59392/transport-planning-and-the-environment-are-key-issues-in-new-public-health-vision

Prevention is a vital health topic for government and the health sector – and it’s also the focus of a new public health vision document, launched this week by Health Secretary Matt Hancock. The 'Prevention is better than cure' vision, which sets out how we can use policy, new technology, workplace strategies and the power of local communities to prevent worsening health, will also be a key focus for the Public Health & Sustainable Transport Summit to be held on 27 March 2019 in

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Lead Story Mon, 5 Nov 2018 12:12:00 GMT 59392
Leisure travel offers mobility lessons https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/59320/leisure-travel-offers-mobility-lessons

Just pause for a moment and think about your last holiday or visit to a National Park. How did you get around? How did this compare with your routine day-to-day ways of travelling? It may seem like a different world from the frenetic global mobility disruptions, but just maybe these aren’t as far apart as we think.  To what extent did getting on that shuttle bus, renting that bike or walking to the shop change your views on public transport or active travel for the other 48 weeks of

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Comment extra Fri, 26 Oct 2018 13:27:00 GMT 59320
Highway Code revision will make roads safer says DfT https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/59318/highway-code-revision-will-make-roads-safer--says-dft The Highway Code is to be updated to make roads safer for pedestrians and cyclists, the DfT has announced following consultation. New information will be included on how to avoid the dangers of close passing – where drivers are too near to cyclists – and encouraging drivers to adopt the ‘Dutch reach’, a method of opening a car door with the hand furthest from the handle so that drivers look over their shoulder at passing traffic. The DfT is to carry out a review of the H

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Lead Story Fri, 26 Oct 2018 13:20:00 GMT 59318
Cars and vans should be zero emission by 2032 says BEIS https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/59308/cars-and-vans-should-be-zero-emission-by-2032-says-beis The Government should bring forward its deadline for the phasing out of internal combustion engines from 2040 to 2032, says the all-party Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee (BEIS).  Electric vehicles represent opportunities for the UK economy as a technology to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and as a tool to reduce air pollution, says the committee. It welcomes the Government’s plan to set interim targets, with the adoption in the Road to Zero Strategy of an ambitio

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Regular news Fri, 26 Oct 2018 12:30:00 GMT 59308
Half of drivers lack road knowledge https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/59305/half-of-drivers-lack-road-knowledge- Many motorists are putting themselves and others at risk due to lack awareness about the rules of the road, according to a driver survey by road safety charity IAM RoadSmart. More than 50% admitted their road knowledge was so poor, they didn’t recognise the roundabout sign. More than two-thirds of drivers admitted they had no understanding of the two-second rule, where a driver stays at least two seconds behind the vehicle infront. Over 1,000 motorists participated in the survey for IAM Ro

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In brief Fri, 26 Oct 2018 12:22:00 GMT 59305
Calls to curb van speeds https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/59302/calls-to-curb-van-speeds Urgent action is needed to tackle excessive van speeds, often caused by unrealistic scheduling, the executive director of PACTS (Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety) has told the Health and Safety Executive and other bodies. The DfT’s latest statistics on free flow vehicle speeds in Great Britain indicate that 55% of Light Commercial Vehicles (LCVs) exceeded the 30mph limit in the absence of congestion last year, with 22% exceeding the limit by 5mph or more and 7% by 10mph

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Regular news Fri, 26 Oct 2018 12:08:00 GMT 59302
Tackle harassment on public transport https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/59301/-tackle-harassment-on-public-transport- Urgent steps must be taken to tackle the sexual harassment of women and girls in public places including on buses and trains, says the Women and Equalities Committee in a report to the Government with a series of recommendations to address the problem. The committee says that train operators should be required through franchise agreements to have a robust policy on preventing and tackling sexual harassment and to block access to pornography. Bus regulations should be amended to prohibit sexual h

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Regular news Fri, 26 Oct 2018 12:06:00 GMT 59301
'Decide and provide' solutions should consider 'preferable scenarios' for the North's future https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/59290/-decide-and-provide-solutions-should-consider-preferable-scenarios-for-the-north-s-future

Paul Hammond, global practice leader for economics at Mott MacDonald, an event partner for Smarter Travel LIVE!, echoed the calls from Mayors Rotherham and Burnham for better integrated transport infrastructure across the North, and is ready to support delivery. 'As many of the presenters at Smarter Travel LIVE! pointed out, the challenges and solutions are myriad and should not be seen in isolation. Active travel, for example, is a key aspect of a healthy community and an integral part of the

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Regular news Fri, 26 Oct 2018 10:25:00 GMT 59290
TfN to roll out rail smart cards across the North https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/59282/tfn-to-roll-out-rail-smart-cards-across-the-north--

Transport for the North (TfN) is on course to deliver a smart card for rail solution across the region by December 2018, said Alastair Richards, Programme Director, Smart and Integrated Travel, TfN, speaking at Smarter Travel LIVE! 2018 last week. This is part of a nationwide programme to roll out smart ticketing for all rail travel in the country, he addded. Phase 2, from 2019, will focus on customer information, collaboration and innovation, including enhanced information on bus fares, planned

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Analysis Fri, 26 Oct 2018 09:53:00 GMT 59282
Guardian latest paper to castigate Failing Grayling https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/59273/guardian-latest-paper-to-castigate-failing-grayling-

On 11 October it was the turn of The Guardian’s Parliamentary sketch writer, John Crace, to become the latest in a lengthening line of critics to take aim at the allegedly hapless transport secretary, Chris Grayling. “She [Prime Minister Theresa May] appointed Grayling as transport secretary primarily on the grounds of damage limitation because transport was a relatively quiet beat and surely he couldn’t come to too much harm there?” Crace began. “But this has turne

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Media monitor Fri, 26 Oct 2018 09:08:00 GMT 59273
Combined authority CEO gets 94k severance pay https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/59272/combined-authority-ceo-gets-94k-severance-pay Martin Whiteley, the chief executive of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority, left his post without serving notice with severance pay of £94,000, it has emerged. In response to a Freedom of Information request, the combined authority said: “Mr Whitley’s employment ended with his resignation by mutual agreement. Whilst the authority maintains an exemption under Section 40 (Personal Information) in relation to the agreement itself, we can confirm that Mr Whiteley w

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Regular news Fri, 26 Oct 2018 09:03:00 GMT 59272
Simmons retires from City of London https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/59270/simmons-retires-from-city-of-london

After 32 years at the City of London Corporation, Iain Simmons (pictured) is retiring as assistant director of local transportation in the Department of the Built Environment. Simmons’ commitment to changing and improving the City and London was recognised at this year’s Healthy Streets Awards (see page 27). He has formed his own company, Iain Simmons Consulting, which will focus on helping and training others to deliver major civic projects. City of London transportation and public

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People/people Fri, 26 Oct 2018 08:53:00 GMT 59270
Kirkbride leaves CoMoUk to go solo https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/59269/kirkbride-leaves-comouk-to-go-solo

Alistair Kirkbride (pictured) has announced he is leaving car and bike share organisation CoMoUk, previously known as CarPlus and BikePlus. He said: “It’s time to head back into the freelance world. I’ll be focussing on applying progressive mobility to visitor and rural areas.” Antonia Roberts will be executive director until a replacement is appointed. 

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People/people Fri, 26 Oct 2018 08:48:00 GMT 59269
Five newcomers at Project Centre https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/59266/five-newcomers-at-project-centre The Project Centre has announced five ‘senior level’ appointments to its London office. They are: senior traffic consultant Alex McMillan, who was previously area manager at Waterman Aspen; senior parking consultant Adetayo Kehinde, previously an associate at Amazon; principal highway engineer Louise Lally, who joins from the London Borough of Bromley, where she was regeneration project manager; associate director (transport planning) Maryann Allan, previoulsy sustainable transport a

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People/people Fri, 26 Oct 2018 08:46:00 GMT 59266
McGavin joins ttc as managing consultant https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/59263/mcgavin-joins-ttc-as-managing-consultant

The Transportation Consultancy (ttc) has appointed James McGavin as a managing consultant, who joins its team of transport planners. McGavin joins the company from Wood, where he was a principal transport planner. He has spent 12 years in the industry, with experience in transport planning and traffic engineering.  Based in Birmingham and with offices in London, ttc is an international independent transportation planning consultancy providing services to public and private sector clients.

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People/people Fri, 26 Oct 2018 08:44:00 GMT 59263
MaaS marketplace opens up new world for mobility players https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/59256/maas-marketplace-opens-up-new-world-for-mobility-players

The mobility options on offer to meet users’ personal travel needs have significantly diversified over the last few years. While the traditional analogue options of walking, driving or cycling with your own car or bike, or using a timetable and catching a fixed route bus or train still exist, they are now augmented (and in some cases are being replaced) by digital ways to identify, book and use a much wider range of transport modes, including those adopting very different, and much more fl

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Analysis Mon, 15 Oct 2018 16:36:00 GMT 59256
IOM launches active travel programme https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/59246/iom-launches-active-travel-programme The Isle of Man Government has launched a £3.8m Active Travel programme, led by charity Sustrans, to get more than 20% of people walking and cycling their everyday journeys by 2021. Sustrans were recruited to work on the four-year programme..

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In brief Fri, 12 Oct 2018 12:56:00 GMT 59246
ORR reports rise in passenger numbers in the South East https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/59228/orr-reports-rise-in-passenger-numbers-in-the-south-east

Rail passenger numbers in South East England have bounced back after the recent declines on several franchises. New statistics from the Office of Rail and Road also reveal strong growth at TransPennine Express in Quarter 1 (April to June), despite the operator’s difficulties after the summer timetable was introduced in May. Across Great Britain, 429 million rail passenger journeys were recorded in the quarter, a 3.1% increase on Q1 of 2017/18. The ORR says this was driven by a 3.5% increa

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Regular news Fri, 12 Oct 2018 11:48:00 GMT 59228
Introducing road user charge need not be political suicide https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/59212/-introducing-road-user-charge-need-not-be-political-suicide-

Stockholm’s congestion charge scheme has proved remarkably effective at suppressing traffic levels and encouraging a shift to other modes of transport in the ten plus years since its launch. After initially facing widespread public opposition, it now has majority support, even among those who regularly pay the charge. One of the scheme’s architects, director of the Stockholm City Transport Administration Jonas Eliasson, vividly recalls the uproar around its launch in 2006: “It

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Interview Fri, 12 Oct 2018 10:21:00 GMT 59212
Councils need proper powers to combat street clutter https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/59203/councils-need-proper-powers-to-combat-street-clutter As a pedestrian, I read with interest John Dales’ latest column concerning walking (LTT 28 Sept). It is interesting to see that John considers that councils don’t conspire to block footways but simply cock up by allowing street clutter. The issue with phone and media hubs cunningly camouflaged with a variety of adverts owes much more to the legislative framework that grants access to the highway for well over 100 companies with very limited controls available through planning and hi

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Letters to the editor Fri, 12 Oct 2018 09:03:00 GMT 59203
Small firms to trade at London transport hubs https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/59202/small-firms-to-trade-at-london-transport-hubs Transport for London (TfL) is giving opportunities to small businesses to trade at transport hubs across the capital through a new partnership with online street trading platform StreetDots. The project enables customers to buy street food and coffee and will later offer them the opportunity to purchase gifts, flowers, and grab-and-go fresh produce from mobile retailers. Pitches or ‘dots’ are open at several locations, including North Greenwich and Hammersmith. The stalls at the do

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Regular news Fri, 12 Oct 2018 08:59:00 GMT 59202
Lamonte to leave TfGM for Sydney job https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/59200/lamonte-to-leave-tfgm-for-sydney-job

The chief executive of Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) Jon Lamonte (pictured) is to join  the new statutory authority of Sydney Metro as its CEO. Sydney Metro is an operating agency owned by the New South Wales Government, which is responsible for building and operating the $20bn new metro network for the city. At TfGM Lamonte oversaw Metrolink’s expansion programme, and led on the development of the Leigh guided busway.

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People/people Fri, 12 Oct 2018 08:49:00 GMT 59200
ORR makes Larkinson interim CEO https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/59199/orr-makes-larkinson-interim-ceo

The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) has appointed John Larkinson (pictured) as interim chief executive. He was previously director of railway markets and economics at the ORR. His change of role follows the departure of Joanna Whittington, who is joining the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy as director general, energy and security. An open competition for the role of CEO at the ORR will be advertised.

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People/people Fri, 12 Oct 2018 08:45:00 GMT 59199
Marsh takes digital transformation role https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/59198/marsh-takes-digital-transformation-role Nathan Marsh is now director – digital transformation, UK & Europe at Atkins having previously been director – UK & Europe, intelligent mobility at the consultant. Before joining Atkins, Marsh spent five years as director smart transport & digital cities practice at Ernst & Young.

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People/people Fri, 12 Oct 2018 08:43:00 GMT 59198
InMotion Ventures brings in Seal-Driver https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/59197/inmotion-ventures-brings-in-seal-driver Joseph Seal-Driver is now entrepreneur in residence at InMotion Ventures, Jaguar Land Rover. InMotion Ventures invests in and creates businesses in the mobility, transportation and travel sector. Seal-Driver will focus on advising theses businesses. He was previously at bike hire firm Ofo, prior to which he worked at car sharing service DriveNow.

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People/people Fri, 12 Oct 2018 08:41:00 GMT 59197
Warner for Brighton and Hove Buses https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/59196/warner-for-brighton-and-hove-buses Patrick Warner has been appointed head of innovations & strategy at Brighton & Hove Buses. He was previously innovation consultant at Go-Ahead Group

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People/people Fri, 12 Oct 2018 08:37:00 GMT 59196
Fish wins WSP https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/59195/fish-wins-wsp Sarah Fish is now associate director at WSP. She was previously senior management consultant at Atkins, where she spent five years.

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People/people Fri, 12 Oct 2018 08:35:00 GMT 59195
Next year last year of EU clock changes https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/59107/next-year-last-year-of-eu-clock-changes Seasonal clock changes across the EU will end next year, under proposals published by the European Commission. Member states will have the freedom to decide whether they want to permanently apply summer- or wintertime, and must notify the Commission of their plans by April. The last mandatory change to summertime will take place on Sunday 31 March 2019. After this, those member states wishing to permanently switch back to wintertime will be able to make one last seasonal clock change on Sunday 2

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In brief Fri, 28 Sep 2018 14:39:00 GMT 59107
Brent Cross station funding talks https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/59104/brent-cross-station-funding-talks Talks are underway to agree a revised funding package for a new Thameslink rail station at Brent Cross West. The discussions follow this summer’s announcement by retail property development and investment company Hammerson that it is deferring the Brent Cross London shopping centre redevelopment because of difficult market conditions. The London Borough of Barnet’s contribution to the station is dependent on the shopping centre development taking place as the additional business rate

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In brief Fri, 28 Sep 2018 14:28:00 GMT 59104
Bus stop closures mooted for Dudley https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/59090/bus-stop-closures-mooted-for-dudley Bus stops could be closed in Dudley as part of a revamp of the area’s bus network, the West Midlands Combined Authority has suggested. Rationalising the number of stops on key corridors in the Black Country district is one of the actions listed in a seven-year bus development plan that supports the overarching West Midlands bus alliance. More than 50 stops on four bus routes in South Birmingham were closed last year in an attempt to speed up services.  Transport for the West Midland

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Regular news Fri, 28 Sep 2018 13:47:00 GMT 59090
Walking first in our hierarchy last of our priorities https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/59072/walking-first-in-our-hierarchy--last-of-our-priorities

Three episodes back, if you recall, I got all exercised concerning the fact that, despite much excitement in the past decade or so concerning the benefits of de-cluttering, we’re still either putting too much stuff into our streets that either doesn’t need to be there at all, or putting the stuff that needs to be there in the wrong place. I specifically cited my old friends the ‘Keep Left’ bollards and a new menace: electric vehicle charging pillars. This time round, I&r

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John Dales Fri, 28 Sep 2018 12:11:00 GMT 59072
Huntley leads TAS as Grant retires https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/59042/huntley-leads-tas-as-grant-retires

Sarah Huntley (pictured) has been appointed managing director of public transport consultancy the TAS Partnership, taking over from Adrian Grant who retired this week. Huntley joined TAS in 2013 as an administrative assistant and has been deputy managing director of the Preston-based business for the last two years. She is the daughter of the late Peter Huntley, who founded TAS, which is now employee-owned. Grant, who joined TAS in 2002, will continue to assist with the administration of the com

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People/people Fri, 28 Sep 2018 09:09:00 GMT 59042
Taylor-Bond is head of highways at MK https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/59041/taylor-bond-is-head-of-highways-at-mk Debbie Taylor-Bond has joined Milton Keynes Council as head of highways, moving from Northamptonshire County Council where she was head of transport and highways.

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People/people Fri, 28 Sep 2018 09:07:00 GMT 59041
Green joins Englands Heartland https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/59040/green-joins-england-s-heartland Naomi Green has joined the England’s Economic Heartland alliance of local authorities as head of technical programme, a role that will see her oversee the area’s emerging transport strategy. Green moves from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy where she was an assistant director. She worked at the DfT from 2007 to 2015, including as head of cycling policy (2013-2015), and housing growth manager (2007-2009).

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People/people Fri, 28 Sep 2018 09:05:00 GMT 59040
Seal-Driver joins INMotion Ventures https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/59039/seal-driver-joins-inmotion-ventures Joe Seal-Driver has joined InMotion Ventures, the venture capital fund of Jaguar Land Rover, as entrepreneur in residence. InMotion invests in start-ups in travel and transport. Seal-Driver was dockless bike hire form ofo’s general manager for the UK and Ireland until August this summer (LTT 03 Aug). Before that he was UK general manager of car club DriveNow.

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People/people Fri, 28 Sep 2018 09:00:00 GMT 59039
Francis leaves transport sector https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/59038/francis-leaves-transport-sector Nicola Francis has joined Peterborough City Council as an integrated programme manager, working to improve integration across the city’s communities. She was a travel plan officers at the council from 2006 to 2010 and then worked for Transport for London from 2010 to 2017 on travel behaviour change and cycling.

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People/people Fri, 28 Sep 2018 08:56:00 GMT 59038
Salisbury joins WSP from Jacobs https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/59037/salisbury-joins-wsp-from-jacobs Iain Salisbury has joined consultant WSP as design and build director in the highways team based in Glasgow. He joins from Jacobs, where he worked as a project director delivering schemes such as the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route and a section of the M60 widening in Manchester.

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People/people Fri, 28 Sep 2018 08:52:00 GMT 59037
Three highway officers retire at Wakefield Council https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/59035/three-highway-officers-retire-at-wakefield-council Three long-serving highways officers at Wakefield Council have retired: Sue Wilson (business development manager for road safety), Paul Platts (network maintenance engineer) and Dennis Beever (group engineer, urban traffic control).

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People/people Fri, 28 Sep 2018 08:48:00 GMT 59035
Rail innovations competition launched https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/59033/rail-innovations-competition-launched The DfT is offering grants to projects developing innovative ways of improving the railway network’s emission standards and passenger experience in rail stations. The First of a Kind (FOAK) competition, which is launched on 6 October and runs until 28 November, will award funding of between £250,000 and £350,000 to individual projects. The competition, now in its second year, seeks ideas that can be adapted to improve the UK rail network. This second year of funding focuses on

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Regular news Tue, 25 Sep 2018 17:24:00 GMT 59033
Sustrans welcomes Scotlands Safer Streets Bill https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/59031/sustrans-welcomes-scotland-s-safer-streets-bill

Sustrans has welcomed the launch of the Safer Streets Bill, which seeks to make 20mph the standard speed on residential streets in Scotland. John Lauder, the sustainable transport charity’s national director for Scotland, argued the Bill is great news for people who walk and cycle. “When it comes to saving lives and reducing injury on our roads, the benefits of 20mph speed limits are well known but worth repeating,” Lauder wrote in his blog on the charity’s website. 

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Regular news Tue, 25 Sep 2018 17:08:00 GMT 59031
Drivers dependency on the car has jumped RAC survey reveals https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/59030/drivers-dependency-on-the-car-has-jumped-rac-survey-reveals

Drivers’ dependency on the car has jumped in the last year, with third (33%) of motorists – the equivalent to 13.2m – saying they are more reliant on their cars now than 12 months earlier, compared to just 27% in 2017, reveals research conducted by the RAC. The motoring association's annual Report on Motoring is based on a representative survey of 1,808 motorists. Data from the study of motoring trends, now in its 30th year, shows car dependency had been dropping steadily sin

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Regular news Mon, 24 Sep 2018 17:26:00 GMT 59030
Towards a new mobility platform https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/59005/towards-a-new-mobility-platform

Opening this month, Edinburgh's Your Bike cycle hire scheme is using innovative 'hybrid lock' technology that supports a network of 'virtual' geo-fenced bike parking stations along with physical stations. It's about bringing a planned and integrated approach with new facilities and solutions for cities so that the private car is no longer first choice, says Matt McNulty, urban mobility director for Serco and Your Bike The Your Bike scheme in Edinburgh, to be known as ‘Just Eat Cycles&rsqu

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Analysis Fri, 14 Sep 2018 13:44:00 GMT 59005
HS2 phase 2 director quits for job in Canada as Bill delayed a year https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/59002/hs2-phase-2-director-quits-for-job-in-canada-as-bill-delayed-a-year

The official in charge of phase two of HS2 is leaving to take up a job in Canada. The news came as it also emerged that the publication of the hybrid Bill for phase 2b of the project, from West Midlands to Leeds and Crewe to Manchester, is being delayed a year. Paul Griffiths, managing director of phase two of the project, will leave Government company HS2 Ltd in December to become programme director for the $40bn Metrolinx public transport investment programme in Toronto. Griffiths joined HS2

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Regular news Fri, 14 Sep 2018 13:34:00 GMT 59002
EV energy taskforce gets to work https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/58995/ev-energy-taskforce-gets-to-work More details have been released about the Government’s new electric vehicle energy taskforce, which brings together the energy and automotive industries to plan for rising electric vehicle use. The taskforce is chaired by Phil New, chief executive of the Energy Systems Catapult, and the Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership (LowCVP) is providing the secretariat. Said the LowCVP this week: “The objective of the taskforce is to put engaging the electric vehicle user at the heart of preparing

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In brief Fri, 14 Sep 2018 12:57:00 GMT 58995
EU plan to harmonise clocks https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/58977/eu-plan-to-harmonise-clocks The European Commission is to prepare a legislative proposal to scrap the current system of putting the clocks forward by a hour on the last Sunday of March and back by an hour on the last Sunday of October. The commission says a consultation generated 4.6 million responses from the 28 member states, of whom 84 per cent were in favour of ending the bi-annual clock change.

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In brief Fri, 14 Sep 2018 11:51:00 GMT 58977
Patronage growth on Borders Railway https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/58968/patronage-growth-on-borders-railway Patronage on the Borders Railway between Edinburgh and Tweedbank continued to rise in its third year of operation, according to train operator ScotRail. The railway re-opened in September 2015 and carried 1.3 million passengers in year one, 1.37 million in year two, and 1.5 million in year three. 

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In brief Fri, 14 Sep 2018 11:20:00 GMT 58968
Catapult helps new mobility innovators https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/58959/catapult-helps-new-mobility-innovators The Transport Systems Catapult has announced the successful applicants in the latest round of its intelligent mobility accelerator programme, a partnership with Wayra UK, the start-up accelerator that is part of Telefónica Open Future.  Firms will receive mentoring from the programme’s supporters – Network Rail, Hyundai, Ferrovial, ThoughtWorks ventures and Stagecoach. The firms and their projects are: • Predina Tech Ltd – ‘deep learning’ to dynam

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Regular news Fri, 14 Sep 2018 10:41:00 GMT 58959
Picture book engages new audiences in transports future https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/58950/picture-book-engages-new-audiences-in-transport-s-future I read with some concern Jenny Raggett’s letter in the last issue about the DfT’s Travelling in Britain in the future information booklet (Letters LTT 31 Aug). I understand that this particular document might not suit her. It certainly wouldn’t suit me. Instead, I would read the sister document Future of mobility: call for evidence. But Travelling in Britain in the future is not designed for us. It’s designed for people with a learning difficulty or whose first language i

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Letters to the editor Fri, 14 Sep 2018 10:00:00 GMT 58950
Open source coding vital for new mobility services https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/58942/open-source-coding-vital-for-new-mobility-services- The Government is being urged to support the use of open source coding in transport innovations such as Mobility as a Service and Connected and Autonomous Vehicles. The TravelSpirit Foundation says journey planning systems to support mobility as a service  (MaaS) offerings in Finland and Netherlands are built with open source code that can be shared by developers across the world. “This means that any enhancements to the code base, in terms of intelligent algorithms and security mea

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Regular news Fri, 14 Sep 2018 09:23:00 GMT 58942
Kemp is Herts infrastructure director https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/58941/kemp-is-herts-infrastructure-director Mark Kemp has joined Hertfordshire County Council as director of environment and infrastructure from Buckinghamshire County Council, where he was director of growth, strategy and highways services. 

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People/people Fri, 14 Sep 2018 09:20:00 GMT 58941
Davis is TRIs transport health professor https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/58940/davis-is-tri-s-transport--health-professor Adrian Davis has been appointed professor of transport and health at Edinburgh Napier University’s Transport Research Institute. The post is for the equivalent of two-days a week and Davis will continue his one day a week work as a senior fellow at the University of the West of England. Davis has worked in the inter-disciplinary field of transport and health for more than 30 years.

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People/people Fri, 14 Sep 2018 09:19:00 GMT 58940
CPT chief Posner quits https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/58939/cpt-chief-posner-quits Simon Posner has left his post as chief executive of bus, coach and light rail trade association the Confederation of Passenger Transport. Posner had been chief executive since 2007 and said the time was now right to move on. He is taking a career break. 

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People/people Fri, 14 Sep 2018 09:17:00 GMT 58939
Former HS2 chief becomes a consultant https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/58938/former-hs2-chief-becomes-a-consultant Former HS2 Ltd chief executive Simon Kirby has left Rolls Royce, where he was chief operating officer, to become an associate senior advisor with infrastructure consultant The Nichols Group. Kirby joined Rolls Royce from HS2 Ltd in 2016. His departure from Rolls Royce follows a restructuring.

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People/people Fri, 14 Sep 2018 09:15:00 GMT 58938
DfTs former news chief joins WMCA https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/58937/dft-s-former-news-chief-joins-wmca Simon Wren, a former DfT head of news, has joined West Midlands Combined Authority as director of communications.  

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People/people Fri, 14 Sep 2018 09:14:00 GMT 58937
Crockart joins MIRA https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/58936/crockart-joins-mira Miller Crockart has joined Nuneaton-based automotive engineering and development consultancy HORIBA MIRA as chief commercial officer. He moves from German traffic modelling firm PTV Group, where he had been vice president for global sales and marketing traffic software since 2011.

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People/people Fri, 14 Sep 2018 09:11:00 GMT 58936
McDermott is HTMAs new chair https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/58935/mcdermott-is-htma-s-new-chair The Highways Term Maintenance Association has appointed Peter McDermott as its new chairman for a two-year term. McDermott is national highways director at Capita. He succeeds Lee Rushbrooke, chief executive of Colas. Ian Spellacey, strategic highways – client director at Atkins, has been appointed the association’s new vice-chair.

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People/people Fri, 14 Sep 2018 09:08:00 GMT 58935
Customer director for Stagecoach South https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/58934/customer-director-for-stagecoach-south Keith Gait has joined bus operator Stagecoach South (covering Hampshire, West Sussex and Surrey) in the newly created position of customer service director. Gait is the former chief operating officer of NHS Direct.

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People/people Fri, 14 Sep 2018 08:52:00 GMT 58934
2m funding boost for electric delivery bikes https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/58926/-2m-funding-boost-for-electric-delivery-bikes

The government has announced £2m to support the uptake of e-cargo bikes. The funding is designed to help pave the way for electric delivery vehicles to replace older vans, improving both the environment and reduce congestion. The announcement is part of the international Zero Emission Vehicle Summit being held in Birmingham this week. The event brings together policy makers, industry experts and opinion formers from around globe to tackle carbon emissions and to explore ways to impro

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Regular news Tue, 11 Sep 2018 14:33:00 GMT 58926
Zero emissions vehicles could get green number plates https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/58925/zero-emissions-vehicles-could-get-green-number-plates

Zero emission cars, vans and taxis could be issued with green number plates to promote clean engine technology, the Department for Transport has suggested. The special plates, which are already used by countries like Norway, Canada and China, would be available for green vehicles like electric and hydrogen cars. As well as promoting zero emission vehicles, the DfT says green number plates could help support local incentives for electric vehicles such as access to bus or low emission vehicle la

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Regular news Tue, 11 Sep 2018 14:30:00 GMT 58925
Edinburgh launches 20mph toolkit https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/58923/edinburgh-launches-20mph-toolkit

The City of Edinburgh has launched an online toolkit to help communicate the benefits of adopting a 20mph limit. The toolkit comprises activities and resources designed to help local communities to spread the word about calmer speeds and encourage behaviour change across the city.  Edinburgh became the first city in Scotland to implement a citywide 20mph network in March. The council hopes the 20mph limit will to improve road safety, encourage active travel and help make the city’s s

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Regular news Sat, 8 Sep 2018 16:00:00 GMT 58923
Fords Chariot shuttle service moves into London company and campus market https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/58906/ford-s-chariot-shuttle-service-moves-into-london-company-and-campus-market

Chariot, Ford’s ride-sharing shuttle service, launched its first European routes tailored for companies and campuses in London. Chariot uses Ford Transit vans in a minibus mode to provide a ride-sharing service that connects commuters living and working in areas underserved by public transport with nearby transit hubs. The Chariot service was launched in London earlier this year with four routes designed to complement the city’s existing public transport system. The new Chariot ro

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Regular news Mon, 3 Sep 2018 15:12:00 GMT 58906
Dockless bike hire helps kill Oxfords dock-based scheme https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/58890/dockless-bike-hire-helps-kill-oxford-s-dock-based-scheme Oxford’s dock-based bike hire scheme has closed down with operator Hourbike attributing the decision partly to the growth of dockless schemes in the city. The Oxonbike scheme was originally launched in 2013 in the east of the city, covering places such as Thornhill park-and-ride site, the John Radcliffe hospital, and Oxford Brookes University campus. Funding for the scheme came from the DfT’s Local Sustainable Transport Fund.  The original operator Grandscheme went into liquid

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Regular news Fri, 31 Aug 2018 14:24:00 GMT 58890
Hatch sets up Urbtrans https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/58827/hatch-sets-up-urbtrans Olly Hatch has set up Urbtrans Ltd, a consultancy specialising in urban transport. Hatch has just left London Councils where he had been public affairs manager since 2007. He was a member of the National Cycle Strategy board from 2001 to 2005 and ran the secretariat of the All Party Parliamentary Cycling Group from 1995 to 2005. 

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People/people Fri, 31 Aug 2018 10:11:00 GMT 58827
McKevitt joins RPS from Jacobs https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/58826/mckevitt-joins-rps-from-jacobs Barry McKevitt has joined consultant RPS Europe as an associate director, moving from Jacobs where he was a technical director. He joined Jacobs as an associate transport planner from Aurecon in 2016.

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People/people Fri, 31 Aug 2018 10:06:00 GMT 58826
Bridge joins First in West Yorkshire https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/58825/bridge-joins-first-in-west-yorkshire Bus operator First West Yorkshire has appointed Tom Bridge as its operations director. He joins from Stagecoach, where he was managing director for its Scotland West business.

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People/people Fri, 31 Aug 2018 10:05:00 GMT 58825
Andrews joins Arriva Rail London https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/58824/andrews-joins-arriva-rail-london Arriva Rail London, which operates the London Overground for Transport for London, has appointed Alicia Andrews as concession transformation director. She was executive director – commercial, at Condor Ferries. Arriva’s seven-and-a-half year concession for London Overground began in November 2016.

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People/people Fri, 31 Aug 2018 10:02:00 GMT 58824
TfGM launches family-friendly cycle training https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/58798/tfgm-launches-family-friendly-cycle-training

Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) has launched a cycle training scheme designed to get whole families out and about on two wheels. The training programme consists of free two-hour sessions led by a professional cycle instructor who travel to the family’s home and tailor each session to suit their needs. Parents will be taught how to lead safe cycling trips on the road and how to ride protectively with children. Their children will be taught how they can travel safely on the roads t

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Regular news Thu, 30 Aug 2018 10:29:00 GMT 58798
Media condemns state of the railways as latest round of fare rises announced https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/58693/media-condemns-state-of-the-railways-as-latest-round-of-fare-rises-announced

In the run up to the annual ritual of outrage at the announcement of above-inflation rail fare increases (see below), the viability, or otherwise, of the HS2 high-speed rail network briefly occupied the minds of some leading media commentators. Writing in The Times on 8 August, for example, transport commentator Christian Wolmar observed that: “Every time the spotlight is focused on HS2, the project’s basic viability seems to be increasingly questioned. It has had a reputation for pr

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Media monitor Mon, 20 Aug 2018 09:40:00 GMT 58693
Scrap traffic chief retirement age https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/58691/-scrap-traffic-chief-retirement-age- The Government should scrap the rule that traffic commissioners must retire at 65 because it is discriminatory and at odds with the rising pension age, a traffic commissioner has said. The Public Passenger Vehicles Act 1981 includes a compulsory retirement age for traffic commissioners of 65. Commissioners must obtain approval from the secretary of state if they want to work to the eve of their 66th birthday.  Writing her final annual report, Scottish traffic commissioner Joan Aitken, who

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Regular news Mon, 20 Aug 2018 09:29:00 GMT 58691
Lawton joins Road Safety Foundation https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/58690/lawton-joins-road-safety-foundation

The Road Safety Foundation has appointed Brian Lawton (pictured) to the new post of programme and research manager. Lawton was a senior road safety specialist and project lead at TRL, working across the organisation’s road safety programme. The Road Safety Foundation is a UK charity that advocates road casualty reduction through simultaneous action on all three components of the ‘safe road system’: roads, vehicles and behaviour. It has been instrumental in the development of th

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People/people Mon, 20 Aug 2018 09:24:00 GMT 58690
Riley joins WSP as director https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/58689/riley-joins-wsp-as-director Kevin Riley has joined consultant WSP as a director from Mott MacDonald where he was a transport projects director based in the north-west of England. Riley joined Mott MacDonald in 2013 from AECOM. He worked for WSP as a technical director from 2003-2004.

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People/people Mon, 20 Aug 2018 09:22:00 GMT 58689
Kennedy-Todd joins Jacobs https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/58688/kennedy-todd-joins-jacobs Silka Kennedy-Todd has joined consultant Jacobs as a stakeholder manager. She worked for Transport for London for 12 years from 2005 to 2017, including as head of the press desk and latterly as head of stakeholder relations for taxis and private hire. She joins Jacobs after a short career break.

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People/people Mon, 20 Aug 2018 09:20:00 GMT 58688
Turner is Blazefields commercial head https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/58687/turner-is-blazefield-s-commercial-head Paul Turner has joined bus operator Transdev Blazefield as head of commercial development, based in Burnley. Turner joined Preston-based transport consultancy The TAS Partnership in 2000 as an apprentice planner, and joined its board in 2006. He joined First Group in 2012 and was latterly head of commercial for its operations in West Yorkshire.

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People/people Mon, 20 Aug 2018 09:18:00 GMT 58687
HS2 fills vacancies at the top https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/58686/hs2-fills-vacancies-at-the-top Richard Robinson has joined HS2 Ltd as chief operating officer and Michael Bradley has joined as chief financial officer. Robinson joins from AECOM where he was chief executive of civil infrastructure in Europe, the Middle East, India and Africa. Bradley joins from Defence Equipment and Support, an arms-length body of the Ministry of Defence, where he was chief financial officer and director of resources. 

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People/people Mon, 20 Aug 2018 09:16:00 GMT 58686
Davies leads Balfour VINCI https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/58685/davies-leads-balfour-vinci Mark Davies has been appointed managing director of the Balfour Beatty VINCI joint venture, taking over from Mark Cutler who is leaving for a new career outside the Balfour Beatty Group. Balfour Beatty VINCI, a long-established joint venture, was awarded two HS2 phase one contracts last July with a value of circa £2.5bn. It is also bidding for the contract to build the Old Oak Common station. Davies was most recently managing director of Carillion’s UK infrastructure business. Carill

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People/people Mon, 20 Aug 2018 09:10:00 GMT 58685
Passenger trust in rail falls to new depths says Which? report https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/58681/passenger-trust-in-rail-falls-to-new-depths-says-which-report Trust in the rail industry has fallen to its lowest point for six years, reveals a report from the consumer organisation Which? In July 2018, only 23% said they trusted train travel, a 6% drop compared with July 2017. This makes train travel one of the least-trusted consumer industries, only above car dealers, says the report. The findings, based on data from the watchdog Transport Focus, also showed that satisfaction with train punctuality and reliability has dropped from 79% to 73% over the p

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Regular news Wed, 15 Aug 2018 10:19:00 GMT 58681
Towards a new Future of Mobility understanding key trends https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/58664/towards-a-new-future-of-mobility--understanding-key-trends Last month, the Governement launched the first stages of its Future of Mobility Grand Challenge, declaring that the UK is on the cusp of 'a profound change in how we move people, goods and services around our towns, cities and countryside...driven by extraordinary innovation in engineering, technology and business models'. These changes will be a key focus for Smarter Travel LIVE! In 2018 The Government's Industrial Strategy, launched in June 2018, set out a series of Grand Challenges to ensure

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In brief Mon, 6 Aug 2018 12:03:00 GMT 58664
TfL streets chief walked away with 445000 severance pay https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/58662/tfl-streets-chief-walked-away-with-445-000-severance-pay Leon Daniels, Transport for London’s former managing director of surface transport, received a severance payment of almost £445,000 when he left the organisation last December. Garrett Emmerson, TfL’s former chief operating officer for surface transport, received almost £250,000.  TfL’s accounts show that Daniels received a pay-off of £444,698 and Emmerson £245,579. The payments are described as “compensation for loss of employment in 2017/18

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Regular news Fri, 3 Aug 2018 13:55:00 GMT 58662
Highways Englands workforce expands https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/58624/highways-england-s-workforce-expands Highways England recruited more than 1,700 staff in 2017/18, helping grow the company by more than 20 per cent for the second year running. About 275 staff transferred to the Government company from companies that performed asset management functions under contract in four regions, and 174 transferred from the Severn River crossing operations. The number of full time equivalent staff at 31 March 2018 was 5,282. Gross staff costs increased from £209m in 2016/17 to £243m. HE chief exec

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In brief Fri, 3 Aug 2018 12:13:00 GMT 58624
WSP buys Louis Berger https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/58601/wsp-buys-louis-berger Canadian WSP is to buy US professional services firm Louis Berger for US$400m (£304m). Louis Berger operates in more than 50 countries, employing 6,000 engineers, economists, scientists, managers and planners. WSP employs about 43,000 people in 550 offices across 40 countries. WSP said the purchase would strengthen its  United States footprint, while broadening WSP’s presence in Continental Europe (mainly Spain and France), Middle East and Latin America.

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Regular news Fri, 3 Aug 2018 11:12:00 GMT 58601
The world needs more cycling champions Do you have what it takes? https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/58593/the-world-needs-more-cycling-champions-do-you-have-what-it-takes-

What does it take to become a cycling champion? That is a question I could ask any of my recent bosses: Andrew Gilligan, Will Norman and Chris Boardman. I have held senior roles under all three, advising on the quality of infrastructure and planning the spending of billions of pounds of taxpayers’ money. I hope they don’t mind this Viewpoint, or that’s my career finished! They are three very different characters, all with their own unique attributes and specialities but there i

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Comment extra Fri, 3 Aug 2018 10:30:00 GMT 58593
HS/ Leon Daniels-severance pay /Highways England/ Intercity 125 https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/58592/hs-leon-daniels-severance-pay-highways-england-intercity-125

As stories predicting HS2 will blow its budget pile up, the campaign to stop the project struggles on with only pennies in its tin. Joe Rukin, campaign manager of Stop HS2, told LTT­this week that he has now taken his redundancy from the organisation but continues to do bits and bobs. Rukin is bitter about the way environmental campaign groups failed to back the campaign against the project, and reserves his fiercest criticisms for the Campaign to Protect Rural England. “CPRE’s a

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In Passing Fri, 3 Aug 2018 10:22:00 GMT 58592
Challenge the climate sceptics who stand in the way of action https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/58589/challenge-the-climate-sceptics-who-stand-in-the-way-of-action The recent British Attitudes Survey showed most people think that global warming is real, although they don’t agree on the causes (‘Britons sceptical of climate message’ LTT 20 Jul).  The survey says that only about a quarter of respondents describe themselves as “very worried” about this issue and only a minority feel a responsibility to reduce carbon emissions. Without higher levels of public support for political action on climate change we will see more em

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Letters to the editor Fri, 3 Aug 2018 10:12:00 GMT 58589
Shirley is CBTs new chief https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/58580/shirley-is-cbt-s-new-chief

The Campaign for Better Transport has appointed Darren Shirley (pictured) as its new chief executive, succeeding Stephen Joseph. Shirley previously led consumer group Which?’s campaigning in regulated and retail markets. He has also worked as a campaigner in the environmental sector with WWF, Greenpeace UK and National Energy Action. Joseph is staying on as adviser to the organisation until October and is then leaving to pursue other projects.

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People/people Fri, 3 Aug 2018 09:18:00 GMT 58580
Seal-Driver leaves Ofo https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/58579/seal-driver-leaves-ofo Joseph Seal-Driver has left dockless bike hire firm Ofo where he was UK and Ireland general manager, as part of the Chinese company’s restructuring of UK operations. Ofo has closed down operations in Sheffield and Norwich, abandoned a planned launch in Leeds, and retained operations in London, Oxford and Cambridge (LTT 20 Jul). The company is believed to be outsourcing its remaining UK operations.

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People/people Fri, 3 Aug 2018 09:16:00 GMT 58579
Course is TfWs rail operations director https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/58577/course-is-tfw-s-rail-operations-director

Alexia Course (pictured) has joined Transport for Wales as director of rail operations, moving from Network Rail where she has been commercial director of the Wales route since 2013. Course was Network Rail’s lead in negotiations over the next Wales and Borders franchise, and led the management of the company’s relationship with the Welsh Government and TfW.  

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People/people Fri, 3 Aug 2018 09:11:00 GMT 58577
Bellamy joins Air Quality Consultants https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/58575/bellamy-joins-air-quality-consultants Nigel Bellamy has joined Air Quality Consultants as a technical director. Bellamy was head of air quality at Jacobs where he was responsible for the Birmingham and Greater Manchester clean air zone projects. Denise Evans has rejoined Air Quality Consultants as an associate director, following seven years working on air quality for multi-disciplinary consultancies

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People/people Fri, 3 Aug 2018 08:56:00 GMT 58575
Projects aiming to broaden the appeal of cycling to get TfL grants https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/58571/projects-aiming-to-broaden-the-appeal-of-cycling-to-get-tfl-grants

Transport for London is offering grants to schemes to help groups in the capital that face barriers to cycling. The Cycling Grants London (CGL) programme, funded by TfL and run by environmental regeneration charity Groundwork London, is offering a total of £240,000, which will be available to up to 30 groups. Projects will receive up to £10,000 over a three-year period to support groups that do not cycle due to barriers relating to income, health, ability, skills and access to inform

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Regular news Wed, 1 Aug 2018 15:10:00 GMT 58571
Shared space projects suspended by government https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/58499/shared-space-projects-suspended-by-government

The government has imposed a moratorium on the creation of any new ‘shared space’ schemes in response to concerns raised during the consultation on its new Inclusive Transport Strategy. The strategy was developed following the Accessibility Action Plan (AAP) consultation, which received over 1,000 responses. Shared space schemes involve the removal of features such as kerbs, road surface markings, designated crossing places and traffic signs are removed. In the strategy document, t

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Regular news Mon, 30 Jul 2018 10:05:00 GMT 58499
Government publishes Inclusive Transport Strategy https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/58497/government-publishes-inclusive-transport-strategy

The government will put up to £300m into extending the Access for All programme, making railway stations more accessible, including through step-free access. The funding commitment was announced alongside publication of the Inclusive Transport Strategy, which seeks to improve accessibility across all types of travel for those with both visible and less visible disabilities. The Department for Transport said the new measures and funding will help ensure disabled people can travel confiden

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Regular news Fri, 27 Jul 2018 10:00:00 GMT 58497
The UK could see 36 million EVs on the road by 2040 https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/58494/the-uk-could-see-36-million-evs-on-the-road-by-2040

The National Grid’s annual Future Energy Scenarios report  finds that electric vehicles will will play a major role in delivering a low carbon future. Electricity demand is expected to grow significantly by 2050, driven by increased electrification of transport and heating. There could be as many as 11 million electric vehicles (EVs) by 2030, and 36 million by 2040.  In the same month, the Automated and Electric Vehicles (EAV) Act, which has now passed through Parliam

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In brief Tue, 24 Jul 2018 16:56:00 GMT 58494
New Act will enable improvements in electric charging infrastructure https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/58492/new-act-will-enable-improvements-in-electric-charging-infrastructure

The Automated and Electric Vehicles (EAV) Act, which has now passed through Parliament, is set to be a significant step towards improving air quality, cutting congestion and boosting road safety, claims Government. The AEV Act will see a 'massive improvement' in electric chargepoint availability, and gives the government new powers to ensure motorway services are upgraded with plenty of points, and even allowing mayors to request installations at large fuel retailers in their areas. I

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Lead Story Tue, 24 Jul 2018 16:28:00 GMT 58492
New 5m fund to develop and share ideas for helping people live healthy and active lives https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/58491/new-5m-fund-to-develop-and-share-ideas-for-helping-people-live-healthy-and-active-lives A new £5m Healthy and Active Fund (HAF), a partnership between Welsh Government, Sport Wales and Public Health Wales, is planned to encourage and share innovative – and enjoyable – ideas that support people to build physical activity into their lives and improve their physical and mental wellbeing. Full details of the HAF application process will be announced in the Autumn. Walking and cycling will be a key element of the initiative. The first phase investment of £5m ove

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In brief Tue, 24 Jul 2018 15:58:00 GMT 58491
Private and public-sector big data transport policies explored in new report https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/58488/private-and-public-sector-big-data-transport-policies-explored-in-new-report

Researchers have published a comprehensive report on private- and public-sector big data policies affecting transport in EU countries and abroad. The travel behaviours and transport preferences of city dwellers are changing. Transport researchers and policymakers are therefore faced with numerous challenges as they strive to create efficient, safe and sustainable transportation systems, notes CORDIS, the EU Research and innovation news service. In order to address these issues, the EU

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In brief Tue, 24 Jul 2018 12:59:00 GMT 58488
Enter the Smarter Travel Awards 2018 today https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/58487/enter-the-smarter-travel-awards-2018-today-

Now in its 3rd year, the Awards will showcase the ways in whiich people's lives are being improved through cost-effective, clean and integrated transport provision across towns and cities. These awards celebrate both the positive impact that smarter travel projects can deliver, and the professionals who lead them. Whoever you are, whatever your project or service, everyone has a chance of winning a Smarter Travel Award. You don’t have to have the biggest budgets, the sexiest product or th

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Lead Story Tue, 24 Jul 2018 11:55:00 GMT 58487
Better buses https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/58486/better-buses

According to recent statistics produced by the Department for Transport, bus service use in England is in decline. Although bus use per person has increased significantly in London over the last 25 years (+52%), it has fallen by 40 per cent in many other English metropolitan areas. Along with London, Liverpool City Region is a proud exception to the rule. As a result of the introduction of a range of customer-focused improvements, including on board Wi-fi and USB charging points, the number of f

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Analysis Tue, 24 Jul 2018 11:12:00 GMT 58486
Smarter Travel LIVE delegates to ride Liverpool's new DRT bus service https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/58485/smarter-travel-live-delegates-to-ride-liverpool-s-new-drt-bus-service

ArrivaClick is an on-demand minibus service that takes multiple passengers heading in the same direction and books them on a shared vehicle, with the aim of tackling air quality issues and congestion. Enabling people to move out of private cars with the offer of convenient and comfortable shared journeys is a key driver for the project. ArrivaClick in Liverpool will become operational later in the summer. There are no fixed routes, with journeys determined by where passengers want to go wit

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Regular news Tue, 24 Jul 2018 10:27:00 GMT 58485
Travel demand which mobility future are we planning for? https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/58482/travel-demand-which-mobility-future-are-we-planning-for-

Painting a picture of the changing use of our transport system is not easy. A picture composed only of averages or aggregate change amounts to clumsy brush strokes. The finer detail in the picture comes from the artist’s ability to reflect the diversity of components of change – the distributions from which the averages arise. The Department for Transport's latest statistical release, 'Road Traffic Estimates: Great Britain 2017'  attempts to paint a picture, including fine

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Lead Story Fri, 20 Jul 2018 14:10:00 GMT 58482
Park status will fuel Chilterns traffic levels https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/58471/park-status-will-fuel-chilterns-traffic-levels- Upgrading the status of the Chilterns from an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) to a National Park is likely to place additional demands on the area’s transport networks, according to Hertfordshire County Council. Dame Cheryl Gillan, the MP for Chesham and Amersham, is lobbying for the area to be given National Park status, and the Chilterns Conservation Board has offered its support to the idea (LTT 06 Jul). Hertfordshire’s chief executive John Wood told councillors that N

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Regular news Fri, 20 Jul 2018 13:34:00 GMT 58471
App for travel to health appointments https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/58464/app-for-travel-to-health-appointments The Welsh Government is considering creating an app for residents of the South Wales Valleys  through which they could book travel to health appointments. Local government secretary Alun Davies said a Valleys taskforce was taking forward three digital pilots, including “investigating an Uber-style app which would bring together all providers of community transport, making it easier for people to order transport to health appointments”.

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In brief Fri, 20 Jul 2018 13:18:00 GMT 58464
Capitals bus and rail trips continue to fall https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/58454/capital-s-bus-and-rail-trips-continue-to-fall

Passenger numbers on almost all forms of public transport in London are down in the first two months of 2018/19 compared with the same period last year, according to Transport for London. The data for 1 April to 26 May shows 614 million journeys, compared with 625 million in the period 1 April to 27 May 2017. Data for individual modes shows (with the previous year’s figures in brackets):  • Bus use down 2.5 per cent at circa 346 million (cf. 354 million) • London Undergr

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Regular news Fri, 20 Jul 2018 12:39:00 GMT 58454
DfT consults on routes to making bus information accessible https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/58439/dft-consults-on-routes-to-making-bus-information-accessible

You wait ages for a consultation about bus information and then two come along at once. The DfT has just published proposals that will require operators to broadcast audio-visual information about services to help passengers with visual and/or hearing impairments, and for making data such as fares, routes and timetables ‘open’ so that they can be used in apps and other digital products.   The consultation on audio-visual information applies to the whole of Britain, and sets out

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Regular news Fri, 20 Jul 2018 11:28:00 GMT 58439
Making our transport networks less of a mans world https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/58418/making-our-transport-networks-less-of-a-man-s-world John Dales’ piece “It’s a man’s world. Only it isn’t” (LTT 06 Jul) was thought provoking. The lack of women in transport is, he argues, one of the reasons for the slow pace of change towards inclusive transport. Transport certainly needs more women. Diversity at a senior level usually means better solutions and healthier company finances. At this year’s Transport Practitioners’ Meeting in Oxford one of the central questions at the ‘Future of

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Letters to the editor Fri, 20 Jul 2018 10:10:00 GMT 58418
TfW job titles for KeolisAmey staff https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/58415/tfw-job-titles-for-keolisamey-staff People employed by KeolisAmey on the new Wales and Borders rail franchise have been given Transport for Wales job titles, to ensure the franchise presents a clear brand to the public. Last month the Welsh Government awarded KeolisAmey a 15-year Operator and Development Partner contract for the franchise. Keolis said the managing director would be Kevin Thomas, previously managing director of Docklands Light Railway. A TfW spokesman told LTT that Thomas’ new job title is “chief execu

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Regular news Fri, 20 Jul 2018 09:57:00 GMT 58415
Rider manages Wokinghams road plans https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/58412/rider-manages-wokingham-s-road-plans John Rider has joined Wokingham Borough Council as a programme manager for the council’s road projects. Rider runs his own interim project and programme manager company, Rider Solutions Ltd, and had been working as a project manager at Highways England since last July. 

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People/people Fri, 20 Jul 2018 09:38:00 GMT 58412
Mobikes expansion chief departs https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/58411/mobike-s-expansion-chief-departs Steve Pyer has left his position as European development director of Chinese dockless bike hire firm Mobike. Pyer launched Mobike in the UK last year and just last month launched the firm’s new scheme in Cambridge. He is now offering services in bikeshare consulting.

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People/people Fri, 20 Jul 2018 09:34:00 GMT 58411
Coleman is Stagecoach Oxfordshires MD https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/58410/coleman-is-stagecoach-oxfordshire-s-md Chris Coleman has been appointed managing director of bus operator Stagecoach Oxfordshire. Coleman was managing director of Metrolink RATP Dev Ltd until last summer and since then has been a member of Stagecoach’s rail team, working on the group’s rail strategy. He will take up his new position in September, succeeding Martin Sutton who is retiring.

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People/people Fri, 20 Jul 2018 09:31:00 GMT 58410
Williams is new Reading Buses chief https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/58409/williams-is-new-reading-buses-chief Robert Williams has been appointed chief executive of municipal bus operator Reading Buses, succeeding Martijn Gilbert who has been appointed managing director of Go-Ahead Group subsidiary Go North East (LTT 25 May). Reading-born Williams is currently commercial director of Stagecoach South West and will take up his new position on 1 October. 

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People/people Fri, 20 Jul 2018 09:30:00 GMT 58409
Morgan is HS2 Ltds new chair https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/58408/morgan-is-hs2-ltd-s-new-chair Sir Terry Morgan has been appointed HS2 Ltd’s new chairman, taking over from Sir David Higgins. Morgan moves from Crossrail, where he has been chairman since 2009. 

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People/people Fri, 20 Jul 2018 09:25:00 GMT 58408
Lloyd Jones is Welsh infrastructure chair https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/58407/lloyd-jones-is-welsh-infrastructure-chair The Welsh Government has appointed John Lloyd Jones OBE chair of the National Infrastructure Commission for Wales for one year. The commission will provide advice on the economic and environmental infrastructure needs of Wales. 

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People/people Fri, 20 Jul 2018 08:44:00 GMT 58407
People-friendly Aldgate Square opens in City of London https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/58403/people-friendly-aldgate-square-opens-in-city-of-london

A once notorious gyratory road system has been transformed into Aldgate Square, one of the largest public spaces in the City of London, featuring safer routes for cyclists and pedestrians. The six-year, £23m project is now complete, with the square being opened by Charles Bowman, the Lord Mayor of the City of London. The square, which is near Aldgate Underground station, has undergone a host of changes. The one-way gyratory system has been replaced with two-way traffic. Also, new cycling

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Regular news Thu, 12 Jul 2018 12:46:00 GMT 58403
New strategy will pave the way for emissions-free roads by 2050 says government https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/58402/new-strategy-will-pave-the-way-for-emissions-free-roads-by-2050-says-government

The government has stated its aim of making all cars and vans on the UK’s roads zero emission by 2050. The sale of all new petrol and diesel cars and vans will end by 2040, as set out in the government’s Air quality plan. “By then, we expect the majority of new cars and vans sold to be 100% zero. By 2050 we want almost every car and van to be zero emission,” says the Road to Zero strategy. The government previously stated in its

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Regular news Wed, 11 Jul 2018 14:15:00 GMT 58402
Bus and rail patronage down in NE Scotland https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/58370/bus-and-rail-patronage-down-in-ne-scotland Bus and rail patronage in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire has fallen sharply over the last two years, according to data published by Nestrans, the North East Scotland transport partnership. Rail patronage through the area’s eight stations is down 18 per cent in just two years: from 6,032,870 in 2014/15 to 5,579,046 in 2015/16, to 4,927,294 in 2016/17. Passenger numbers through all Scottish stations rose 2.7 per cent between 2014/15 and 2016/17, from 183.5 million to 188.5 million.  Bus p

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Regular news Fri, 6 Jul 2018 14:46:00 GMT 58370
Matheson is Scots transport secretary https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/58306/matheson-is-scots-transport-secretary

Michael Matheson (pictured) has been appointed cabinet secretary for transport, infrastructure and connectivity in a reshuffle by Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon. Matheson, the MSP for Falkirk West, was cabinet member for justice. The Scottish Government’s transport brief was previously below cabinet rank and held by Humza Yousaf, minister for transport and the islands. Yousaf has been promoted to cabinet secretary for justice. 

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People/people Fri, 6 Jul 2018 09:01:00 GMT 58306
Glanville joins Ramboll from Curtins https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/58305/glanville-joins-ramboll-from-curtins Jonathan Glanville has joined consultant Ramboll as a principal engineer (highways) from Curtins, where he was a senior transport planner. 

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People/people Fri, 6 Jul 2018 08:57:00 GMT 58305
McIntosh joins Cubic from Mott Mac https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/58304/mcintosh-joins-cubic-from-mott-mac Douglas McIntosh has joined Cubic Corporation as a mobility authority from Mott MacDonald where he was a software systems project manager. McIntosh joined Mott MacDonald in January from IBI Group, where he had been a consultant since 2014.

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People/people Fri, 6 Jul 2018 08:54:00 GMT 58304
Kirk-Ellis joins ADC Infrastructure https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/58303/kirk-ellis-joins-adc-infrastructure Ian Kirk-Ellis has joined Nottingham consultant ADC Infrastructure as an associate director. He moves from consultant Inspire Design & Development, where he was an associate for transport planning and traffic engineering. ADC specialises in the transport, highways and drainage aspects of new developments.

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People/people Fri, 6 Jul 2018 08:52:00 GMT 58303
Igoe joins CoMoUK as Scots director https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/58302/igoe-joins-comouk-as-scots-director Philip Igoe has joined shared mobility organisation CoMoUK as director of its shared transport programme in Scotland. Igoe is a former director of Carplus, which rebranded as CoMoUK earlier this year (LTT 08 Jun). Rachael North has also joined CoMoUK’s Scottish team as communications & marketing executive. 

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People/people Fri, 6 Jul 2018 08:50:00 GMT 58302
Groves heads West Yorks transport https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/58301/groves-heads-west-yorks-transport Kim Groves has been appointed chair of West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s transport committee, succeeding Keith Wakefield. Groves is a councillor on Leeds City Council. 

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People/people Fri, 6 Jul 2018 08:48:00 GMT 58301
Seifert quits Ofo UK strategy role https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/58300/seifert-quits-ofo-uk-strategy-role Fraser Seifert is leaving dockless bike hire firm Ofo, where he was UK policy and strategy manager, and moving to Germany.  

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People/people Fri, 6 Jul 2018 08:45:00 GMT 58300
Halfords to fund extra 25000 cycle training places for kids https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/58257/halfords-to-fund-extra-25-000-cycle-training-places-for-kids

The retailer Halfords is to give around £1m to the Bikeability scheme to enable an additional 25,000 primary school children in England to receive cycling training. The 40-month agreement between Halfords and cycling training charity the Bikeability Trust was announced by transport minister Jesse Norman at the Cycle City Active City conference in Manchester last Friday. Norman said: “This extra money will expand Bikeability so that more children can cycle safely and confidently on l

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Regular news Tue, 3 Jul 2018 15:09:00 GMT 58257
'Growing alarm' about cuts to green space budgets https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/58250/-growing-alarm-about-cuts-to-green-space-budgets

The Charter for Parks, launched by the National Federation of Parks and Green Spaces, and a coalition of national organisations, has called on on Prime Minister Theresa May and First Ministers Nicola Sturgeon, Carwyn Jones and Arlene Foster, to celebrate these spaces and take action to safeguard them. The Charter calls on the UK’s four political leaders to: Endorse a legal duty for all public greenspace to be managed to a good standard Ensure adequate long-term resources for maintenanc

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Regular news Wed, 27 Jun 2018 11:35:00 GMT 58250
Two-thirds of drivers unaware of tougher mobile phone misuse fines says RAC https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/58244/two-thirds-of-drivers-unaware-of-tougher-mobile-phone-misuse-fines-says-rac

Few motorists appear to be aware of the penalties they can incur when misusing a mobile phone while drivers, research by the RAC has revealed. Nearly two-thirds of drivers (64%) remain unaware what the consequences of breaking the law, which as introduced 15 years ago. Tougher penalties for using a handheld mobile phone at the wheel were introduced in March. The new penalty was set at six points on the driver’ license and a £200 fine. However, the RAC found that over a quarter of

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Regular news Tue, 26 Jun 2018 17:16:00 GMT 58244
Cross-party leaders urge government to tackle poor air quality https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/58245/cross-party-leaders-urge-government-to-tackle-poor-air-quality

Steve Rotheram, Liverpool City Region Metro Mayor, and Nathalie Nicholas, the Combined Authority’s recently-appointed Deputy Portfolio Holder for Transport and Air Quality, represented the city region during June at a National Clean Air Summit convened by Mayor of London Sadiq Khan, UK100 and IPPR. The idea is a simple one, says The Independent: ‘Get people from across the UK in the same room, from a local level all the way up to the corridors of Whitehall, to see what can be do

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Lead Story Tue, 26 Jun 2018 17:14:00 GMT 58245
Edinburgh workshops Newhaven tram extension designs https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/58242/edinburgh-workshops-newhaven-tram-extension-designs Edinburgh City Council is running a series of workshops with residents, traders, active travel organisations and community representatives to refine proposals for extending the tram network to Newhaven.  The three workshops focus on key themes raised during a six-week first phase of public consultation held by the project team during March and April. The workshops began with a focus on the section between Pilrig Street and Foot of the Walk.  Twenty-four people attended the four-hour

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Regular news Tue, 26 Jun 2018 17:08:00 GMT 58242
Brighton bike hire scheme expands as users cycle more than 400000 miles https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/58211/brighton-bike-hire-scheme-expands-as-users-cycle-more-than-400-000-miles

Brighton's bike share scheme (BTN BikeShare) is to expand with 120 new bikes and nine new hubs, mostly in Hove.  The scheme started last September with 450 bikes at 51 sites and, in the nine months since, has attracted 35,000 subscribers. Back in March, after gaining more than 22,000 users in just six months, the scheme became the biggest in the UK outside of London, and by the end of May there had been 213,000 rentals and more than 400,000 miles cycled, according to the Brighton and Hove N

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Lead Story Fri, 22 Jun 2018 12:39:00 GMT 58211
Passenger numbers fall on rail https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/58197/passenger-numbers-fall-on-rail Passenger numbers on franchised rail services fell last year for the first time since 2009/10, according to the Office of Rail and Road. Estimated journeys in 2017/18 dropped 1.4 per cent to 1.708bn, following a slowing in the rate of growth over the previous three years. Last year’s fall has been driven by a 2.1 per cent reduction in journeys in the London and South East sector, which accounts for 68.7 per cent of all national passenger journeys. Industrial action and prolonged engineer

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Regular news Fri, 22 Jun 2018 11:41:00 GMT 58197
Capital data strategy launched https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/58186/capital-data-strategy-launched A new data technology strategy for London has been published by mayor Sadiq Khan. Among the pledges are the creation of a London Office for Data Analytics to increase data sharing and collaboration in public services, and a London Office of Technology and Innovation to support digital services and smart technology in public services. Smarter London together – the mayor’s roadmap to transform London into the smartest city in the world is available at http://tinyurl.com/yc7jkpdj

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In brief Fri, 22 Jun 2018 11:06:00 GMT 58186
Revill leaves SYSTRA for Mott MacDonald https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/58159/revill-leaves-systra-for-mott-macdonald Martin Revill has joined Mott MacDonald as a projects director based in Leeds. He was market director for local transport at SYSTRA, having previously been an associate director at JMP Consultants, which SYSTRA bought in 2015.

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People/people Fri, 22 Jun 2018 08:53:00 GMT 58159
Menzies retires from Cambs https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/58158/menzies-retires-from-cambs Bob Menzies has retired from Cambridgeshire County Council where he was service director for strategy and development, which included transport strategy, passenger transport and infrastructure delivery. From 2004 to 2012 he was the council’s head of delivery for the Cambridgeshire guided busway.

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People/people Fri, 22 Jun 2018 08:51:00 GMT 58158
Medlicott returns to Stagecoach https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/58157/medlicott-returns-to-stagecoach Phil Medlicott is re-joining Stagecoach on 1 July as managing director of its Midlands operations, succeeding Steve Burd  who is to leave the business in September. Medlicott joined Stagecoach in 2000 as operations director for Stagecoach South before becoming managing director for Stagecoach Warwickshire, followed by Stagecoach South East and then Stagecoach North East. He left Stagecoach in 2016 to become managing director of First Manchester but quit earlier this year.

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People/people Fri, 22 Jun 2018 08:49:00 GMT 58157
Transport for Wales announces top team https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/58156/transport-for-wales-announces-top-team Welsh Government company Transport for Wales has revealed its senior management team. Chief executive is James Price, a former Welsh Government deputy permanent secretary, who chaired TfW from 2015 to 2017 and remains on secondment from the Welsh Government. Kathryn Harries is business partner and Gareth Morgan is safety and sustainability director. Both are seconded from the Government. Three members of senior management have been appointed permanently. Jeff Collins is TfW’s infrastructur

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People/people Fri, 22 Jun 2018 08:47:00 GMT 58156
Bishop is SDGs transport strategy chief https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/58155/bishop-is-sdg-s-transport-strategy-chief Steven Bishop has been appointed head of transport strategy and economics at consultant Steer Davies Gleave. He was the consultant’s head of UK planning.  

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People/people Fri, 22 Jun 2018 08:44:00 GMT 58155
Platt swaps Living Streets for Ramblers https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/58154/platt-swaps-living-streets-for-ramblers Tompion Platt has left Living Streets where he was head of policy and communications, joining The Ramblers as director of advocacy and engagement.

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People/people Fri, 22 Jun 2018 08:42:00 GMT 58154
Artificial Intelligence Transport Research Centre to open in China https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/58137/artificial-intelligence-transport-research-centre-to-open-in-china

Following the release of the first fleet of proof of concept vehicles in Christchurch in 2017, along with trials across NZ and Australia with other partners and technologies, HMI Technologies (HMI), a New Zealand / Australian-based Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) innovator and a member of ITS UK, has developed a self driving & self-learning AV technology company called Ohmio Automotion. HMI has been a player in the ITS industry for more than 15 years and, based on its experience wor

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In brief Wed, 20 Jun 2018 13:58:00 GMT 58137
Bike ride for refugees takes place in Portsmouth https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/58125/bike-ride-for-refugees-takes-place-in-portsmouth

A mass cycle ride took place on the streets of Portsmouth yesterday to mark the start of Refugee Week. The event was organised by The British Red Cross and charity Cycling UK to highlight how giving refugees and asylum seekers access to bikes can help change their lives. The event is part of Cycling UK's Big Bike Revival project, which seeks to refurbish unused bikes along with maintenance advice and training events to get people cycling again or for the first time. Am

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Regular news Tue, 19 Jun 2018 16:26:00 GMT 58125
Westminster attempts to block Swiss Cottage cycle superhighway https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/58122/westminster-attempts-to-block-swiss-cottage-cycle-superhighway

Westminster City Council is taking legal action in a last-ditch effort to halt the construction of Cycle Superhighway CS11 through Swiss Cottage.  A Westminster City Council spokesperson said: “We fully support the provision of safe cycling and we are making major investments in the City to provide this, working closely with TfL and the Cycling Commissioner. However, residents are overwhelmingly opposed to the Cycle Superhighway 11 proposals.” Residents have expressed concerns

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Regular news Mon, 18 Jun 2018 15:02:00 GMT 58122
Developers of mobile breathalyser kits vie for 350k prize money https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/58120/developers-of-mobile-breathalyser-kits-vie-for-350k-prize-money The winners of a mobile breathalyser technology competition launched by the government will receive £350,00 funding. The competition is being run by PACTS (Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety), which is seeking technologies that analyse and calculate at the point of roadside test the amount of ethanol in exhaled breath at the roadside. As part of a package of measures to improve road safety standards, the new mobile breathalyser kit would not require a blood test to show t

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Regular news Fri, 15 Jun 2018 15:47:00 GMT 58120
All-female team develops road safety plan in Tower Hamlets https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/58119/all-female-team-develops-road-safety-plan-in-tower-hamlets

Measures to improve road safety outside a girls’ school in east London have been drawn up by an all-female team. Tower Hamlets council brought in consultant Project Centre to work on the project with students from Central Foundation Girls’ School (CFGS).  Supported by female managers from Project Centre, students went on a site visit, collected survey data and assessed the needs of all road users. This helped shape the proposed measures, which are now out for public consultatio

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Regular news Fri, 15 Jun 2018 14:16:00 GMT 58119
Introducing road user charging need not be political suicide says architect of Stockholms scheme https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/58117/introducing-road-user-charging-need-not-be-political-suicide-says-architect-of-stockholm-s-scheme

Stockholm’s congestion charge scheme has proved remarkably effective at suppressing traffic levels and encouraging a shift to other modes of transport in the 20 plus years since its launch. After initially facing widespread public opposition, it now has majority support, even among those who regularly pay the charge. One of the scheme’s architects, Director of the Stockholm City Transport Administration Jonas Eliasson, vividly recalls the uproar around its launch in 2006: “It w

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Lead Story Thu, 14 Jun 2018 11:04:00 GMT 58117
Khan reviews TfL severance pay https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/58104/khan-reviews-tfl-severance-pay London mayor Sadiq Khan has launched a review into senior staff severance pay across the Greater London Authority after it emerged that Transport for London paid out more than £50m in severance during 2017/18, the second year running the figure has been this high. As part of its efficiency programme, TfL has reduced the number of staff on a base salary of more than £100,000 from 189 in 2016/17 to 169 in 2017/18. But during 2017/18, 224 TfL staff who were on base salaries below £

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In brief Fri, 8 Jun 2018 12:47:00 GMT 58104
Barnet chooses Urbo https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/58080/barnet-chooses-urbo The London Borough of Barnet has selected Irish firm Urbo to provide a dockless bike hire scheme in the borough.  The two-year pilot scheme is due to commence this month with 100 bikes. Barnet says provision could rise to 300 if justified by demand.  The council reviewed six potential bike hire operators: App Bikes, Smoove, Brompton, Nextbike, Ofo and Urbo. It says Urbo has user-friendly bikes; a “good track record with other London boroughs”; an app that is quick to dow

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Regular news Fri, 8 Jun 2018 10:55:00 GMT 58080
Presland to retire from City post https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/58062/presland-to-retire-from-city-post Steve Presland, the City of London Corporation’s transportation and public realm director, is to retire later this year. 

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People/people Fri, 8 Jun 2018 09:22:00 GMT 58062
Long leads Southwarks transport planning https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/58061/long-leads-southwark-s-transport-planning Tim Long has joined the London Borough of Southwark as transport planning team leader. He was director of consultant TALong from 2015 to 2017, and has worked as a sustainable transport officer (interim) and principal transport policy planner (consultant) at Westminster City Council since 2016.

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People/people Fri, 8 Jun 2018 09:19:00 GMT 58061
Haigh joins DfT in roads Brexit role https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/58060/haigh-joins-dft-in-roads-brexit-role Conrad Haigh has joined the DfT as head of roads [for] EU exit delivery and Operation Stack. Haigh was head of integrated transport at the Rail Delivery Group until August last year, and director of smarter travel at consultant SYSTRA from 2009 to 2011.

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People/people Fri, 8 Jun 2018 09:17:00 GMT 58060
Humphreys leads First Manchester https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/58059/humphreys-leads-first-manchester Ian Humphreys has been appointed managing director of First Manchester following the departure of Phil Medlicott earlier this year. Humphreys has worked for First Bus for more than 20 years, most recently as commercial director of its Manchester operations. 

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People/people Fri, 8 Jun 2018 09:16:00 GMT 58059
Liston joins Stagecoach https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/58058/liston-joins-stagecoach David Liston has joined Stagecoach as managing director of its North of Scotland operations, replacing Mark Whitelocks, who has become managing director of Stagecoach Cumbria and North Lancashire (LTT?25 May). Liston was FirstGroup’s bus engineering director from 2003 to 2014, subsequently becoming operations director of Essential Fleet Services Ltd, a specialist fleet provider for local authority and corporates.

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People/people Fri, 8 Jun 2018 09:13:00 GMT 58058
Thomas to manage Wales and Borders rail franchise https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/58057/thomas-to-manage-wales-and-borders-rail-franchise Kevin Thomas has been appointed managing director of the  Wales and Borders franchise, which has just been awarded to KeolisAmey. He has been chief operating officer for Keolis UK since January and, prior to that, was managing director of the KeolisAmey joint venture company that operates and maintains the Docklands Light Railway.

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People/people Fri, 8 Jun 2018 09:10:00 GMT 58057
Stephen Plowden https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/58056/stephen-plowden Transport economist and market researcher Stephen Plowden has died at the age of 85. Plowden was a prolific writer and commentator on transport planning and policy. Among the books and reports he authored were: Towns against traffic (1972); Taming traffic (1980); Transport reform: changing the rules (1985); A case for traffic restraint in London (1987); A new framework for freight transport (with Keith Buchan) (1995);?and Speed control and transport policy (with Mayer Hillman) in 1996. He was a

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People/people Fri, 8 Jun 2018 08:41:00 GMT 58056
'Overtaking cars HGVs and potholes are major deterrent to cycling' https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/58009/-overtaking-cars-hgvs-and-potholes-are-major-deterrent-to-cycling-

More than 50% of would-be cyclists are put off getting in the saddle because of overtaking cars, potholes and having to share the road with HGVs. These were among the key concerns raised by adults across England, Wales and Scotland who took part in a survey conducted for the charity Cycling UK by YouGov. In the online poll, involving 2,024 respondents, 57% said they are deterred from cycling by lorries and other large vehicles while 56% cited drivers overtaking too closely and 56% highlighted p

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Regular news Fri, 1 Jun 2018 11:32:00 GMT 58009
Hertfordshire poised to join Englands Economic Heartland https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/56930/hertfordshire-poised-to-join-england-s-economic-heartland Hertfordshire County Council is expected to approve plans next month to join the England’s Economic Heartland alliance of local authorities, which has ambitions to form a statutory sub-national transport body (STB).  The EEH covers a geography of central southern England stretching from Swindon in the west to Cambridgeshire in the east, and already encompasses ten authorities: Swindon, Oxfordshire, Northamptonshire, Buckinghamshire, Milton Keynes, Central Bedfordshire, Bedford, Luton

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Regular news Fri, 25 May 2018 13:22:00 GMT 56930
The opportunity of uncertainty https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/56922/the-opportunity-of-uncertainty

Most of us played with Lego as children, but I was more likely to leave lines of toy cars around the house, which is somewhat ironic given my current line of work. But I still play with Lego today, as I tidy up my children's efforts when they’re not looking. But I think the two are linked in my line of work.  I like to imagine transport models in a similar way: a number of blocks that are interconnected to produce a replica of how people and goods move around our real cities. All the

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Analysis Fri, 25 May 2018 12:44:00 GMT 56922
easyBus sues council as network expands https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/56903/easybus-sues-council-as-network-expands

A bus operator that uses the easyCoach and easyBus brand is suing Shropshire Council in the High Court. The news comes as the company expands its operations with a new route between Shrewsbury and Liverpool John Lennon Airport. Shrewsbury-based TSL Ltd has the rights to use the easyBus and easyCoach brands of Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou’s easyGroup outside London. It operates several commercial and tendered local bus routes, including one under contract to Shropshire Council. Director Andre

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Regular news Fri, 25 May 2018 11:19:00 GMT 56903
European report on congestion out now https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/57966/european-report-on-congestion-out-now

The key findings of a European research project into the impact of transport policy on congestion have been published in a new report. The project – called CREATE (Congestion Reduction in Europe: Advancing Transport Efficiency) – examined congestion reduction policies in five western European capitals: Berlin, Copenhagen, London, Paris and Vienna. The report charts how policy priorities in the cities have shifted over the past 50-60 years: from road building, parking, lower density

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Regular news Fri, 25 May 2018 11:17:00 GMT 57966
On CAVs and MaaS Congestion and silver bullets https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/56893/on-cavs-and-maas-congestion-and-silver-bullets

CAVs and MaaS will radically change the mobility landscape of the next decade. But they are not 'easy to deploy' silver bullets. The future of modelling and policy making looks set to get very interesting, says Luis Willumsen, Director, Kineo Mobility Analytics Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (CAVs) and Mobility as a Service (MaaS) have been proposed as game changers in transport in the next decade. Indeed, the combination of both, a MaaS system using CAVs, will probably reduce costs by half

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Analysis Fri, 25 May 2018 10:31:00 GMT 56893
Have nothing in your streets that you do not know to be useful and believe to be beautiful https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/56892/have-nothing-in-your-streets-that-you-do-not-know-to-be-useful-and-believe-to-be-beautiful

The instruction in my title isn’t mine. Well, actually, it is. Because, although it’s a quote from William Morris – the Arts and Crafts Movement guy – I’ve changed a couple of words. My ‘streets’ was his ‘house’; and my ‘and’ was his ‘or’. My version doesn’t quite work, of course, because not everything can be beautiful. But it’s nevertheless a decent shot at a mantra for anyone involved in the design of st

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John Dales Fri, 25 May 2018 10:18:00 GMT 56892
Moving up the modelling value chain https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/56890/moving-up-the-modelling-value-chain

Over the past few months I have seen repeated references to the image of the Gartner Analytic Value Escalator, or the Gartner Analytic Continuum. I haven’t found an original reference, and the image is sometimes drawn slightly differently, but the message is always the same: adding value to data, moving from hindsight via insight to foresight, by progressing from Descriptive to Diagnostic to Predictive to Prescriptive Analytics. There’s a good version of the image here Isn’t t

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Analysis Fri, 25 May 2018 10:10:00 GMT 56890
Shake-up for NTS questionnaire https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/56883/shake-up-for-nts-questionnaire The DfT is consulting on removing, changing or alternating 14 questions asked of households in the National Travel Survey (NTS). The Department believes the current questionnaire is at the limit of acceptable length. “Without removing some questions we will not be able to add new questions to meet user need in developing areas of interest for transport, or we risk the survey becoming too long with the potential for the quality of responses being affected,” it explains. Questions ab

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Regular news Fri, 25 May 2018 09:33:00 GMT 56883
Boulby leads DfT active travel https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/56882/boulby-leads-dft-active-travel Guy Boulby has joined the DfT as head of cycling and walking, succeeding Helen Ramsden, who has moved to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. Boulby moves from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, where he was head of heat networks policy

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People/people Fri, 25 May 2018 09:30:00 GMT 56882
Kennedy joins Croydon https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/56881/kennedy-joins-croydon Ben Kennedy has joined the London Borough of Croydon as strategic transport manager. He was low emission neighbourhood programme manager at the City of London Corporation.

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People/people Fri, 25 May 2018 09:28:00 GMT 56881
NR cuts pay for new CEO https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/56880/nr-cuts-pay-for-new-ceo Andrew Haines OBE has been named Network Rail’s new chief executive and will take up the post in the early autumn, succeeding Mark Carne. Haines is currently chief executive of the Civil Aviation Authority, a post he has held since 2009. His career before that was spent in the rail industry, including as managing director of South West Trains, and then managing director of FirstGroup’s rail division. Haines’ salary at Network Rail will be £588,000 inclusive of benefits, a

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People/people Fri, 25 May 2018 09:25:00 GMT 56880
Stagecoach sets up business change team for buses https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/56879/stagecoach-sets-up-business-change-team-for-buses Stagecoach has announced changes to its senior bus management, many of which are linked to the creation of a business change team for the UKbus division. The new team will be led by Clare Burles, currently people director for Virgin Trains East Coast. She was human resources director at Stagecoach-operated East Midlands Trains from 2011 to 2015. Stagecoach East Midlands managing director Michelle Hargreaves is also joining the business change team with responsibility for people, wellbeing and em

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People/people Fri, 25 May 2018 09:17:00 GMT 56879
Gilbert leads Go North East https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/56877/gilbert-leads-go-north-east Go-Ahead Group has appointed Martijn Gilbert as managing director of bus operator Go North East, succeeding Kevin Carr, who is retiring. Gilbert is currently chief executive of municipally-owned Reading Buses.

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People/people Fri, 25 May 2018 09:01:00 GMT 56877
Stephens and Malone join WSP https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/56876/stephens-and-malone-join-wsp David Stephens has joined WSP as head of local government, part of the consultant’s transport and infrastructure strategic business unit. He was development director for Europe state and local government at CH2M. Adrian Malone has joined WSP’s transport and infrastructure team as head of digital project delivery and BIM. He was group head of knowledge management and collaboration at Atkins. 

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People/people Fri, 25 May 2018 08:59:00 GMT 56876
Lines leads Road Safety Trust https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/56875/lines-leads-road-safety-trust Sally Lines OBE has been appointed chief executive of the Road Safety Trust, succeeding Rob Gifford. She was chief executive of The Grange Centre for People with Disabilities (2013-2017).

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People/people Fri, 25 May 2018 08:57:00 GMT 56875
Everson quits Bus Users https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/56874/everson-quits-bus-users Margaret Everson MBE is resigning from her post as director of Bus Users Cymru on 31 July. Barclay Davies, a Bus Users Cymru officer, will take over as acting director for six months.

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People/people Fri, 25 May 2018 08:55:00 GMT 56874
Prince leads TfGM public affairs https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/56873/prince-leads-tfgm-public-affairs Jason Prince has been appointed head of public affairs at Transport for Greater Manchester. He joined TfGM as a senior policy and engagement manager in 2016.

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People/people Fri, 25 May 2018 08:54:00 GMT 56873
Chandarana joins Northern https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/56872/chandarana-joins-northern Raj Chandarana has joined train operator Northern as a stakeholder manager. He had been HS2 Ltd’s community and stakeholder engagement manager for the North West of England since 2013.

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People/people Fri, 25 May 2018 08:51:00 GMT 56872
Cars should be banned from school gates says Living Streets https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/56869/cars-should-be-banned-from-school-gates-says-living-streets

The government is being urged to ban cars from the immediate vicinity of school gates during drop-off and pick-up times by Living Streets. The walking and sustainable transport charity has produced a report, Swap the school run for a school walk, in which it sets out 21 recommendations designed to enable more children to walk to and from school.  The charity delivered the report to the transport minister Jesse Norman at the start of Walk to School Week. More than 2,000 primary schools in

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Regular news Tue, 22 May 2018 16:28:00 GMT 56869
McGrane is WYG transport planning chief https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/56741/mcgrane-is-wyg-transport-planning-chief Consultant WYG has appointed Ian McGrane director of transport planning, based in Milton Keynes. He joins from Integrated Transport Planning, where he was an associate director.

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People/people Fri, 11 May 2018 09:07:00 GMT 56741
Midlands Connect strengthens team https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/56740/midlands-connect-strengthens-team David Blackadder-Weinstein has joined pan-Midlands transport body Midlands Connect as head of communications and public relations. He moves from HS2 Ltd where he was a senior content strategist. Midlands Connect is currently recruiting to a number of senior positions: a head of roads and freight, a head of rail & HS2, and senior programme managers. Midlands Connect director Maria Machancoses said the body wanted to become the second statutory sub-national transport body, following Transport

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People/people Fri, 11 May 2018 09:05:00 GMT 56740
Hurren leads transport at Robert West https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/56739/hurren-leads-transport-at-robert-west David Hurren has been appointed director of transport & infrastructure at engineering and transport planning consultant Robert West. He was director of transport strategy at BWB Consulting.

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People/people Fri, 11 May 2018 09:02:00 GMT 56739
New modelling consultancy https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/56738/new-modelling-consultancy Bence Verebelyi and Gabor Uti have set up a new transport modelling consultancy, relative GAP. The consultancy is based in Lingfield, Surrey.

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People/people Fri, 11 May 2018 08:57:00 GMT 56738
Best to retire from Brighton buses https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/56737/best-to-retire-from-brighton-buses Mike Best is to retire from his position as operations director of Brighton and Hove Bus and Coach Company in November after 33 years.

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People/people Fri, 11 May 2018 08:53:00 GMT 56737
Rowher heads NDC in Scotland https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/56736/rowher-heads-ndc-in-scotland Peter Rohwer has been appointed regional manager for Nationwide Data Collection in Scotland. He was operations manager for Syntell, a traffic and technology company based in Cape Town, South Africa.

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People/people Fri, 11 May 2018 08:50:00 GMT 56736
We need to better understand trends such as home deliveries and light van growth https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/56735/we-need-to-better-understand-trends-such-as-home-deliveries-and-light-van-growth

As a major supermarket joins the trend for using electric cargo bikes for its delivery services, changes in general travel trends need much more careful scrutiny, say researchers. Increases in levels of home deliveries, and the rapid growth in light van traffic, for example, are poorly understood. In April this year, Sainsbury’s began its innovative new trial of grocery delivery services by electric cargo bike. A fleet of five zero emission bikes is making deliveries across South London,

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Analysis Thu, 10 May 2018 12:45:00 GMT 56735
Selfish drivers endangering road workers says Highways England https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/56733/selfish-drivers-endangering-road-workers-says-highways-england Motorists are causing serious incidents and near misses by driving into coned off areas where there are road workers, according to new research by Highways England.  On average, there are nearly 300 incidents a week of incursions as well as verbal and physical abuse reported by road workers.  Almost 3,500 incidents were recorded between July 2017 and September 2017, with 150 being classed as serious, leading to four road workers and two motorists being injured. A video released by H

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Regular news Wed, 9 May 2018 16:25:00 GMT 56733
Highways England develops virtual reality app to show danger of blind spots https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/56710/highways-england-develops-virtual-reality-app-to-show-danger-of-blind-spots

A virtual reality app designed to raise driver awareness of blind spots on motorways and ‘A’ roads is being offered by Highways England.  The free app can be tried on a smartphone attached to a pair of cardboard goggles to allow drivers to experience blind spot scenarios. The scenarios include: mirror adjustment; identifying vehicles in blind spots; joining a motorway from a slip road; overtaking; and tailgating. John Walford, commercial vehicle incident prevention team leade

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Regular news Wed, 2 May 2018 16:29:00 GMT 56710
As baby boomers age who will be left to love the car? https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/56709/as-baby-boomers-age-who-will-be-left-to-love-the-car-

Changes in how we plan our transport networks for the future are urgently needed, says the first report from the Commission on Travel Demand We need to start planning now for how we travel around England in the coming decades, according to a major new report. It explains how, as a population, we travel substantially less today than we did one or two decades ago. Overall, we make fewer trips, spend less time travelling, and travel fewer miles.  But there are noticeable differences in our t

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Lead Story Wed, 2 May 2018 15:07:00 GMT 56709
Minister's team goes on tour to hear views on cyclist pedestrian and road user safety https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/56708/minister-s-team-goes-on-tour-to-hear-views-on-cyclist-pedestrian-and-road-user-safety

Do you know how to open a car door safely? Exactly who is allowed to travel on the pavement? Is there a speed limit for cycling? During May 2018, as part of a public consultation, the Minister for Transport's team will be visiting four English regions to talk with the public about road safety prior to possible changes in the law Against the backdrop of a country concerned about obesity levels, air pollution and congestion, the Government is keen to make cycling and walking the natural cho

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Lead Story Wed, 2 May 2018 13:49:00 GMT 56708
Poole tenders dockless bike hire https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/56695/poole-tenders-dockless-bike-hire The borough of Poole Council is procuring a dockless bike hire scheme covering both Bournemouth and Poole.  The operator will provide the scheme at no initial or ongoing cost to the councils. The councils hope the scheme will provide them with an income stream that  will be ringfenced for cycle infrastructure, parking and training.   The scheme should launch this summer., with the contract running for an initial year and options for two further one-year extensions. The operator

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Regular news Fri, 27 Apr 2018 14:39:00 GMT 56695
Be prepared for rapid EV take-up says National Infrastructure Commission https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/56693/be-prepared-for-rapid-ev-take-up-says-national-infrastructure-commission

The Government should prepare the country for the rapid acceleration of electric vehicle take-up, according to the National Infrastructure Commission’s EV policy lead. Catherine Jones, a senior policy adviser at the NIC, said: “There may be a strong case for making sure the UK has the charging points in place to support the fastest possible take-up of electric vehicles, without adversely affecting the energy network.” Jones said that, under current trends, only 3-7 per cent o

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Regular news Fri, 27 Apr 2018 14:24:00 GMT 56693
Car club expansion has halted says a London Borough of Ealing report https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/56692/car-club-expansion-has-halted--says-a-london-borough-of-ealing-report Car club expansion has ground to a halt in the London Borough of Ealing, with a council scrutiny report claiming operators are uninterested in serving parts of the borough.  Ealing has 89 car club bays, used by Enterprise, Zipcar and Hertzondemand. But a council scrutiny report says: “The numbers have now plateaued and certain parts of the borough, such as Southall, Greenford and Northolt, have very low provision as operators are reluctant to move into areas with lower income and/or

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Regular news Fri, 27 Apr 2018 14:20:00 GMT 56692
Manchesters busway proves a hit https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/56673/manchester-s-busway-proves-a-hit Patronage on Greater Manchester’s two bus rapid transit routes rose in the second year of operations. The Leigh-Ellenbrook guided busway opened on April 2016 and is served by two ‘Vantage’ routes provided by First, the V1 and V2, both running to/from Manchester. Each route sees eight services an hour during the daytime. Alex Cropper, Transport for Greater Manchester’s head of projects group, told councillors that, in year one, busway services had carried more than 2.1 mil

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In brief Fri, 27 Apr 2018 13:06:00 GMT 56673
Free travel for asylum seekers in Wales https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/56660/free-travel-for-asylum-seekers-in-wales Asylum seekers are the next group of people who could be given free travel by the Welsh Government.  In 2002, Wales became the first part of Great Britain to provide nationwide free bus travel to pensioners and disabled people. The scheme was subsequently extended to all people aged 60 and over and to injured armed services personnel. Free weekend travel for all TrawsCymru bus passengers was launched last year. Now Julie James, leader of the house and chief whip, has revealed that the Gov

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Regular news Fri, 27 Apr 2018 11:58:00 GMT 56660
Popularity of contactless grows https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/56659/popularity-of-contactless-grows Contactless payment cards and mobile devices now account for half of all pay-as-you-go journeys on Tube and rail in London, according to Transport for London. On buses and trams about 45 per cent of pay-as-you- go journeys are now being made using contactless. In all, about 17 million journeys a week on all modes are made by contactless payments. Contactless was introduced in London first on buses in  2012 and then to Tube and rail services in 2014. TfL signed a deal worth up to £15m

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In brief Fri, 27 Apr 2018 11:55:00 GMT 56659
Electric vehicle charging still takes too long but a solution is on the horizon https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/56645/electric-vehicle-charging-still-takes-too-long-but-a-solution-is-on-the-horizon

The UK Government recently announced a total ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel vehicles from 2040. While this move will certainly be beneficial for the environment, there are a set of significant challenges to be addressed in the intervening 22 years. Collectively, overcoming them will ensure that the owners of battery electric vehicles – which may number in the millions in a matter of decades, up from less than 200,000 today – will be able to operate their vehicles in a conve

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Viewpoint Fri, 27 Apr 2018 10:53:00 GMT 56645
Carter is WECAs infrastructure chief https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/56635/carter-is-weca-s-infrastructure-chief David Carter has been appointed director of infrastructure at the West of England Combined Authority, covering the Bristol, South Gloucestershire, and Bath and North East Somerset council areas. Carter is currently North Somerset Council’s director of development and environment, having joined in 2016 from consultant Parsons Brinckerhoff, where he worked for 13 years. James White is WECA’s interim head of transport. 

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People/people Fri, 27 Apr 2018 09:33:00 GMT 56635
Former TPS chair Hills is RTPIs new CEO https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/56634/former-tps-chair-hills-is-rtpi-s-new-ceo Victoria Hills, a past chair of the Transport Planning Society (TPS), has been appointed chief executive of the Royal Town Planning Institute. Hills joins the RTPI from her position as chief executive officer for the Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation, a position she took up in 2015. She was the Greater London Authority’s head of transport from 2013 to 2014, and chaired the TPS from 2009 to 2011.

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People/people Fri, 27 Apr 2018 09:27:00 GMT 56634
Oram joins Arcadis from SYSTRA https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/56633/oram-joins-arcadis-from-systra Nicholas Oram has joined consultant Arcadis as a senior consultant from SYSTRA, where he was a transport planner. 

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People/people Fri, 27 Apr 2018 09:23:00 GMT 56633
Armitage joins Wigan https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/56632/armitage-joins-wigan Katherine Armitage has joined Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council as assistant director of environment services from Blackpool Transport where she was transformation manager. She was Transport for Greater Manchester’s head of environment programme from 2011 to 2014. 

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People/people Fri, 27 Apr 2018 09:19:00 GMT 56632
Burrows leads Birmingham University rail centre https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/56631/burrows-leads-birmingham-university-rail-centre Alex Burrows has been appointed director of the Birmingham Centre for Railway Research and Education at the University of Birmingham. He was head of strategy at Centro from 2009 to 2013. Since then he has worked for the Transport Systems Catapult, consultant Atkins, and, most recently, Alstom Transport as marketing and strategy director.

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People/people Fri, 27 Apr 2018 09:12:00 GMT 56631
NIC names young professionals panelists https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/56630/nic-names-young-professionals-panelists The National Infrastructure Commission has set up a young professionals panel, which will work across the NIC’s full range of activities, and develop its own ideas and recommendations for meeting the country’s infrastructure needs. Members are: Matthew Ball, manager, Ofgem; John Bradburn, senior consultant, Atkins; Alison Caldwell, principal engineer, WSP; Laura Daniels, project lead, innovation, UK Power Networks; Joshua Dickerson, associate, Deetu; Jennifer Holgate, managing associ

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People/people Fri, 27 Apr 2018 09:05:00 GMT 56630
Kids voice fears about worsening air quality around schools https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/56617/kids-voice-fears-about-worsening-air-quality-around-schools

Over two-fifths of children are worried about air pollution near their school, a new UK-wide survey reveals. Some 43% of children living in urban areas are concerned about the levels of air pollution near their school. The YouGov poll, carried out for walking and cycling charity Sustrans, surveyed over 1,000 children aged six to 15 years old last month about their attitudes towards air pollution and the actions they think should be taken to help clean up the air.  More than one in three (

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Regular news Wed, 25 Apr 2018 15:19:00 GMT 56617
New rideshare service up and running in central London https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/56604/new-rideshare-service-up-and-running-in-central-london Via, the New York ride sharing start-up, has launched its ViaVan service in London.  ViaVan is a partnership with Mercedes, which invested $50m in Via last year. ViaVans are hailed using the Via app and operate in London’s travelcards zones 1 and 2.  They will charge a flat rate of £3 for rides in or out of zone 1. The service offers shared rides only and will be a corner to corner service – calculating nearby pick-up and drop-off points to optimise the route for m

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Regular news Fri, 13 Apr 2018 13:47:00 GMT 56604
Ubers bike hire buy hailed as start of major expansion https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/56563/uber-s-bike-hire-buy-hailed-as-start-of-major-expansion The news that taxi firm Uber is to buy an electric bike hire firm called Jump prompted some analysis of what appeared to be something very like Mobility as a Service in the media, although the term MaaS did not seem to have been used by the papers. Victoria Fritz, the BBC transport’s correspondent, for exampled, noted that: “Bike-sharing company Jump and ride-hailing service Uber have more in common than you might think. “Both join the dots in journeys between traditional line

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Media monitor Fri, 13 Apr 2018 10:32:00 GMT 56563
Grimshaw still on the trail to make Britain a cycling nation https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/56561/grimshaw-still-on-the-trail-to-make-britain-a-cycling-nation

For over 40 years John Grimshaw has been at the forefront of the drive to create cycling and walking routes in the UK. From acting as designer of the Bristol-Bath path in the early 1980s, Grimshaw became chief executive of the active travel charity Sustrans from its inception in 1984, and oversaw the creation of the National Cycle Network that now extends to over 14,000 miles. Since leaving Sustrans in 2008, he has continued to work on implementing a range of off-road cycling and walking paths,

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Interview Fri, 13 Apr 2018 10:16:00 GMT 56561
Wheres the transport vision for rural tourism? https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/56551/where-s-the-transport-vision-for-rural-tourism- Rhodri Clark makes a number of good points on transport issues outside of large metropolis (‘Can towns share the benefits of the new mobility revolution?’?LTT 30 Mar) but the reality is a decaying public transport system coupled with crumbling roads and frequent delays caused by congestion.  I write on a Monday when, as usual, the major bus operator in Derbyshire has cancelled many journeys on already infrequent services as it has no buses available due to the maintenance backl

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Letters to the editor Fri, 13 Apr 2018 09:33:00 GMT 56551
Rural tourism hire a car or use the bus? https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/56550/rural-tourism-hire-a-car-or-use-the-bus- Rhodri Clark’s excellent article on innovative transport outside cities (ibid), set me thinking on many issues but I will focus on his last five paragraphs, which dealt with transport in tourist areas. I was initially horrified to read that people take the train to Oxenholme or Windermere and then hire a car to tour the Lake District. That’s certainly not environmentally friendly! But then I remembered that Cumbria County Council has cut all subsidised bus services and commercial se

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Letters to the editor Fri, 13 Apr 2018 09:30:00 GMT 56550
Flanagan is Tactrans new director https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/56542/flanagan-is-tactran-s-new-director Tom Flanagan has been appointed director of the Tay and Central Scotland transport partnership (Tactran) on a two-year contract. He is currently interim head of economic development at constituent authority Perth and Kinross Council and will take up the post in July, succeeding Eric Guthrie, who is retiring. 

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People/people Fri, 13 Apr 2018 08:59:00 GMT 56542
SYSTRA names new consultancy leads https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/56541/systra-names-new-consultancy-leads SYSTRA has announced changes to its UK and Ireland consultancy team. Alan James is now managing director of the UK & Ireland consultancy business, leading a team of nearly 400 transport planners, engineers, economists and modellers. He was operations director. Richard Hancox moves from commercial director to operations director. Business director appointments are: Chris Pownall for London & South (was director of rail consultancy); Steve Pickard for Midlands & North; and Kelvin Clark

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People/people Fri, 13 Apr 2018 08:55:00 GMT 56541
Sherrington leads First Cymru https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/56540/sherrington-leads-first-cymru

Andrew Sherrington (pictured) has been appointed managing director of Swansea-based bus operator First Cymru. He succeeds Justin Davies, who has become a full-time vicar (LTT 02 Feb). Sherrington is currently operations director at First West of England, covering the Bath, Weston-super-Mare, Wells and Westbury areas.

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People/people Fri, 13 Apr 2018 08:48:00 GMT 56540
Sutton to retire from Stagecoach Oxon https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/56539/sutton-to-retire-from-stagecoach-oxon Martin Sutton, managing director of Stagecoach in Oxfordshire, is to retire in July, after 14 years in post and 46 years in the bus industry. 

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People/people Fri, 13 Apr 2018 08:46:00 GMT 56539
Harris leads Ohmios AV drive in Europe https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/56538/harris-leads-ohmio-s-av-drive-in-europe Richard Harris has been appointed director, Europe, for Ohmio Automotion Ltd, a manufacturer of self-driving shuttle vehicles. Ohmio is a spin-off from New Zealand’s HMI Group.  Harris joined HMI last summer from Conduent, where he was director for communications, marketing, international transportation, and government.

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People/people Fri, 13 Apr 2018 08:43:00 GMT 56538
Torrance appointed director https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/56537/torrance-appointed-director Walking and cycling consultant Jason Torrance has been appointed clean air cities director for the UK100 Cities Network Ltd.

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People/people Fri, 13 Apr 2018 08:40:00 GMT 56537
Daniels sets up consultancy https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/56536/daniels-sets-up-consultancy Leon Daniels, who retired as Transport for London’s managing director for surface transport in December, has set up a consultancy, Leon Daniels and Associates Ltd.

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People/people Fri, 13 Apr 2018 08:38:00 GMT 56536
The Major Road Network a road-builders charter? https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/56502/the-major-road-network-a-road-builder-s-charter- Your last issue highlights responses by the RAC Foundation and East Sussex County Council to the DfT’s consultation proposals for a Major Road Network (‘MRN vision is too limited, councils tell DfT’ LTT16 Mar).  The Government’s MRN proposals descend directly from the 2016 Rees Jeffreys report on the subject. I commented at the time of its publication that the dependence on traffic flows to define the MRN implied the return of ‘predict and provide’ (LTT

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Letters to the editor Tue, 3 Apr 2018 11:26:00 GMT 56502
What have green transport activists achieved in 30 years? https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/56501/what-have-green-transport-activists-achieved-in-30-years- Your 03 March issue made me feel old. First there was a blast from the past with a splendid letter from veteran campaigner Don Mathew excoriating the claims for road-building and economic health. Then there was the news of Stephen Joseph leaving the Campaign for Better Transport. I was at the public meeting in 1988 of the CBT (then Transport 2000) where we heard newly- appointed director Joseph and president Michael Palin set the sustainable transport stall out with a clear agenda for opposing

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Letters to the editor Tue, 3 Apr 2018 11:20:00 GMT 56501
Councils ignoring their DCO obligations https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/56448/councils-ignoring-their-dco-obligations- Councils in England are failing to deliver active travel and public transport schemes that were a condition of development consent orders (DCOs) for new roads, says the Campaign for Better Transport. The CBT says the latest example is Norfolk County Council, which has reneged on a condition about active travel and public transport that featured in the DCO for the Norwich Northern Distributor Road. “The road was given planning permission as part of a package of measures, including sustain

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Regular news Tue, 3 Apr 2018 09:40:00 GMT 56448
Award for ITS Leeds student https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/56419/award-for-its-leeds-student Samira Marx Pinheiro has won the 2017 Voorhees-Large Prize for her transport economics Masters dissertation ‘Estimating fare elasticities in rail demand in Great Britain using Bayesian inference’, completed at the Institute for Transport Studies, University of Leeds. Samira is now the director of concessions in Brazil’s Minas Gerais' State Secretariat of Transportation and Public Works, responsible for the regulation of PPPs and other long-term public contracts in the transport

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People/people Tue, 3 Apr 2018 08:59:00 GMT 56419
Murphy for GHD https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/56418/murphy-for-ghd Cara Murphy has been promoted to operations director of engineering, environment and construction consultant GHD’s London office. She was UK transport strategy and planning team leader. In the interim, she will retain her lead on UK transport strategy and planning.

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People/people Tue, 3 Apr 2018 08:58:00 GMT 56418
Bus company recruits town planner https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/56416/bus-company-recruits-town-planner The Oxford Bus Company has appointed Laura Higgins as strategic development manager to help ensure the needs of buses are incorporated in property developments across the county. Higgins is a town planner who has worked for Oxford City Council for 14 years. “Oxford Bus Company has recognised how crucial it is for bus operators to proactively participate in the planning process to ensure effective public transport is integral to the design of new developments,” she said. “I am p

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People/people Tue, 3 Apr 2018 08:56:00 GMT 56416
McCrohan and Gupta join Waterman https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/56415/mccrohan-and-gupta-join-waterman Consultant Waterman has announced two senior appointments. Darren McCrohan joins as technical director in the company’s Manchester office, where he will lead transport planning and traffic engineering in the Midlands, North and Scotland. He joins from Mott MacDonald where he was a transport professional. Before that he worked for AECOM, where he served as a regional director in Manchester from 2012-2014. Manoj Gupta joins Waterman as rail director from AECOM, where he was director of the U

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People/people Tue, 3 Apr 2018 08:53:00 GMT 56415
Transforming NYC transport again https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/56383/transforming-nyc-transport--again

Jon Orcutt, director of communications and advocacy at Transit Center, NYC, talks to Transport Xtra about the need for NYC's proposed congestion charging policy and why Uber and Lyft are currently a menace to the city. Jon talked with Andy Salkeld, Leicester City Council Transit Center is a national Foundation dedicated to improving public transit. We are based in New York City, specifically in Lower Manhattan, and were closely involved with the major positive changes that took place under th

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Analysis Wed, 28 Mar 2018 14:18:00 GMT 56383
Cycle-rail projects in Scotland to get 400k boost https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/56382/cycle-rail-projects-in-scotland-to-get-400k-boost

A £400,000 fund to help make Scotland’s rail stations more cyclist-friendly is being offered to councils and community organisations. The Scotrail Alliance – a partnership between Abellio ScotRail and Network Rail – is offering £100,000 a year to cycle-rail projects, which must provide at least 50% match funding. The Deadline for applications to the fund is 20 April 2018. The Scotrail Alliance says the fund will contribute to its vision of providing a ‘doorst

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Regular news Wed, 28 Mar 2018 13:33:00 GMT 56382
Time to refine PTAL method say boroughs https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/56337/time-to-refine-ptal-method-say-boroughs Transport for London’s method for measuring an area’s public transport accessibility is too crude, London Councils has said.  Public transport accessibility levels (PTALs) are used to measure a location’s accessibility and take into account the walk time to access public transport and the service availability (reliability, number of services, and average wait time). A location’s PTAL score can range from 0 (worst) to 6b (best).  The draft London plan proposes

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Regular news Fri, 16 Mar 2018 10:50:00 GMT 56337
Wolstenholme appointed to BAESystems https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/56294/wolstenholme-appointed-to-baesystems Crossrail chief executive Andrew Wolstenholme is leaving to become BAESystems’ UK managing director of maritime and land. 

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People/people Fri, 16 Mar 2018 09:06:00 GMT 56294
McInroy appointed to Road Safety Markings Association https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/56293/mcinroy-appointed-to-road-safety-markings-association Stu McInroy has been appointed chief executive of the Road Safety Markings Association, succeeding George Lee, who left last November to become chief executive of the Highways Term Maintenance Association (LTT15 Sep 17). McInroy has led the Bookmakers’ Committee since 2009.

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People/people Fri, 16 Mar 2018 09:04:00 GMT 56293
Cambs CA to recruit infrastructure chief https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/56292/cambs-ca-to-recruit-infrastructure-chief The Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority is to recruit a director of infrastructure as part of a new senior staffing structure for both the combined authority and the local enterprise partnership. The infrastructure director will oversee directors of transport and housing. Keith McWilliams is the CA’s interim transport director, having joined last September on a two-year secondment from Skanska (LTT 15 Sep 17).  

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People/people Fri, 16 Mar 2018 09:03:00 GMT 56292
Picton is HEs interim commercial chief https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/56291/picton-is-he-s-interim-commercial-chief Highways England has appointed David Picton as interim executive director for commercial and procurement. He has led safety and supply chain development at Carillion for six years and was previously a director at Sky and Motorola. He replaces David Poole, who has joined HS2 Ltd as procurement and supply chain director (LTT 19 Jan).

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People/people Fri, 16 Mar 2018 08:59:00 GMT 56291
Wells joins Brighton from Atkins https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/56289/wells-joins-brighton-from-atkins Laura Wells has joined Brighton & Hove City Council as a transport planner – policy and strategy, from Atkins, where she was a managing consultant – transport planning. 

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People/people Fri, 16 Mar 2018 08:58:00 GMT 56289
McMaster to leave Falkirk https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/56290/mcmaster-to-leave-falkirk Robert McMaster is to leave his post as Falkirk Council’s head of design, roads and transport in July.

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People/people Fri, 16 Mar 2018 08:58:00 GMT 56290
Ellis and Savage join Arup from WSP https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/56288/ellis-and-savage-join-arup-from-wsp Arup has made two senior transport consultant appointments. David Ellis has joined as a director and transport consultancy leader for London and the South East. He was a regional director with consultant WSP in London. Mike Savage has joined as a director and transport and development leader for London and the South East. He was also a director with WSPin London.

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People/people Fri, 16 Mar 2018 08:57:00 GMT 56288
Gerrard reviews Crossrail 2 affordability https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/56287/gerrard-reviews-crossrail-2-affordability The Government and Transport for London have appointed Mike Gerrard, former managing director of the Thames Tideway Tunnel, to chair the affordability review into Crossrail 2, the proposed new railway connecting south-west and north-east London. The DfT said the review (LTT 02 Mar), which is due to be completed this summer, would “ensure the public gets an affordable scheme that is fair to the UK taxpayer”. But Lord Adonis, the former chair of the Government’s National Infrastr

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People/people Fri, 16 Mar 2018 08:56:00 GMT 56287
How to develop an integrated approach to station regeneration https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/56269/how-to-develop-an-integrated-approach-to-station-regeneration

The first generation of station travel plans (STPs) were implemented in a bid to better manage, and proactively influence, the modes of travel people use to get to and from UK rail stations. They generally sought to actively promote sustainable travel options; reduce single occupant car trips; and tackle imbalances between parking demand, the quality of facilities for different station users, and differential impacts on neighbouring land uses.  Following an initial wave of pilots, the UK b

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Viewpoint Mon, 5 Mar 2018 17:38:00 GMT 56269
Khans parking plans impractical https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/56214/khan-s-parking-plans-impractical- The London Borough of Hillingdon has added its voice to criticism of London mayor Sadiq Khan’s plan for strict limits on parking provision in new outer London residential developments. The London Borough of Wandsworth, meanwhile, wants the plan’s parking policies revised to help car clubs. The London boroughs of Bromley and Kingston-upon-Thames both criticised the draft London Plan’s parking proposals  earlier this month (LTT 16 Feb). In its response, Hillingdon says it h

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Regular news Mon, 5 Mar 2018 10:24:00 GMT 56214
CBT begins search for Josephs successor https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/56185/cbt-begins-search-for-joseph-s-successor

The Campaign for Better Transport is searching for a new chief executive following Stephen Joseph’s decision to retire later this year after 30 years in post.  Joseph told LTT he was planning to leave in October, after a handover period to his successor. Having worked for the organisation for three decades, he said now felt an appropriate time to leave. “I’ve seen far too many organisations where people have gone on for too long,” he said, noting that  sometime

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Lead Story Mon, 5 Mar 2018 09:21:00 GMT 56185
Oxon Cambridge and London win autonomous vehicle funds https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/56184/oxon-cambridge-and-london-win-autonomous-vehicle-funds

Autonomous public transport vehicle trials in Oxfordshire, Cambridgeshire and London are among the 22 autonomous vehicle projects and studies to share £22m from the Government’s innovation agency, Innovate UK.   A project led by FirstGroup has been awarded £2.5m to trial fully autonomous vehicles at the Milton Park business park near Didcot in Oxfordshire. The project also has a Mobility as a Service (MaaS) dimension.  The trial is due to run for two -and-a-half yea

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Lead Story Mon, 5 Mar 2018 09:14:00 GMT 56184
Muir is National Express digital officer https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/56182/muir-is-national-express-digital-officer Rob Muir has joined National Express Group as its first chief digital officer. He was senior director at digital agency McCann.

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People/people Mon, 5 Mar 2018 09:05:00 GMT 56182
HS2 begins search for new chair https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/56180/hs2-begins-search-for-new-chair Government company HS2 Ltd has launched the search for a new chairman to succeed Sir David Higgins who will retire this summer. Higgins has chaired HS2 since 2014. 

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People/people Mon, 5 Mar 2018 09:03:00 GMT 56180
Notts forms Toton officer team https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/56181/notts-forms-toton-officer-team Nottinghamshire County Council is creating a dedicated officer team to develop the plans for an East Midlands HS2 and conventional rail station and associated ‘growth zone’ at Toton. Four posts will be created, including a programme director and transport officer. The county’s vision for the ‘East Midlands growth zone’ features an innovation campus and a network of garden villages with 5,300 homes. Ultimately, a formal delivery vehicle for the area is to be establis

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People/people Mon, 5 Mar 2018 09:03:00 GMT 56181
Flello chairs Brevia Transport https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/56179/flello-chairs-brevia-transport Robert Flello, who was Labour’s MP for Stoke on Trent from 2005 to 2017, has been appointed chairman of Brevia Transport, a division of public affairs agency Brevia Consulting. Flello is a chartered fellow of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport. 

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People/people Mon, 5 Mar 2018 09:02:00 GMT 56179
Macfarlan joins First Bus in Scotland https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/56178/macfarlan-joins-first-bus-in-scotland Graeme Macfarlan has joined First Bus as commercial director for Scotland, from ferry operator Caledonian MacBrayne where he was also commercial director. Macfarlan was previously head of marketing for First ScotRail. 

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People/people Mon, 5 Mar 2018 09:01:00 GMT 56178
Risdale and Aitken join WSP https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/56176/risdale-and-aitken-join-wsp Gillian Risdale has joined consultant WSP as regional director for highways in the South West and Wales. She joins from Highways England where she was a transformation manager. Paul Aitken has joined WSPas a highways senior engineer and team leader from Scottish Borders Council. 

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People/people Mon, 5 Mar 2018 09:00:00 GMT 56176
Carr to retire from Go North East https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/56177/carr-to-retire-from-go-north-east Kevin Carr is to retire from his position as managing director of bus operator Go North East in June. Carr has worked for the company for 43 years.

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People/people Mon, 5 Mar 2018 09:00:00 GMT 56177
Wood is Northern Powerhouse Rail chief https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/56175/wood-is-northern-powerhouse-rail-chief Transport for the North has appointed Tim Wood as director of Northern Powerhouse Rail. Wood has been undertaking the role in an interim capacity on a secondment from Amey, where he was a senior business development manager. He is now a permanent member of TfN’s staff.

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People/people Mon, 5 Mar 2018 08:56:00 GMT 56175
Joseph to step down after 30 years leading Campaign for Better Transport https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/56147/joseph-to-step-down-after-30-years-leading-campaign-for-better-transport

The Campaign for Better Transport has announced it is looking to appoint a new chief executive office to replace Stephen Joseph, who will be stepping down at the end of Autumn. Joseph was appointed executive director of Transport 2000 in 1988, the same year Michael Palin was appointed President, and received an OBE in 1996 for services to transport and the environment. Transport 2000 changed its name to Campaign for Better Transport in 2007. During his 30-year tenure with the charity, Joseph

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Regular news Mon, 26 Feb 2018 15:15:00 GMT 56147
A plan for re-introducing walking as an integral part of London's transport network https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/56144/a-plan-for-re-introducing-walking-as-an-integral-part-of-london-s-transport-network

All over the world, we are observing the trend towards pedestrianising whole districts rather than individual streets. Zaha Hadid Architects has proposed ‘Walkable London’, a full-scale network of pedestrian routes which will create corridors of activation across the capital.  Walkable London aims at re-introducing walking as an integral part of the city’s transport network. The firm's research highlights, available as a research booklet, state several key statistics driv

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Lead Story Fri, 23 Feb 2018 12:31:00 GMT 56144
App meets bus in Citymapper's new hybrid bus-taxi service https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/56143/app-meets-bus-in-citymapper-s-new-hybrid-bus-taxi-service

Following its trial of bus services in London last year, travel app Citymapper has finally launched what it terms ‘The Responsive Network: a  solution for dynamic shared transportation in cities’. The service is live in London, and is know as ‘Smart Ride’, and is already available via the apps. Writing in a post on medium, Citymapper declares that they ‘design a network, not a route’. ‘Unlike traditional buses that are tied to a route, our veh

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Lead Story Fri, 23 Feb 2018 12:08:00 GMT 56143
Two new shared transport services launch in London after TfL grants licences https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/56142/two-new-shared-transport-services-launch-in-london-after-tfl-grants-licences

Following entrance to multiple markets in the United States, Chariot  is launching its daily commuter shuttle service in London, to 'make getting around the city easier'. Chariot London is the latest of Ford’s European initiatives, accelerating the development of its smart mobility technologies. Throughout 2018, Ford will be trialling a 20-strong fleet of plug-in hybrid Transit Custom vans in the UK capital as part of the “Cleaner Air for London" initiative supported by Tra

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Lead Story Fri, 23 Feb 2018 11:30:00 GMT 56142
Need for fast cars debated https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/56127/need-for-fast-cars-debated “Why can cars break the speed limit?” the Environmental Transport Association (ETA) asked rhetorically on its website on 1 February. “Nobody would suggest that cars driven within speed limits present no road danger, but we have yet to hear a rational argument for why cars need the ability to exceed the speed limit. “Road traffic law in Britain is elastic – one man in Britain continues to drive legally having accrued 62 points on his licence – and there is lit

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Media monitor Fri, 16 Feb 2018 16:21:00 GMT 56127
Limit pensioners free bus travel to their local area https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/56120/limit-pensioners-free-bus-travel-to-their-local-area Once again your publication addresses the issue of the national concessionary travel scheme and whether changes are needed to provide a system that better supports local operators and better meets the legitimate wants and needs of pensioners (Letters LTT 2 Feb). John Disney argues for a national multi-mode travelcard available for purchase by the entire population with additional discounts for elderly, disabled and young persons. In a story in the same issue (‘No consensus on the future

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Letters to the editor Fri, 16 Feb 2018 15:59:00 GMT 56120
Lord Adonis - Nusrat Ghani - WiFi Welsh Rail https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/56119/lord-adonis--nusrat-ghani--wifi-welsh-rail Is former transport secretary and Government infrastructure adviser Lord Adonis struggling to come to terms with no longer being in a position of influence? It looks so, judging by his latest Tweets. Responding to a report in The Times of archaeologists criticising Highways England’s A303 Stonehenge tunnel plans, Adonis said: “CANCEL STONEHENGE TUNNEL: At £1.4bn+ the rationale is hopeless, which is why I wouldn't do it as transport secretary. Now that archaeologists don't want

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In Passing Fri, 16 Feb 2018 15:55:00 GMT 56119
The way were travelling is changing fast but the law isnt keeping up https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/56118/the-way-we-re-travelling-is-changing-fast--but-the-law-isn-t-keeping-up

With all the talk of autonomous and electric cars, hyper loops, bi-mode trains that run under wires and then don’t, etc, the world of the transport planner is being turned upside down. What we thought we knew is no longer holding true, technology is changing all we knew, and legislation is not keeping up. Let me illustrate through one simple example. With the advent of electric-powered cycles, what is the difference between such a cycle and a mobility scooter (or an invalid carriage as th

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Viewpoint Fri, 16 Feb 2018 15:50:00 GMT 56118
Tackling data challenges to unlock the brave new world of MaaS https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/56114/tackling-data-challenges-to-unlock-the-brave-new-world-of-maas

We’re on the verge of a huge shift in the way we live and travel. Ownership was long considered the pinnacle of societal ranking – and in some ways, still is. Buying a house or a car has traditionally been seen as a rite of passage, a way to mark one’s success. But things are starting to change. In the current economic climate, renting has become the norm for younger people and buying a car is beginning to seem like a waste of money when more and more of us are living in cities

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Viewpoint Fri, 16 Feb 2018 15:32:00 GMT 56114
Cambs jam relief plan for only part of county https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/56082/cambs-jam-relief-plan-for-only-part-of-county Cambridgeshire County Council is drawing up a new programme of small-scale road improvements to tackle congestion, but for only part of the county.  The council has set aside £1m to develop plans for congestion relief schemes with a capital cost of between £1m and £5m. But Cambridgeshire will not consider schemes in Cambridge or in parts of South Cambridgeshire, because these are covered by the Greater Cambridge Partnership (GCP) – the delivery body for the Greater

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Regular news Fri, 16 Feb 2018 13:10:00 GMT 56082
Cambs seeks level crossings solution to increase rail traffic https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/56080/cambs-seeks-level-crossings-solution-to-increase-rail-traffic

Cambridgeshire County Council is pressing for a major transport investment in Ely to permit the closure of level crossings and facilitate more train services. Ely is a busy railway town with three lines converging at Ely North Junction from Peterborough, King’s Lynn and Norwich.  With demands growing for more rail services, Network Rail has been exploring ways of increasing the junction’s capacity. One of the constraints is that, just north of the junction, the lines cross the

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Secondary stories Fri, 16 Feb 2018 13:08:00 GMT 56080
Network Rail and HS2 Ltd take top spots in quango pay table https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/56042/network-rail-and-hs2-ltd-take-top-spots-in-quango-pay-table

The rail sector dominates a ‘rich list’ of the best paid employees in public sector bodies published by the Taxpayers’ Alliance.  Drawing on two Government reports, the Alliance has identified 238 officials working in 305 quangos – arms-length government bodies – earning more than £164,000 a year. Of these, 52 work for Network Rail and 37 for HS2 Ltd.  The data highlights a big difference between the road and rail sectors. Just seven of the 238 sta

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Lead Story Fri, 16 Feb 2018 11:39:00 GMT 56042
Stewart for Cambridge Corridor https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/56041/stewart-for-cambridge-corridor Iain Stewart, the Conservative MP for Milton Keynes South, has been appointed chair of a new All-Party Parliamentary Group for the Oxford-Milton Keynes-Cambridge corridor.

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People/people Fri, 16 Feb 2018 11:38:00 GMT 56041
Taylor joins Intelligent Data from Atkins https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/56040/taylor-joins-intelligent-data-from-atkins Bradley Taylor has joined Intelligent Data as a business development manager, responsible for public sector sales and development. He joins from Atkins where we was a senior transport technology consultant.

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People/people Fri, 16 Feb 2018 11:37:00 GMT 56040
Haslam leads TPAs new Manchester office https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/56039/haslam-leads-tpa-s-new-manchester-office Susan Haslam has joined consultant Transport Planning Associates as an associate director to lead its new Manchester office. Haslam was previously technical director at transport and infrastructure consultant FMW. The Manchester office is TPA’s first in the north of England. Its other offices are in Bristol, Cambridge, London, Oxford and Welwyn Garden City.

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People/people Fri, 16 Feb 2018 11:37:00 GMT 56039
Deegan advises GMCAon active travel https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/56038/deegan-advises-gmcaon-active-travel Brian Deegan, a design engineer at consultant Urban Movement, is serving as walking and cycling infrastructure lead to the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, advising on design quality, network planning and infrastructure delivery. He was also appointed healthy streets adviser to Leicester’s elected mayor Peter Soulsby last month (LTT 19 Jan). Deegan co-authored the London Cycling Design Standards when working as a principal technical specialist at Transport for London from 2013 to 201

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People/people Fri, 16 Feb 2018 11:36:00 GMT 56038
Brunskill joins West Midlands Rail https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/56037/brunskill-joins-west-midlands-rail Pete Brunskill has joined local authority company West-Midlands Rail Ltd as rail scheme sponsor. He was HS2 and rail lead at local authority and local enterprise partnership body Midlands Connect. 

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People/people Fri, 16 Feb 2018 11:35:00 GMT 56037
Low joins WSP from AECOM https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/56036/low-joins-wsp-from-aecom Lucy Low has joined consultant WSP as a principal transport planner from AECOM where she was a senior consultant. 

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People/people Fri, 16 Feb 2018 09:43:00 GMT 56036
Network Rail chief Carne to retire https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/56035/network-rail-chief-carne-to-retire Network Rail chief executive Mark Carne is to step down later this year. He joined the organisation-in 2014. Paying tribute to Carne, transport secretary Chris Grayling hinted that he may take up another position in transport: “I hope he will continue to play an important part in the transport sector in the future.”

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People/people Fri, 16 Feb 2018 09:42:00 GMT 56035
Torrance leaves Sustrans https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/56034/torrance-leaves-sustrans Jason Torrance has left active travel charity Sustrans, where he was policy director, to become a freelance consultant on walking and cycling.

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People/people Fri, 16 Feb 2018 09:41:00 GMT 56034
Gtr Anglia appoints integration manager https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/56033/gtr-anglia-appoints-integration-manager Paul Wilkinson has joined train operator Greater Anglia as integrated transport manager. He was transportation policy manager at Colchester Borough Council.

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People/people Fri, 16 Feb 2018 09:40:00 GMT 56033
Driverless cars won't be on the road until the 2030s predicts London Assembly https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/56029/driverless-cars-won-t-be-on-the-road-until-the-2030s-predicts-london-assembly The London Assembly Transport Committee report ‘Future Transport: How is London responding to technological innovation?’ has been published and reveals some interesting findings, according to the authors: Connected and autonomous vehicles (CAVs) or driverless cars won't be on the road until the 2030s at least and could add to congestion Dockless cycle schemes need to be able to operate across London to be effective There is no control system in place for drones and droids TfL i

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Lead Story Thu, 15 Feb 2018 13:05:00 GMT 56029
Back to the future flying cars come round again https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/56019/back-to-the-future-flying-cars-come-round-again

Increasing traffic congestion across mega cities and large urban centres, coupled with the resulting loss to the economy, is driving the need for more efficient modes of urban transportation. Flying cars are being explored as an alternative form of future mobility, making use of the underutilised domestic airspace.  Flying cars are set to disrupt the personal mobility space of the future with at least ten early entrants expected to launch various versions of flying cars by 2022. OEMs and o

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Lead Story Mon, 12 Feb 2018 15:36:00 GMT 56019
Too many cars? https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55965/too-many-cars- On 28 January Guardian columnist Hugh Muir said, “There is a simple truth, and ministers know it: we have too many cars, and drive them too much. You would think economics might drive the policy of a profit-loving, market-oriented administration. After all, it is estimated that the congestion caused by cars could bleed £300bn from the economy by 2030. “But our economy also needs us to keep buying, or leasing, all those cars… So if you’re waiting for decisive actio

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Media monitor Fri, 2 Feb 2018 11:15:00 GMT 55965
No consensus on the future of Welsh concessionary travel https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55946/no-consensus-on-the-future-of-welsh-concessionary-travel

Respondents to the Welsh Government’s consultation on  the future of the concessionary travel scheme for older people and the disabled have given contrasting views about what, if anything, should change.  There were so many conflicting views in local government that the Association of Transport Coordinating Officers Cymru decided not to provide a response. The Welsh Local Government Association’s (WLGA) views are contradicted on several points by at least one local authori

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Secondary stories Fri, 2 Feb 2018 10:49:00 GMT 55946
Active travel trends under the microscope https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55929/active-travel-trends-under-the-microscope The distance people walk on public highways is continuing to fall despite the mass of public health messages, according to analysis by the DfT. National Travel Survey (NTS) data shows that walking trip rates on the public highway fell 19 per cent between 2005 and 2015, from about 4.7 trips per week per person to 3.8. Walking stages (a trip can have more than one stage) fell 12 per cent per cent, and distance walked fell 8 per cent, from about 3.8 miles per week to 3.5. The DfT’s new repo

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Regular news Fri, 2 Feb 2018 10:15:00 GMT 55929
Fall in number of short trips explains declining trip rates https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55928/fall-in-number-of-short-trips-explains-declining-trip-rates-

The fall in the average number of trips made by people over the last 30 years can be largely explained by a sharp reduction in trips of less than a mile in length, according to a new analysis of National Travel Survey data.  “The overall trip rate increased from 935 per person per year in 1975 to 1,094 in 1990, remained at 1,094 in 1996, then fell steadily to 914 in 2015,” says independent research Kit Mitchell in a paper published by the DfT.  From the peak of trips in 1

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Secondary stories Fri, 2 Feb 2018 10:12:00 GMT 55928
Community bus partnerships havent delivered objectives https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55917/community-bus-partnerships-haven-t-delivered-objectives- A pilot project in Leicestershire to engage rural communities in their local bus services has largely failed to deliver on objectives, according to an assessment by the county council.  Leicestershire was keen to see if the principles of community rail partnerships (CRPs) could be applied to bus services. CRPs have been credited with helping to improve the economics of local railways by growing patronage.  Leicestershire created community bus partnerships (CBPs) in 2015 to support fo

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Secondary stories Fri, 2 Feb 2018 09:48:00 GMT 55917
Study provides the lowdown on young peoples travel patterns https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55915/study-provides-the-lowdown-on-young-people-s-travel-patterns

A major probe into the changing travel behaviours of young people has been published by the DfT. The DfT commissioned the report from  researchers at the Centre for Transport & Society at the University of West of England, and the University of Oxford. The research team was led by UWE’s Kiron Chatterjee. The team’s focus was the 17-29 age group but the researchers also explored how travel patterns in this age cohort change as they grow older.   The trend for young ad

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Regular feature Fri, 2 Feb 2018 09:38:00 GMT 55915
Borough fears deep cuts to central London bus mileage https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55905/borough-fears-deep-cuts-to-central-london-bus-mileage

A central London borough and the capital’s passenger watchdog have voiced concern about Transport for London’s plan to cut bus mileage in the capital by six per cent by 2019/20. The draft mayor’s transport strategy says services will be cut in inner and central London, with resources shifted to outer London, “where the potential for mode shift to buses is greatest, and to areas of housing growth where demand is forecast to rise the most”. TfL’s business plan,

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Secondary stories Fri, 2 Feb 2018 09:19:00 GMT 55905
Berkley retires https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55896/berkley-retires Tony Berkeley is to retire as chairman of the Rail Freight Group in November. 

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People/people Fri, 2 Feb 2018 08:57:00 GMT 55896
Mumford joins HE https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55895/mumford-joins-he Highways England has appointed Peter Mumford as director of major projects & capital portfolio management. He has held the post on an interim basis since August.

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People/people Fri, 2 Feb 2018 08:55:00 GMT 55895
McIntosh joins Mott Mac from IBI https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55894/mcintosh-joins-mott-mac-from-ibi Douglas McIntosh has joined Mott MacDonald as a software systems project manager from IBI Group, where he was a consultant.

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People/people Fri, 2 Feb 2018 08:54:00 GMT 55894
Ho joins Deloitte https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55893/ho-joins-deloitte Si Ho has joined Deloitte as an integrated transport consultant in Manchester. He was a senior innovation officer at Transport for Greater Manchester from 2009 to March 2017, and chairs the TravelSpirit Foundation.

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People/people Fri, 2 Feb 2018 08:53:00 GMT 55893
Lewis sets up ActivePlanning https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55892/lewis-sets-up-activeplanning Richard Lewis has set up the consultancy ActivePlanning, which will promote active travel in spatial planning, transport strategies, and urban design. Lewis worked for the UK arm of Dutch engineering consultant Witteveen+Bos from 2015 to 2017. He was previously mini-Holland programme principal transport planner at the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames. 

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People/people Fri, 2 Feb 2018 08:52:00 GMT 55892
RPS announces new recruits https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55891/rps-announces-new-recruits Consultant RPS has made a series of appointments. Russell Henderson joins its Edinburgh office from SYSTRA, where he was associate director. Kevin Kay joined the Edinburgh office in November as director from WSP, where he was technical director. Jamie Connors has joined the London office from WSP as director, and Amy Waites has joined the Oxford office as an associate, from consultant Matrix.

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People/people Fri, 2 Feb 2018 08:51:00 GMT 55891
Gifford is West Yorks future mobility lead https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55890/gifford-is-west-yorks-future-mobility-lead Kate Gifford has been appointed head of future mobility at the West Yorkshire Combined Authority. She worked for Carplus from 2011 until December last year, and had been a director of the organisation since October 2016.  

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People/people Fri, 2 Feb 2018 08:50:00 GMT 55890
Davies to leave bus industry https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55889/davies-to-leave-bus-industry First Cymru managing director Justin Davies will end his long career in the bus industry in April, to become vicar of south-west Gower. Davies worked in the civil service after graduating and subsequently, in the early 1980s, joined bus operator Midland Red as a traffic clerk in Worcester. He was FirstGroup’s regional managing director for the South West and Wales for four years, before returning to his earlier role as managing director of First Cymru in 2012.

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People/people Fri, 2 Feb 2018 08:49:00 GMT 55889
Modelling World 2018 on 6 June bigger better and back in Birmingham https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55847/modelling-world-2018-on-6-june-bigger-better-and-back-in-birmingham

Modelling World is the UK & Europe's longest running, best-attended and biggest annual exhibition and conference for transport and pedestrian modelling professionals.  This must-attend annual fixture is the highlight of the modelling calendar and attracts more than 300 attendees each year.  The 13th Annual Modelling World Conference & Exhibition for data and modelling professionals will return to its roots in Birmingham on Wednesday 6 June at Edgbaston Cricket Ground

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Lead Story Thu, 25 Jan 2018 16:49:00 GMT 55847
Model shows that only 2000 private cars needed in Barcelona if 500 shared shuttles also deployed https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55846/model-shows-that-only-2-000-private-cars-needed-in-barcelona-if-500-shared-shuttles-also-deployed

The Cooperative Automotive Research Network (CARNET)* has implemented a cutting-edge simulation environment for the Barcelona Metropolitan Area in the form of The Virtual Mobility Lab. The aim of the lab is to show how it can analyse and assess the impact of smart mobility projects in Barcelona, and how the results can be extrapolated before the implementation of a pilot test. The new model will support those who make decisions on mobility policies, transport operators and new companies that are

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Lead Story Thu, 25 Jan 2018 15:42:00 GMT 55846
Sustained decline in car use among young adults says report https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55838/sustained-decline-in-car-use-among-young-adults-says-report

Young adults in Great Britain and other countries are driving less now than young adults did in the early 1990s. The Department for Transport (DfT) commissioned the Centre for Transport and Society (UWE, Bristol) and the Transport Studies Unit (University of Oxford) to carry out a systematic assessment of available evidence on the subject, both by review of UK and overseas published literature, and by new secondary analysis of existing UK data sets. The study sought to address the questions:

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Lead Story Wed, 24 Jan 2018 13:55:00 GMT 55838
Travel trips decline new analysis of short walking trips to come 'later in the year' https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55837/travel-trips-decline-new-analysis-of-short-walking-trips-to-come-later-in-the-year-

A new statistical release for January 2018 from the Department for Transport presents four pieces of analysis using National Travel Survey data.  Key findings include:  There have been substantial changes in travel behaviour since 1975. The total number of trips per person per year increased from 1975 until 1990 and has been falling since 1995. The basic unit of travel in the NTS is a trip, which is defined as a one-way course of travel with a single main purpose. In 2011-2014, dis

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Lead Story Wed, 24 Jan 2018 13:43:00 GMT 55837
Car makers to blame for falling diesel sales argues BBC https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55829/car-makers-to-blame-for-falling-diesel-sales-argues-bbc A significant drop (5.7%) in the number of new cars sold in 2017 and a huge fall in the number of diesel vehicles sold (down by 17.1%) attracted the attention of Theo Leggett, the BBC’s business correspondent, on 5 January. “It’s fair to say the steep decline in demand for diesel cars is causing both frustration and consternation within the motor industry,” he began. “The industry needs to sell diesels because they are generally more fuel-efficient than petrol cars

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Media monitor Fri, 19 Jan 2018 10:44:00 GMT 55829
Transport secretary labelled Failing Grayling after Carillion collapse https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55828/transport-secretary-labelled-failing-grayling-after-carillion-collapse

Although he remained in post after the Prime Minister’s cabinet reshuffle on 8 January, transport secretary Chris Grayling has become the target of a veritable barrage of personal criticism from the media in the early weeks of 2018. On 5 January, for example, Times columnist Edward Lucas suggested that: “Chris Grayling’s gimmicks have failed rail users. The transport secretary’s decision to bail out Virgin and Stagecoach shows his inability to see what the network needs.

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Media monitor Fri, 19 Jan 2018 10:42:00 GMT 55828
Creating better streets new advice to help us focus on outcomes not jargon https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55827/creating-better-streets-new-advice-to-help-us-focus-on-outcomes-not-jargon

It’s been (literally) years in the making, but the Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation’s much-needed review of so-called ‘Shared Space’ has finally been published. Entitled Creating better streets: Inclusive and accessible places, the review marks an important and positive step away from the confusion that has dogged a phrase that has come to mean different things to different people with different perspectives. Those objecting to the idea are most often

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John Dales Fri, 19 Jan 2018 10:35:00 GMT 55827
Who will pay the price? https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55824/who-will-pay-the-price- How the mighty have fallen. Four years ago, construction and support services company Carillion was bidding to merge with its larger but troubled rival Balfour Beatty. Yet on Monday Carillion itself was placed in liquidation. Commentators have criticised clients for awarding new contracts to Carillion after it issued the first of three profit warnings last July. While the adage caveat emptor (let the buyer beware) always applies, the job of assessing Carillion’s financial health in detail

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Main editorial comment Fri, 19 Jan 2018 10:29:00 GMT 55824
Has Transport-Watch chief ever read his critics letters? https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55823/has-transport-watch-chief-ever-read-his-critics-letters- I have come to the conclusion that your correspondent Paul Withrington appears not to read your Letters page even though he frequently features on it.  Yet again (LTT 05 Jan) he returns to his sixties-era proposal to convert railway rights-of-way to roads. On numerous occasions readers, who appear to know more about modern-day civil engineering than apparently he does, have patiently discredited this suggestion. Often they have clearly explained the relevant reasons for why the proposal is

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Letters to the editor Fri, 19 Jan 2018 10:28:00 GMT 55823
Prioritise better rail links between cities outside London https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55822/prioritise-better-rail-links-between-cities-outside-london Graham Nalty (Letters LTT 05 Jan) is right to highlight the discrepancies in travel between provincial cities/towns and journeys to/from London. Of course I recognise that the vast majority of rail journeys involve London – reflecting the capital’s importance as an administrative, commercial and financial centre – but London-bound travellers on the whole enjoy more frequent and better quality journeys than those between provincial centres. I say this even though most of my rail

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Letters to the editor Fri, 19 Jan 2018 10:26:00 GMT 55822
Lord Adonis - Model Routemastsr - Chris Grayling https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55820/lord-adonis--model-routemastsr--chris-grayling Lord Adonis may have quit the National Infrastructure Commission but his campaign to see transport secretary Chris Grayling sacked for his handling of the East Coast rail franchise continues. Adonis’s complaint is that Grayling has let operators Stagecoach/Virgin off the hook for billions of pounds of premium payments that they promised on the back of faulty revenue forecasts. Oh dear, people messing up their sums and costing the taxpayer billions. Haven’t we heard that somewhere bef

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In Passing Fri, 19 Jan 2018 10:21:00 GMT 55820
Traffic Commissioner rules out CT inquiry https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55803/traffic-commissioner-rules-out-ct-inquiry Community transport campaigners have welcomed a  traffic commissioner’s decision not to call a public inquiry into a Derbyshire community transport group’s use of Section 19 permits to operate contracts won through competitive tenders. A Driving and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) investigation into Erewash Community Transport last summer prompted the DfT to issue new advice that community transport operators must possess a public service vehicle (PSV) licence to undertake comm

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Regular news Fri, 19 Jan 2018 09:51:00 GMT 55803
Express buses axed after passengers verbally abuse drivers https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55801/express-buses-axed-after-passengers-verbally-abuse-drivers Stagecoach will withdraw all of its southbound X92 limited stop services from Manchester to Hazel Grove this month, in response to passengers abusing drivers for not making unscheduled stops.  The company also says that congestion and other delays along the route have eroded the service’s journey time advantage over the parallel 192 service, which serves all stops. “The X92 has a much shorter journey time than the similar 192 service as it has fewer stops,” says Stagecoa

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Secondary stories Fri, 19 Jan 2018 09:46:00 GMT 55801
One more year for Glaister https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55762/one-more-year-for-glaister Stephen Glaister has agreed to serve one more year as chair of the Office of Rail and Road. A new chair will take over in 2019.

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People/people Fri, 19 Jan 2018 08:47:00 GMT 55762
Chapman is FTAs urban chief https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55761/chapman-is-fta-s-urban-chief Natalie Chapman has been appointed head of south of England and urban policy at the Freight Transport Association. She was the FTA’s head of policy – London. 

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People/people Fri, 19 Jan 2018 08:46:00 GMT 55761
Deegan advises citys mayor https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55760/deegan-advises-city-s-mayor Brian Deegan has been appointed healthy streets advisor to the mayor of Leicester, Peter Soulsby. Deegan is also a design engineer at Urban Movement and was a principal technical specialist at Transport for London. 

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People/people Fri, 19 Jan 2018 08:45:00 GMT 55760
Higgitt launches consultancy https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55759/higgitt-launches-consultancy Martin Higgitt has set up sustainable transport consultancy Martin Higgitt Associates Ltd. He was SYSTRA’s market director – sustainable travel and transport.

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People/people Fri, 19 Jan 2018 08:44:00 GMT 55759
Kearns leads SYSTRAs UK ops https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55758/kearns-leads-systra-s-uk-ops SYSTRA has appointed Tony Kearns operations director – UK engineering, and operations director for Northern Europe (the UK, Scandinavia, Benelux countries and Poland). He joins from WSP, where he was operations director, rail and transit. 

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People/people Fri, 19 Jan 2018 08:44:00 GMT 55758
Hoare is Atkins UK chief https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55757/hoare-is-atkins-uk-chief Atkins has appointed Philip Hoare chief executive of its UK and Europe region. Hoare has led Atkins’ UK and European transportation division since 2014. Divisional finance director Jamie Sharp will lead the UK and Europe transportation business for an interim period. Atkins was bought by SNC-Lavalin last year (LTT 07 Jul 17). 

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People/people Fri, 19 Jan 2018 08:43:00 GMT 55757
Vorotovic joins PTVfrom TfL https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55755/vorotovic-joins-ptvfrom-tfl Vladamir Vorotovic has joined German modelling and data firm PTV Group as head of new mobility solutions. He was lead modelling specialist at Transport for London.

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People/people Fri, 19 Jan 2018 08:42:00 GMT 55755
HS2 Ltd poaches HEs Poole https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55756/hs2-ltd-poaches-he-s-poole David Poole is joining HS2 Ltd as procurement and supply chain director. He is currently Highways England’s executive director for procurement and commercial.

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People/people Fri, 19 Jan 2018 08:42:00 GMT 55756
Job share for DfT rail DG https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55754/job-share-for-dft-rail-dg Polly Payne and Ruth Hannant have been appointed joint director-generals of the DfT’s rail group. They have job-shared for the last seven years, including as directors of higher education reform at the Department for Education and directors of strategy and growth at the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.

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People/people Fri, 19 Jan 2018 08:41:00 GMT 55754
Maxwell leads DfT rail projects https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55753/maxwell-leads-dft-rail-projects Clive Maxwell is the DfT’s new director-general for high-speed and major rail projects, including East West Rail, Northern Powerhouse Rail, and Crossrail 2. He was director-general for energy transformation in the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy and was Office of Fair Trading chief executive (2012 to 2014), and the Treasury’s director of financial stability during the financial crisis of 2007-2009. 

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People/people Fri, 19 Jan 2018 08:40:00 GMT 55753
Lamb joins Thurrock https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55752/lamb-joins-thurrock John Lamb has joined Thurrock Council as interim assistant director – Lower Thames Crossing. The Government is planning a new road tunnel under the Thames, which will hit land in Thurrock. The council opposes the crossing but wants to see mitigation measures including more tunnelling if the project proceeds. Lamb runs JL Executive Solutions, providing interim directorships and consultancy. 

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People/people Fri, 19 Jan 2018 08:39:00 GMT 55752
Lyons is Mott MacDonald transport professor https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55751/lyons-is-mott-macdonald-transport-professor

Glenn Lyons (pictured) has been appointed the Mott MacDonald professor of future mobility at the University of the West of England (UWE) in Bristol. The appointment marks Lyons’ return to the transport sector full-time. Appointed professor of transport & society at UWE in 2002, since 2010 he has also served as associate dean for research and enterprise in the faculty of environment and technology. Lyons will work for Mott MacDonald half-time. Separately, he is working with consultant S

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People/people Fri, 19 Jan 2018 08:37:00 GMT 55751
Johnson and Ghani join DfT https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55750/johnson-and-ghani-join-dft Jo Johnson has been appointed minister of state at the DfT and minster for London. Johnson, the MP for Orpington, was minister of state for universities. He replaces John Hayes. Nusrat Ghani has joined the DfT as a parliamentary under secretary of state. She is MP for Wealden in East Sussex. 

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People/people Fri, 19 Jan 2018 08:36:00 GMT 55750
Government policies on air quality set up to fail says Sustrans report https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55745/government-policies-on-air-quality-set-up-to-fail--says-sustrans-report

The government’s air quality strategy is built on contradictory policies and inadequate funding for councils, according to new research from Sustrans. The charity used its Eunomia air quality model to estimate the contribution of walking and cycling in reducing air pollution and the subsequent benefits to public health. Sustrans director of insight Dr Andy Cope said: “The government has provided funding of £280m to help address air quality in England. Whist this investment is

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Regular news Thu, 18 Jan 2018 17:30:00 GMT 55745
Shared space study published by CIHT https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55741/shared-space-study-published-by-ciht A review of how shared space is designed, implemented and installed in England has been published by the Chartered Institute of Highways & Transportation (CIHT). Creating better streets: Inclusive and accessible places provides a series of recommendations to the government and industry. CIHT president Andreas Markides said: “The issues around shared space have often been controversial and the recommendations that this review has made, if put into place, will help make our streets into

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Regular news Wed, 17 Jan 2018 16:03:00 GMT 55741
Bike renovation scheme offers support to refugees https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55738/bike-renovation-scheme-offers-support-to-refugees

A bicycle training and servicing enterprise has launched an initiative to give refugees refurbished bikes and bike maintenance training. Pro Bike Service CIC is seeking financial donations, bikes and bike parts to support refugee families in east London. This will enable refugees to access amenities and services, education and employment while also providing a means of healthy transport.  Pro Bike works within the gift economy, where services or goods are given without any explicit agreeme

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Regular news Wed, 17 Jan 2018 13:22:00 GMT 55738
Rail event to focus on development and regeneration https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55733/rail-event-to-focus-on-development-and-regeneration

As government and local authorities grapple with the housing shortage, this year’s Rail Stations and Property Summit offers a timely look at how best to deliver new homes around rail stations.  The event, to be held at 15 Hatfields in London on 21 February, will explore how local authorities, the property sector and the railways can work together to enable the development and improvement of rail stations, attract funding and make new housing around rail stations work.  Rail S

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Regular news Mon, 15 Jan 2018 16:53:00 GMT 55733
New report forecasts an increased uptake of active transport modes with MaaS https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55729/new-report-forecasts-an-increased-uptake-of-active-transport-modes-with-maas

A new report from the MaasLab at UCL, commissioned by TfL, provides insights about Londoners’ attitudes towards car-ownership, shared mobility services and Mobility as a Service (MaaS) as well as an impact assessment about a potential introduction of MaaS in the city. Londoners’ attitudes towards car-ownership and Mobility-as-a-Service: Impact assessment and opportunities that lie ahead is available online.  According to the report, at least 35% of regular car users stated that

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Lead Story Fri, 12 Jan 2018 16:14:00 GMT 55729
Traffic removal initiatives to improve the nation's health https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55728/traffic-removal-initiatives-to-improve-the-nation-s-health

The related problems of air pollution and congestion impact negatively on key risks to the public's health: namely cardiovascular disease, lung cancer and respiratory diseases, along with rising obesity levels brought about by the lack of physical activity due to car-dominated lifestyles and road safety fears. Many transport academics and practitioners are asking if some form of road pricing is essential inn order to reduce traffic volumes and so help to fix these challenges?  The recent U

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Lead Story Fri, 12 Jan 2018 12:08:00 GMT 55728
Replace shared space 'concept' with street design that meets the requirements of all users https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55727/replace-shared-space-concept-with-street-design-that-meets-the-requirements-of-all-users

CIHT has finally launched its review of the issue of shared space and how it is being designed, implemented and installed across England. ‘Creating better streets: Inclusive and accessible places’ provides a series of recommendations to Government and industry on how this complex issue can be further improved and developed. The review’s recommendations are aimed at Government, local authorities and those professionals who are working to make our highways inclusive, safer and a

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Lead Story Fri, 12 Jan 2018 10:45:00 GMT 55727
DfT announces crackdown on misuse of laser pointers https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55716/dft-announces-crackdown-on-misuse-of-laser-pointers Measures to tackle the reckless use of laser pointers have been announced by the government. Local authority ports and borders teams would be given additional support to stop high-powered laser pointers entering the UK. In addition, local authority teams would get access to the necessary scientific, technical and testing expertise. There has been a rise in the number of incidents involving laser pointers, said the government. More than 150 incidents of eye injuries involving laser pointer

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Regular news Tue, 9 Jan 2018 14:41:00 GMT 55716
East West Rail must deliver fast end-to-end journeys https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55711/east-west-rail-must-deliver-fast-end-to-end-journeys Stephen Plowden’s suggestion (Letters LTT 8 Dec 17) that transport planning should be based on problem- solving is far more sensible than perhaps he realises. During my business career, I have visited customers’ shops in almost every major town and city in the UK by rail. That has enabled me to identify two major problems that hold back business. Solving these would be very beneficial to the UK economy. The first would be to provide stress-free travel from all our major cities in t

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Letters to the editor Fri, 5 Jan 2018 12:25:00 GMT 55711
Kent gets tough on lorry parking https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55670/kent-gets-tough-on-lorry-parking More than 600 lorries in Kent were clamped for breaking rules on overnight parking in the first four weeks of a trial being conducted by the county council and Ashford Borough Council.  The initiative, which could run for up to 18 months, sees lorries clamped for first time offences on the A20 between Charing and the Drovers roundabout in Ashford, and industrial estates in Ashford that have overnight lorry parking bans.  Clamping commenced in late October and 612 vehicles were immobi

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Secondary stories Fri, 5 Jan 2018 11:11:00 GMT 55670
Burnhams 50m for active travel https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55662/burnham-s-50m-for-active-travel Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham has announced a £50m-a-year fund to improve walking and cycling conditions across the conurbation.  The fund will run from 2019 to 2021, with Greater Manchester’s ten districts bidding for a share to part-fund active travel infrastructure. Burnham announced the fund as his walking and cycling commissioner, Chris Boardman, submitted a 15-point plan on how to increase active travel.  Boardman calls for a ring-fenced, ten-year, £1

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Regular news Fri, 5 Jan 2018 11:04:00 GMT 55662
SE rail demand falls for fifth quarter https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55650/se-rail-demand-falls-for-fifth-quarter

Rail patronage on London and South East services was 1.3% lower in the second quarter of 2017/18 compared with the same period of 2016/17, according to the Office of Rail and Road. This is the fifth successive quarter of decline.  GB-wide rail passenger journeys in the second quarter fell 0.4% to 424 million. Long distance passenger numbers grew 1.1% and patronage on regional operators (i.e. outside London and the South East) rose 2.0%.  In London and the South East, the South Wester

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Regular news Fri, 5 Jan 2018 10:40:00 GMT 55650
Joint committee wants Tactran powers https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55643/joint-committee-wants-tactran-powers A new joint committee overseeing transport has been formed in central Scotland that raises questions about the future of Tactran, the Tayside and Central Scotland Transport Partnership.   The Tay Cities Joint Committee brings together four councils that are party to the Tay Cities Deal: Dundee, Angus, Perth & Kinross and Fife. A ‘minute of agreement’ between the councils says the committee, which met for the first time on 8 December, will be responsible for cross-boundary s

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Regular news Fri, 5 Jan 2018 10:26:00 GMT 55643
Should we trunk more roads asks DfT https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55639/should-we-trunk-more-roads-asks-dft The Government is consulting on whether the size of Highways England’s strategic road network (SRN) should be changed.  From 2020/21, Highways England’s SRN and the separate MRN of the most important local authority roads will both be eligible for funding from the new National Roads Fund of ring-fenced Vehicle Excise Duty.  The DfT’s consultation on Highways England’s initial report  for road period 2 (see above) invites views on whether roads should be t

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Regular news Fri, 5 Jan 2018 10:21:00 GMT 55639
Edinburgh develops electric vehicle plan https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55624/edinburgh-develops-electric-vehicle-plan The City of Edinburgh Council is commissioning a study into how to grow the number of electric vehicles in the city. The work, to be completed by March, will look at actions up to 2023, including possible revenue that the council could receive from a charging regime. The council’s new EV action plan proposes three electric vehicle charging zones. The preferred solution in the city centre will be rapid (43-50kW) charging hubs, both on- and off-street, some for sole use by taxis, car clubs a

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In brief Fri, 5 Jan 2018 09:36:00 GMT 55624
Capitals bike hire hits new heights https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55620/capital-s-bike-hire-hits-new-heights More than 10.3 million hires have been made on Santander Cycles in 2017 – a new record – according to Transport for London. The scheme was launched in 2010 and now covers 100 square kilometres, making it the second largest cycle hire scheme in Europe. It is being extended this month into Brixton, with seven docking stations providing capacity for 200 bikes.   

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In brief Fri, 5 Jan 2018 09:32:00 GMT 55620
Autonomous DRT trial for Croydon https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55619/autonomous-drt-trial-for-croydon The London Borough of Croydon is to host a trial of a small driverless demand responsive transport vehicle as part of the ‘Streetwise’ project that involves Five AI, Transport for London, and Direct Line insurance. “The vehicle will deviate from its route if called by passengers,” said Shifa Mustafa, Croydon’s executive director for place. It will be tested “as a means of providing public transport in less dense areas that cannot support a traditional bus serv

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In brief Fri, 5 Jan 2018 09:31:00 GMT 55619
TfL explores more express buses https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55618/tfl-explores-more-express-buses Transport for London is studying the potential for more express bus services in outer London.  “As demand increases with population growth it will become feasible to split the offer on more corridors into ‘local’ and ‘express’ with both justifying decently high frequency,” it says in response to the London Assembly transport committee’s report on bus services. Investigations are currently focused on the Old Kent Road; the North Greenwich-Woolwich-Th

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In brief Fri, 5 Jan 2018 09:31:00 GMT 55618
TfL cuts borough LIP funds but Oxford St cycling get a boost https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55617/tfl-cuts-borough-lip-funds-but-oxford-st--cycling-get-a-boost Transport for London is to make deep cuts to many borough funding streams as it prioritises cycling and the mayor’s flagship project to transform Oxford Street (LTT10 Nov 17).  Among borough funding streams to suffer are bus priority, road asset management, major schemes, liveable neighbourhoods, corridors, and even the flagship Healthy Streets programme.  TfL’s 2016 business plan projected borough funding of £223m in 2018/19. The new business plan published last mo

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Secondary stories Fri, 5 Jan 2018 09:29:00 GMT 55617
TfL cuts fare projections by 16bn over the next five years https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55615/tfl-cuts-fare-projections-by-1-6bn-over-the-next-five-years

Transport for London has cut its expectations of public transport fare revenues over the next five years by £1.6bn.  The organisation’s new business plan to 2022/23, published just before Christmas, features markedly lower fare revenue projections than those in the business plan to 2021/22 published in December 2016.  The December 2016 plan projected fares revenues of £4.877bn in 2017/18. The new plan forecasts revenues for the year of £4.638bn – £

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Secondary stories Fri, 5 Jan 2018 09:24:00 GMT 55615
New Years Honours https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55608/new-year-s-honours David Prout, who was the DfT’s director general of HS2 until July last year, received an Order of the Bath CB for services to transport in the New Year’s Honours. Michael Barratt, a development impact assessment lead at Transport for London, was awarded an MBE. Neil Buxton received an OBEfor services to local and rural railways – Buxton was general manager for the Association of Community Rail Partnerships until retiring in December 2016. George Buttery, formerly deputy directo

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People/people Fri, 5 Jan 2018 09:14:00 GMT 55608
New staff at Tactran https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55606/new-staff-at-tactran Tactran, the Tay and Central Scotland Regional Transport Partnership, has made three appointments. Jonathan Padmore joins this month as senior strategy officer from Stirling Council where he was transport development team leader. Niall Moran joined last month as strategy officer (strategic connectivity) from Perth & Kinross Council where he was a transport planning officer. Graeme Brown joins this month as strategy officer (sustainable transport) from Dundee City Council where he was nationa

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People/people Fri, 5 Jan 2018 09:12:00 GMT 55606
Kenny joins Arcadis from Mott Mac https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55605/kenny-joins-arcadis-from-mott-mac Kate Kenny has joined consultant Arcadis as senior technical director from Mott MacDonald where she was operations manager – surface transport. 

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People/people Fri, 5 Jan 2018 09:11:00 GMT 55605
Powell is TfLs surface transport chief https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55604/powell-is-tfl-s-surface-transport-chief

Transport for London has appointed Gareth Powell managing director for surface transport, succeeding Leon Daniels who has retired. Powell was TfL’s director of public transport and strategy. He has also served as London Underground’s director of strategy and service development. He joined TfL from Atkins in 2003.  

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People/people Fri, 5 Jan 2018 09:10:00 GMT 55604
Transport researchers need to 'optimise the research environment' says UCL report https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55561/transport-researchers-need-to-optimise-the-research-environment-says-ucl-report The UCL Transport Institute has published a new report into the Landscape for Transport Research. ‘We developed this report in response to upheaval in the transport sector combined with concerns among the UCL community about the future of transport research,’ say the authors. The report investigates the current landscape for transport research and funding in the UK, arguing that transport research came to a crossroads in 2017, undergoing something of a paradigm shift from ‘tran

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Lead Story Mon, 18 Dec 2017 11:33:00 GMT 55561
Manchester calls for 15 billion walking and cycling infrastructure fund https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55560/manchester-calls-for-1-5-billion-walking-and-cycling-infrastructure-fund

Greater Manchester's walking and cycling commissioner Chris Boardman has published his much anticipated report Made to Move (report will download instantly), which outlines 15 key steps to transform Greater Manchester by changing the way its citizens and visitors get around. The goal ‘should be to double and then double again cycling in Greater Manchester, and make walking the natural choice for as many short trips as possible. We must do this by putting people first, creati

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Lead Story Mon, 18 Dec 2017 11:18:00 GMT 55560
Waze trial has reduced Blackwall Tunnel breakdowns says TfL https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55554/waze-trial-has-reduced-blackwall-tunnel-breakdowns-says-tfl A trial involving social navigation app Waze has resulted in a drop in the number of vehicles breaking down or running out of fuel in Blackwall Tunnel, according to Transport for London (TfL). During the six-month trial there was a fall in the number of tunnel breakdowns compared with the same period last year, says TfL. It reports that 459 drivers acted on the fuel message from the app and re-routed to local petrol stations. A TfL spokesman told LTT: “We think it's likely that some of t

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Regular news Tue, 12 Dec 2017 18:57:00 GMT 55554
DPTAC sets out measures to help people with mental impairments to travel https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55553/dptac-sets-out-measures-to-help-people-with-mental-impairments-to-travel

Transport operators and councils must implement a range of measures to help people with mental impairments to travel, says a new report for the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee (DPTAC). As well as improving wellbeing and encouraging independence, the measures would benefit the economy, argues the report. People with mental impairments make fewer journeys than the rest of the population due to anxiety and lack of confidence. Reasons include: not being eligible to travel concessi

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Regular news Tue, 12 Dec 2017 15:49:00 GMT 55553
500 more EVs join car share scheme in Madrid https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55509/500-more-evs-join-car-share-scheme-in-madrid

A fleet of 500 all-electric Renault ZOEs will be arriving in Madrid this month to join new car-sharing scheme ZITY, the result of a cooperation between Renault and urban services operator Ferrovial. Madrid has the highest rate of daily car-sharing in Europe due to the city’s size, population, traffic problems and air pollution issues. This new car-sharing scheme covers a wide area of the Spanish capital, with vehicles provided to customers in the right place at the right time via a smartp

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Lead Story Fri, 8 Dec 2017 10:33:00 GMT 55509
City pilots use of wi-fi data to enhance pedestrian modelling https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55470/city-pilots-use-of-wi-fi-data-to-enhance-pedestrian-modelling The City of London Corporation is to enhance its new pedestrian model with locational data sourced from mobile phones. The City’s model, built by Space Syntax, forecasts pedestrian movements for a 2016 base year and 2026 in two time periods – a morning peak hour and a lunchtime hour.  Carolyn Dwyer, the City’s director of the built environment, said: “Owing to the strategic nature of the model, it is less useful for application where very detailed pedestrian flow f

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Secondary stories Fri, 8 Dec 2017 09:48:00 GMT 55470
Silka Kennedy-Todd goes travelling https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55459/silka-kennedy-todd-goes-travelling Silka Kennedy-Todd has left Transport for London, where she was head of taxi and private hire stakeholder relations, to go travelling.

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People/people Fri, 8 Dec 2017 09:35:00 GMT 55459
Fleming now redesigner https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55458/fleming-now-redesigner Claire Fleming has left her post as travel plan officer at Swindon Borough Council to become the council’s digital process redesigner.

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People/people Fri, 8 Dec 2017 09:34:00 GMT 55458
Stuart Kay appointed Chairman https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55457/stuart-kay-appointed-chairman Stuart Kay has been appointed chairman of the Local Government Technical Advisers Group in the North East of England. He is a principal engineer - operational safety at Sweco.

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People/people Fri, 8 Dec 2017 09:33:00 GMT 55457
Mudhar joins Amey https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55456/mudhar-joins-amey Amrit Mudhar has joined Amey as a senior transport planner. She was a senior transport planner at M-EC Consulting Development Engineers.

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People/people Fri, 8 Dec 2017 09:32:00 GMT 55456
SDG recruits rail expertise https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55455/sdg-recruits-rail-expertise Steer Davies Gleave has recruited two consultants from the rail industry. Helen Waters joins from Arriva UK Trainsas an associate director. Richard Aitken joins as an associate from Keolis, where he was a timetable and resource manager.

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People/people Fri, 8 Dec 2017 09:31:00 GMT 55455
McNaughton takes DfT advisory role https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55454/mcnaughton-takes-dft-advisory-role Andrew McNaughton is to step down from leading the technical directorate of HS2 Ltd in January, to take up a part-time role as HS2 Ltd’s strategic technical advisor, and a wider role advising the DfT and other government departments on wider transport matters. Professor McNaughton will continue to serve as an expert witness for the high-speed rail project, and chair the World High Speed Rail Committee. 

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People/people Fri, 8 Dec 2017 09:29:00 GMT 55454
Shortland is Bedfords highways chief https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55453/shortland-is-bedford-s-highways-chief

Jon Shortland (pictured) has joined Bedford Borough Council as chief officer for planning and highways. He has spent the last ten years in the private sector, as account director for Amey’s Bedfordshire contract and latterly at Ringway Jacobs in Central Bedfordshire following TUPElast year. He previously worked for nearly 20 years at Northamptonshire County Council, latterly as head of transport policy, performance and knowledge management.  

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People/people Fri, 8 Dec 2017 09:28:00 GMT 55453
Austin replaces Verster at East West Rail https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55452/austin-replaces-verster-at-east-west-rail Peter Austin has been appointed managing director of the East West Railway Company, the Government company developing plans for a new railway from Oxford to Cambridge. Austin succeeds Phil Verster, who has left after just a few months in post to become president and chief executive officer of Toronto public transport agency Metrolinx. Austin was managing director of Transport for London’s London Overground Rail Operations Ltd from January 2013 to November 2016 and served as commercial dire

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People/people Fri, 8 Dec 2017 09:27:00 GMT 55452
Transport planning BSc for apprentices https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55449/transport-planning-bsc-for-apprentices Work is underway to design a transport planning degree for apprentices.  An employers group is working with Aston University and the University of the West of England to develop the BSc in transport planning.  The degree apprenticeship will complement the Leeds College of Building’s existing transport planning technician apprenticeship, which offers a level 3 BTEC qualification in transport planning. This three-year apprenticeship was launched in 2015 and the first set of trans

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Regular news Fri, 8 Dec 2017 09:17:00 GMT 55449
Sheffield suspends Ubers private hire licence https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55447/sheffield-suspends-uber-s-private-hire-licence Sheffield City Council has suspended Uber’s licence to operate private hire vehicles in the city. The council said the decision was made “after the current licence holder failed to respond to requests, made by our licensing team, about the management of Uber”. Uber can continue operating in the city until 18 December and if it chooses to appeal the suspension it can continue to operate until the appeal is determined. The council added: “We received a new application fo

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Lead Story Fri, 8 Dec 2017 09:11:00 GMT 55447
Edinburgh council plans city-wide electric vehicle charging zones https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55443/edinburgh-council-plans-city-wide-electric-vehicle-charging-zones

Strategic charging zones for electric vehicles could be rolled out across Edinburgh as part of the city’s first Electric Vehicle Action Plan.  The zonal approach to charging hubs are one of five key strategic objectives in the city council's plan, which will be considered by members of the Transport and Environment Committee.  In September the Scottish Government announced a major expansion of electric vehicle infrastructure across Scotland by 2022, coupled with a phasing out o

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Regular news Thu, 7 Dec 2017 17:50:00 GMT 55443
Design ideas sought for gateway to Old Street roundabout https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55442/design-ideas-sought-for-gateway-to-old-street-roundabout

Islington Council is seeking design ideas to create an “iconic gateway” at Old Street roundabout. The London borough is seeking proposals incorporating public art and embracing the spirit of “Tech City” - the technological, economic and cultural powerhouse around Old Street. Applications are being sought from a range of disciplines including architecture, urban planning, transport, art, Smart Cities and technology. The 1960s roundabout will undergo a major transformation

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Regular news Thu, 7 Dec 2017 17:31:00 GMT 55442
TfLs cycle hire boss urges Network Rail to provide more capacity at mainline stations https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55440/tfl-s-cycle-hire-boss-urges-network-rail-to-provide-more-capacity-at-mainline-stations

More space for hire bikes is urgently needed at mainline railway stations in London to meet commuter demand, according to David Eddington, head of cycle hire at Transport for London (TfL).  Secure, overnight lock-up facilities for the Santander cycles should be provided near stations, he said. Staff could wheel the bikes between docking stations and nearby storage facilities or do shuttle runs in vans, which would be “much better than transporting the bikes through the congestion of

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Regular news Thu, 7 Dec 2017 13:18:00 GMT 55440
The future of integrated public-private mobility services through city partnerships https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55438/the-future-of-integrated-public-private-mobility-services-through-city-partnerships Three new mobility services can improve the movement of urban inhabitants, according to research conducted by the Coalition for Urban Transitions & McKinsey Center for Business and Environment, in an initiative to support decision makers in ensuring that city action is linked to broader economic planning. According to the study, integrating electric, on-demand minibuses, subsidised shared rides, and trip-planning and ticketing apps into the mass transit systems of London, Mexico City and Sa

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Lead Story Wed, 6 Dec 2017 13:00:00 GMT 55438
UK physical activity guidelines review to take place https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55437/uk-physical-activity-guidelines-review-to-take-place

The current UK physical activity guidelines were published by the Chief Medical Officers (CMOs) in 2011, and offer evidence-based recommendations for physical activity related health outcomes. Starting at the end of 2017, a review will be conducted to provide updated practical public health guidelines and develop potential implementation pathways for all groups, from healthcare to communication professionals.   Access the UK physical activity guidelines review pages  Over t

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Lead Story Wed, 6 Dec 2017 12:49:00 GMT 55437
New air quality model makes case for walking and cycling https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55434/new-air-quality-model-makes-case-for-walking-and-cycling

Working with the UK charity Sustrans, independent environmental consultancy Eunomia has developed a model that measures air quality benefits from reducing motor emissions due to shifting to walking or cycling and changes in personal exposure to air pollution. The model aims to support local authorities in making the case for investment in boosting walking and cycling and estimates the contribution of active travel in reducing levels of particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide – and the sub

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Lead Story Wed, 6 Dec 2017 12:07:00 GMT 55434
Walking into older age review infrastrcuture needs says new research https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55430/walking-into-older-age-review-infrastrcuture-needs-says-new-research Particular attention should be paid to investigating the causes of gender differences in the impact of ageing on walking, reports a study by Tessa Pollard from Durham University, recently published in the BioMed Central Public Health journal. The study points to the need to design successful and possibly gender differentiated interventions to maintain walking levels into older age. Maintaining physical activity in older age is important for health and wellbeing and walking has great potent

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Lead Story Wed, 6 Dec 2017 09:48:00 GMT 55430
New Urban Mobility Innovation Index shows that options relating to health fairness and accessibility are 'diverse' https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55429/new-urban-mobility-innovation-index-shows-that-options-relating-to-health-fairness-and-accessibility-are-diverse-

Research undertaken for the recently published Urban Mobility Innovation Index suggests that whilst most cities do have an established strategy for urban mobility, these are frequently a statement of ambitions and guiding principles rather than a roadmap set out to address concrete local challenges, informed by comprehensive data. Coverage of mobility options relating to health, fairness and accessibility is ‘quite diverse among cities’, as is the quality of the service provided

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Lead Story Wed, 6 Dec 2017 09:27:00 GMT 55429
Industrial Strategy gives central role innovative mobility solutions https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55428/industrial-strategy-gives-central-role-innovative-mobility-solutions

The government hopes that its Industrial Strategy will place the UK at the forefront of development of autonomous vehicles (AVs), artificial intelligence (AI) and innovative approaches to shared mobility services. The draft Industrial Strategy, titled “Building a Britain Fit for the Future”, outlines how the government intends to boost businesses and worker productivity through investment in the skills, industries and infrastructure of the future. The White Paper confirms governmen

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Regular news Thu, 30 Nov 2017 18:06:00 GMT 55428
London Plan sets out requirements for car-free housing and more cycle parking https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55411/london-plan-sets-out-requirements-for-car-free-housing-and-more-cycle-parking

Housing developments will be car-free except for disabled people in parts of the capital with the best public transport connections, under new measures announced by London Mayor Sadiq Khan. This is among the proposals to reduce parking capacity in the mayor’s draft London Plan, published this week. The draft states that residential car parking would not be linked to unit size, so that parking spaces would no longer go up as unit sizes increase. Meanwhile, office developments in central a

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Regular news Thu, 30 Nov 2017 15:16:00 GMT 55411
Smart Mobility Living Lab London will be operational in 2019 https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55406/smart-mobility-living-lab-london-will-be-operational-in-2019

A £13.4m initiative to create a driverless transport testing area based in Greenwich, south-east London, is due to be up and running by spring 2019. Loughborough University (LU), the lead academic partner, has been awarded £500,000 as part of the project to develop a research programme enabling a real-world working testbed for connected and autonomous vehicles (CAVs). The Smart Mobility Living Lab: London will enable companies to trial their ideas, technology and services within co

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Regular news Wed, 29 Nov 2017 11:46:00 GMT 55406
Banning diesel and petrol cars is a sound-bite that wont work says SMMT president https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55404/banning-diesel-and-petrol-cars-is-a-sound-bite-that-won-t-work-says-smmt-president

Policies that seek to ban diesel and petrol cars from towns and cities is a knee-jerk reaction that ignores the efforts the automotive sector has made to produce less polluting vehicles, the president of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) has said. Tony Walker used his speech at the SMMT’s annual dinner to address the issue of air quality. He focussed on the automotive sector’s efforts to invest in new technology and improve air quality in towns and cities.  

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Regular news Wed, 29 Nov 2017 11:44:00 GMT 55404
Road funding experts warn doing nothing is not an option https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55399/road-funding-experts-warn-doing-nothing-is-not-an-option A group of European specialists in road user charging are warning that shortfalls in fuel tax caused by a move to emissions-free vehicles means current ways of funding the road network are not sustainable. They have called for new thinking to improve mobility options and improve productivity. At a joint forum between ITS (UK)’s Road User Charging Interest Group and ITS Ireland, held in Dublin, experts from seven European countries discussed “keeping the wheels turning” during

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Regular news Tue, 28 Nov 2017 16:05:00 GMT 55399
New THINK road safety campaign aims to cut child deaths https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55397/new-think-road-safety-campaign-aims-to-cut-child-deaths

New road safety resources have been released by the Department for Transport to help teachers and schools highlight the dangers of the road. The road safety campaign is designed to help cut child fatalities. A recent survey revealed that 67% of children get fewer than two hours of road safety education in their whole time at school and the new THINK! campaign will help schools and teachers highlight the dangers of the road and encourage best practice for children. The government&rsqu

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Regular news Tue, 28 Nov 2017 15:58:00 GMT 55397
Ford challenge rewards car-pooling navigation and podcast apps https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55396/ford-challenge-rewards-car-pooling-navigation-and-podcast-apps

Ford has awarded some €30,000 (£27,000) to start-ups developing carpooling, navigation and podcast apps that will work on its in-car SYNC Connectivity System. The three winning apps in Ford’s Make It Driveable AppLink challenge each receiving €10,000 (£9,000) and an opportunity to work further with Ford. One of the winners, French-based Zify, app, mixes the world of the sharing economy and social media by filling empty car seats through connecting like-minded drive

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Regular news Tue, 28 Nov 2017 15:55:00 GMT 55396
Motorists feel more confident when driving with satellite navigation https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55395/motorists-feel-more-confident-when-driving-with-satellite-navigation The majority of drivers in the UK who currently use satellite navigation stated that the device increases their confidence while on the road, a survey from personal injury specialists YouClaim has revealed. According to the data, 58% of the 780 UK drivers surveyed confirmed they use a sat-nav, and of these, 70% claimed that it increased their confidence while driving. The survey also revealed that 71% of users relied on a sat nav primarily for directions and 19% used the device to find the fast

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Regular news Tue, 28 Nov 2017 15:54:00 GMT 55395
Industrial Strategy Future of Urban Mobility plan to boost innovations such as ride-sharing https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55390/industrial-strategy-future-of-urban-mobility-plan-to-boost-innovations-such-as-ride-sharing The Government has set out plans to become "a world leader in shaping the future of mobility," with a strategy that prepares the UK for "the blurring of public and private transport" including ride-hailing and mobility as a service. Ministers will prepare a 'Future of Urban Mobility' strategy within 12 months to position UK businesses in the marketplace as part of a new Industrial Strategy, responding to and embracing "a profound change in how we move people, goods and services driven by extrao

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Regular news Mon, 27 Nov 2017 15:45:00 GMT 55390
Transport operators must do more to help people with mental health conditions says transport professor https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55385/-transport-operators-must-do-more-to-help-people-with-mental-health-conditions-says-transport-professor

People with mental health conditions are being let down by transport operators failing to cater for their needs, according to Roger Mackett, Emeritus Professor of Transport at University College London. Speaking at the TRL Academy Symposium last week, he said that those with mental health impairments are being deterred from using bus and rail services due to lack of support from operators. This includes not giving staff the right training to help those with mental health issues, the shift to dri

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Regular news Fri, 24 Nov 2017 12:11:00 GMT 55385
Clarkson and Hammond ridiculed over driverless cars https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55384/clarkson-and-hammond-ridiculed-over-driverless-cars “Jeremy Clarkson has warned of the dangers of driverless cars as Chancellor Philip Hammond prepared to give autonomous vehicles the green light for testing on UK roads in the Budget,” The Daily Mail informed its readers on 19 November. “The Grand Tour host said he drove an autonomous car recently which twice over a distance of 50 miles made mistakes which could have killed him. It came as Mr Hammond prepared to announce changes to regulations to allow developers to test self-dr

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Media monitor Fri, 24 Nov 2017 11:57:00 GMT 55384
Right-leaning commentator backs Corbyn call for rail renationalisation https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55382/right-leaning-commentator-backs-corbyn-call-for-rail-renationalisation “It'd time for the Tories to admit rail privatisation has been a disaster,” Spectator columnist Ross Clark suggested on 9 November. “Surely the point of rail privatisation was to reduce the cost to the taxpayer, transfer financial risk to the private sector, keep fares down, give passengers more choice and end rail strikes. None of these things has been delivered. “Fares, as well as subsidy, have gone up,” said Clark. “While a few places… have gained n

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Media monitor Fri, 24 Nov 2017 11:54:00 GMT 55382
Thats democracy How does the public influence what https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55381/that-s-democracy-how-does-the-public-influence-what

As so often, my reason for looking at the issue I’m about to raise is that it’s one I’ve encountered in different ways over the past few weeks. I’ll refer to three ‘case studies’ that all reflect on the same question: how is public opinion taken into account when making decisions about the public realm? As Exhibit A, I present the edited highlights of a series of tweets from a journalist at a classic public ‘consultation’ event. ‘I’m a

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John Dales Fri, 24 Nov 2017 11:49:00 GMT 55381
NRs method for allocating fixed costs a threat to freight https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55376/nr-s-method-for-allocating-fixed-costs-a-threat-to-freight The Campaign for Better Transport believes it is inappropriate to allocate fixed costs to specific types of rail traffic (‘Northern & freight shoulder bigger share of NR fixed costs’ LTT09 Nov).  By allocating costs to sectors it infers that those costs would be eliminated if the traffic disappears, yet in reality the costs are fixed and would simply pass to another sector.  This gives a false indication of the true costs of particular types of traffic. Even though Net

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Letters to the editor Fri, 24 Nov 2017 11:42:00 GMT 55376
Eastpoint wins green light app https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55369/eastpoint-wins-green-light-app West Midlands Combined Authority has awarded Cambridge-based Eastpoint Software Ltd the contract to develop an app that recommends what speed drivers should drive at to receive a green traffic signal at the next junction (LTT29 Sep).

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News Fri, 24 Nov 2017 11:19:00 GMT 55369
Contractors becoming more choosy on work https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55366/contractors-becoming-more-choosy-on-work- Construction firms are becoming increasingly selective about the infrastructure projects they become involved in, leaving some areas struggling to attract appropriate skills and commercial backing, according to a senior Arup manager. Dan Saville, of Arup UK’s infrastructure executive, told a committee of the National Assembly for Wales that there was a limited number of construction firms willing and able to take on large infrastructure projects for transport, water and energy, and projec

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News Fri, 24 Nov 2017 11:17:00 GMT 55366
MPs explore potential of MaaS https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55332/mps-explore-potential-of-maas The House of Commons transport committee has announced an inquiry into Mobility as a Service (MaaS). The committee is inviting written evidence for the inquiry, including on matters such as the evidence to date on MaaS performance worldwide; barriers to MaaS implementation in UK cities; the role of central government in MaaS development; and overcoming concerns about digital exclusion. The deadline for submissions is 22 December. 

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In brief Fri, 24 Nov 2017 10:32:00 GMT 55332
Councils at fault for SQP failures https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55326/-councils-at-fault-for-sqp-failures- Councils are to blame for the failure of Scotland’s statutory quality partnership (SQP) legislation, Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) has told Transport Scotland.   Transport Scotland is consulting on replacing the SQP regime with service improvement partnerships (SIPs) (see story above).  Responding to the consultation, SPT, which has experience of using the SQP powers, says: “Despite enormous effort and significant resource, trying to get all parties –

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Regular news Fri, 24 Nov 2017 10:26:00 GMT 55326
Put land values at the heart of appraisal https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55314/-put-land-values-at-the-heart-of-appraisal-

The DfT should abandon its emphasis on time savings in transport scheme appraisal and instead assess the likely impact of transport investments on land values, a leading transport economist has said. Paul Buchanan, a partner at consultant Volterra, told the Local Transport Summit in Manchester last week that the DfT’s appraisal system was “bust”. He endorsed the argument put forward by academic and former DfT chief scientist David Metz that time savings, which typically form t

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Regular news Fri, 24 Nov 2017 10:07:00 GMT 55314
Campion relishing chance to champion intelligent mobility https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55312/campion-relishing-chance-to-champion-intelligent-mobility

Judging from his upbeat disposition, Paul Campion seems to be relishing his new role at the helm of the Transport Systems Catapult. Having spent more than 30 years at IBM, his deep understanding of technology trends will no doubt help him to gauge intelligent mobility’s potential. “I wouldn’t have left IBM for any other opportunity,” he says. “This is a once in a lifetime chance to help grow the UK economy and create jobs. This is an extraordinary moment in history

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Interview Fri, 24 Nov 2017 10:00:00 GMT 55312
Prize for best design of driverless road https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55308/prize-for-best-design-of-driverless-road The National Infrastructure Commission (NIC) is to run a prize competition to identify how road-building should adapt to the advent of driverless cars. The news came as the Chancellor, Philip Hammond, said he wanted fully driverless cars on the UK’s roads by 2021. In this week’s Budget, the Treasury said ministers planned to make “world-leading changes” to the regulatory framework for driverless cars, “such as setting out how driverless cars can be tested without a

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Lead Story Fri, 24 Nov 2017 09:49:00 GMT 55308
Murdoch joins Landor Links https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55307/murdoch-joins-landor-links

Darryl Murdoch (pictured) has joined Landor Links as client partnership manager. He moves from Metropolis International Publishing, where he specialised in the tourism and leisure sectors.

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People/people Fri, 24 Nov 2017 09:44:00 GMT 55307
Lamonte is president of EMTA https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55306/lamonte-is-president-of-emta Transport for Greater Manchester’s chief executive, Jon Lamonte, has been appointed the new president of the European Metropolitan Transport Authorities.  

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People/people Fri, 24 Nov 2017 09:43:00 GMT 55306
Van der Velde heads West Midlands rail https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55305/van-der-velde-heads-west-midlands-rail Jan Chaudhry-van der Velde has been appointed managing director of West Midlands Trains, the company that will take over the West Midlands rail franchise on 10 December. He joins from Merseyrail, where he has been managing director since 2015. Andy Heath has been appointed Merseyrail’s new managing director. He had been deputy managing director since 2012.

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People/people Fri, 24 Nov 2017 09:42:00 GMT 55305
Holden leaves Cambridge access post https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55303/holden-leaves-cambridge-access-post Hilary Holden has left the Greater Cambridge Partnership where she was team leader for the city access proposals of the Greater Cambridge City Deal. She took up the post last summer and was responsible for overseeing proposals such as a workplace parking levy and the now abandoned access control scheme (LTT 22 Jul 16). Holden is now a freelance consultant and campaigner for Vision Zero in Cambridge.

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People/people Fri, 24 Nov 2017 09:41:00 GMT 55303
Shaw leads WMCAs network resilience https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55304/shaw-leads-wmca-s-network-resilience Anne Shaw is now director of network resilience at the West Midlands Combined Authority. She was assistant director of transportation and connectivity at Birmingham City Council. 

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People/people Fri, 24 Nov 2017 09:41:00 GMT 55304
Bridges is Arups cities director https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55302/bridges-is-arup-s-cities-director Tom Bridges is leaving his post as chief officer for economy and regeneration at Leeds City Council to join Arup as director of cities advisory.

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People/people Fri, 24 Nov 2017 09:39:00 GMT 55302
Campopiano joins WSP from SYSTRA https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55301/campopiano-joins-wsp-from-systra

Stephen Campopiano (pictured) has joined consultant WSP as an associate director from SYSTRA where he was lead manager for local transport planning in Scotland. 

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People/people Fri, 24 Nov 2017 09:38:00 GMT 55301
Budget Chancellor commits to investment in rail regions electric vehicles and air quality https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55293/budget-chancellor-commits-to-investment-in-rail-regions-electric-vehicles-and-air-quality Chancellor Phillip Hammond made investment in both transport infrastructure and in new vehicle technologies key planks of his second Budget of the year. He also flagged up a desire to reduce the cost of travel as a part of household expenditure. There will be increased spending on rail links and rolling stock across the UK beyond London, with an emphasis being placed on supporting improvements to connectivity in the regions. In particular, Combined Authorities who have elected mayors have attra

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Regular news Wed, 22 Nov 2017 16:05:00 GMT 55293
Strong support for more investment in cycling Bike Life reports show https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55287/strong-support-for-more-investment-in-cycling-bike-life-reports-show

A survey of seven UK cities has revealed that 75% of residents want to see more investment in cycling. Cycling and walking charity Sustrans carried out research in the cities - Belfast, Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Greater Manchester and Newcastle – two years after an initial survey.  The new reports showed a rise in the number of segregated cycle lanes and bike parking spaces in the past two years, but also a rise in concerns about safety. Only 30% of respondents think c

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Regular news Mon, 20 Nov 2017 17:59:00 GMT 55287
Lets build smart sustainable human cities https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55285/let-s-build-smart-sustainable-human-cities

Idealised visions of ‘The City of the Future’ are often presented as a symbol of progress. Whilst specific visions differ, the common element is the notion that in the future, the world’s most concentrated populations will occupy city environments where a digital blanket of sensors, devices and cloud-connected data are brought together to enhance the living experience for all. Smart concepts encompass key elements of what enable effective city ecosystems – from traffic c

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Viewpoint Mon, 20 Nov 2017 12:38:00 GMT 55285
Hertfordshire County Council sets out plans to reduce car dependency https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55255/hertfordshire-county-council-sets-out-plans-to-reduce-car-dependency Higher parking charges and a cut in parking spaces are among the proposals in Hertfordshire County Council’s Local Transport Plan (LTP).  The council stressed that increasing road capacity by building new roads would be a “last resort” due to the “financial and environmental cost” involved.  “It is acknowledged that demand management is essential to enable modal shift, achieved through parking restrictions and charging mechanisms (particularly at w

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Regular news Wed, 15 Nov 2017 16:09:00 GMT 55255
Transport Committee to explore potential of Mobility as a Service https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55249/transport-committee-to-explore-potential-of-mobility-as-a-service

The House of Commons Transport Committee is to look at how digital transport service platforms can enable the provision of Mobility as a Service, or MaaS. Digital platforms are increasingly being used to deliver a variety of transport services, ranging from niche online car and bike-sharing schemes to high profile taxi and private hire smartphone apps. The Transport Committee’s inquiry will look the potential of integrated, multi-mode MaaS apps, and ways of overcoming barriers to im

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Regular news Tue, 14 Nov 2017 16:21:00 GMT 55249
Skates orders review of Welsh active travel funding streams https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55205/skates-orders-review-of-welsh-active-travel-funding-streams Welsh transport secretary Ken Skates has ordered officials to undertake “a detailed review of the entire funding approach for active travel”.  In evidence to a National Assembly for Wales committee, the minister acknowledged that funding for active travel schemes was currently complex, with sources including the Local Transport Fund, the Safe Routes in Communities Grant, and the Road Safety Grant.  He promised a statement on the simplification of active travel funding in

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Regular news Fri, 10 Nov 2017 10:04:00 GMT 55205
Transport's gender bias it's down to biology https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55188/transport-s-gender-bias-it-s-down-to-biology I write following Lucy Marstrand’s and Lucy Yu’s letters on gender in the transport profession (ibid). There is a strange doublethink surrounding this issue. Firstly, if anyone in authority dares to point out that men and women are different they may get the sack. Think the Damore affair and Google. Secondly, and obviously, given the vast differences in biological function and physique, it would be surprising if there were not substantial differences in psychologies and in the abili

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Letters to the editor Fri, 10 Nov 2017 09:40:00 GMT 55188
Attributing car sales slowdown to 'Peak Car' is premature https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55176/attributing-car-sales-slowdown-to-peak-car-is-premature Is ‘peak car’ really an explanation for the slow-down in new car sales (‘Vehicle sales slowdown sparks City concern over ‘peak car’ LTT 27 Oct)? Surely it is too early to make such a claim when there are other potential factors in play?  I’ll ignore the claim in some sections of the media that ‘Brexit’ (which hasn’t actually happened yet) is to blame. Drivers may be hanging on to their cars longer as a result of the Vehicle Excise Duty

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Letters to the editor Fri, 10 Nov 2017 09:32:00 GMT 55176
Never heard of cyborg ethnography? Well it's helping shape future mobility https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55171/never-heard-of-cyborg-ethnography-well-it-s-helping-shape-future-mobility

When it comes to mobility, innovation tends to focus on new technical leaps forward – innovation represents a world where driverless cars and smart infrastructure tell us where to go and then take us there, as if human choice were an afterthought or a non-consequential part of these new intelligently mobile systems. The intelligent mobility practice at Atkins is, however, all about exploring new ways of finding smart solutions to complex problems. One exciting new approach is to employ cyb

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Viewpoint Fri, 10 Nov 2017 09:28:00 GMT 55171
Mobility as a Service why people are just getting on with it https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55167/mobility-as-a-service--why-people-are-just-getting-on-with-it Going to conferences is a bit like going on holiday. You try to work out how it’s going to unfold and what it’ll be like by reading blurb, but it’s the sense that emerges that is important to try to capture. My “holiday snaps” from the recent Smarter Travel Live 2017 conference were: bikeshare is exploding; local authorities don’t go to conferences at the moment; and Mobility as a Service (MaaS) is flexing its muscle as the idea grows and differentiates. Bikes

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Viewpoint Fri, 10 Nov 2017 09:25:00 GMT 55167
Terror guidance for land around stations https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55168/terror-guidance-for-land-around-stations New guidance to minimise the risk of terror attacks on land around bus, rail and coach stations has been issued by the DfT. The guidance, principally aimed at local authorities, recommends using bollards, planters, street furniture and walls as hostile vehicle mitigation measures. Bins outside stations should be kept to the “lowest practicable level” and should not be positioned directly outside station exits and entrances.  Metal, concrete and plastic litter and recycling bi

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Regular news Fri, 10 Nov 2017 09:24:00 GMT 55168
Heathrow-Edinburgh demand drops 15% https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55160/heathrow-edinburgh-demand-s-15- Demand on the UK’s busiest domestic airline route has fallen by about 15% in five years, according to the DfT. Passenger numbers between Heathrow and Edinburgh were 1.3 million in 2011, with nearly half of passengers transferring to/from another flight at Heathrow. Passenger numbers between the capital cities in 2016 were under 1.1 million, though it remained the UK’s busiest domestic aviation route. 

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In brief Fri, 10 Nov 2017 09:14:00 GMT 55160
Sutcliffe is Newcastle road safety officer https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55152/sutcliffe-is-newcastle-road-safety-officer Ruth Sutcliffe has joined Newcastle City Council as a road safety officer following a career break. She was a principal transportation engineer with consultant Cundall from 2011 to 2013.

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People/people Fri, 10 Nov 2017 08:49:00 GMT 55152
RDGs OBeirne leads integrated transport https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55151/rdg-s-o-beirne-leads-integrated-transport Craig O’Beirne, the Rail Delivery Group’s customer experience strategy owner, has taken on responsibilities for integrated transport, following the departure of Conrad Haigh. 

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People/people Fri, 10 Nov 2017 08:49:00 GMT 55151
Economides leads Oxons CAVwork https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55150/economides-leads-oxon-s-cavwork George Economides has joined Oxfordshire County Council as team leader for connected and autonomous vehicles. He was head of strategy for Oxford-based electric and autonomous vehicle developer PrestonEV.  

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People/people Fri, 10 Nov 2017 08:48:00 GMT 55150
Chick joins Highways England https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55149/chick-joins-highways-england Highways England has appointed Marcus Chick as a principal transport modeller. He was an associate director at consultant WSP. 

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People/people Fri, 10 Nov 2017 08:47:00 GMT 55149
Konrad is Sustrans England director https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55147/konrad-is-sustrans-england-director Sustrans has appointed Anita Konrad as its national director for England, a new position responsible for strategy across England outside London. She joins on 4 December from Groundwork, where she is director, strategic partnerships and programmes. Matt Winfield has been appointed Sustrans’ London director – he has been acting director for more than two years.  

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People/people Fri, 10 Nov 2017 08:46:00 GMT 55147
Deegan joins Urban Movement https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55148/deegan-joins-urban-movement Brian Deegan has joined consultant Urban Movement as a design engineer. Deegan was a principal technical specialist at Transport for London from 2013 until earlier this year, advising on cycling and the ‘healthy streets’ agenda. He joined US mobility consultant AltaGO as director – European sector this summer. Deegan is working full-time with Urban Movement but will also work in partnership with AltaGO.

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People/people Fri, 10 Nov 2017 08:46:00 GMT 55148
Bunney joins Regeneris https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55146/bunney-joins-regeneris

Jon Bunney (pictured) has joined economics consultancy Regeneris Consulting as an associate director, leading the firm’s strategic transport planning and transport economics activities. He was an associate director at SYSTRA.

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People/people Fri, 10 Nov 2017 08:44:00 GMT 55146
Seagriff is WECAs interim transport head https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55145/seagriff-is-weca-s-interim-transport-head The West of England Combined Authority has appointed Elaine Seagriff as its interim head of transport. Seagriff is seconded from consultant CH2M where she was recently appointed director of transport planning (LTT 15 Sep). She was Transport for London’s head of transport policy and strategy until last year.

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People/people Fri, 10 Nov 2017 08:43:00 GMT 55145
Cole resigns from Bus Users UK https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55144/cole-resigns-from-bus-users-uk Stuart Cole has resigned from the board of Bus Users UK, citing concerns about the consumer body’s approach to the growing devolution of bus policy. Cole, emeritus professor of transport at the University of South Wales, joined the board in 2015. In his resignation letter, he said BUUK saw itself as a “UK company”. “In my view such an approach is no longer possible under devolved government in Wales, Scotland and England mayoral authorities and would be better replaced i

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Regular news Fri, 10 Nov 2017 08:42:00 GMT 55144
Autonomy are friends electric? https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55141/autonomy-are-friends-electric-

How can we separate the way we live our lives, the way we think, the way we move, and what we demand from our cities? All of these are intrinsically linked so it’s almost impossible to see which one is the driver of change. We are clearly in the midst of a seismic shift in respect of our demands for mobility and how we express them. This begs several questions: Is user demand driving change? Or technology? Or are we part of a master plan that seeks to define the way we use transport and ou

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Regular news Thu, 9 Nov 2017 17:02:00 GMT 55141
Air quality tool will help make case for investment in cycling and walking says Sustrans https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55109/air-quality-tool-will-help-make-case-for-investment-in-cycling-and-walking-says-sustrans

Sustainable transport charity Sustrans has developed a tool with environmental consultancy Eunomia that has been designed to help make the case for walking and cycling measures in terms of air quality. The air quality tool shows how to get the best value in terms of air quality from supporting walking and cycling, and sets a framework for how to build plans for walking and cycling into plans to improve air quality. Dr Andy Cope, director of insight at Sustrans says

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Regular news Sun, 5 Nov 2017 07:21:00 GMT 55109
Local authorities want to deliver active places but developers don't agree https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55090/local-authorities-want-to-deliver-active-places-but-developers-don-t-agree

While the push to deliver new homes and retrofit existing communities is high on the political agenda, if not actually happening in practice, we need a conversation about the kind of places that we build. Research carried out by Local Government Information Unit (LGiU) and the Ramblers found that local authorities want to build places that encourage walking and active travel. Developers do not always share these priorities, however, and many councils feel the mismatch is a challenge in achieving

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Lead Story Mon, 30 Oct 2017 11:53:00 GMT 55090
RoSPA calls for change to daylight saving timings as clocks go back https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55088/rospa-calls-for-change-to-daylight-saving-timings-as-clocks-go-back The number of pedestrians hit by cars could be cut if the daylight saving systems was changed so that when the clocks change at the end of British Summertime the evenings are brighter for longer, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA). The call comes on the eve of the country’s clocks changing on Sunday 29 October. “More children are being hurt on Britain’s roads during the evening school run than at any other time of day, proving that it’s time the d

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Regular news Sat, 28 Oct 2017 15:39:00 GMT 55088
Nissan reveals prototype of real-world AV trial vehicle https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55087/nissan-reveals-prototype-of-real-world-av-trial-vehicle

Nissan has demonstrated a prototype of its most advanced autonomous driving technology, planned for real-world use from 2020, on public roads in Tokyo. Nissan Motor Corporatti tested its next-generation ProPILOT technology on a modified Infinit Q50 sports sedan. The technology is designed to enables the vehicle to operate autonomously on urban roads and motorways. The prototype’s artificial intelligence uses input from 12 sonars, 12 cameras, 9mm-wave radars, six laser scanners and a high

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Regular news Sat, 28 Oct 2017 15:37:00 GMT 55087
International Energy Agency maps out strategy for electrically-powered future https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55085/international-energy-agency-maps-out-strategy-for-electrically-powered-future

New registrations of electric vehicles (EVs) hit record highs in 2016, with over 750,000 sales worldwide. But this still represents just 0.2% of total vehicle sales and, although the number of electric vehicles is going up, the rate of growth has been slowing in recent years, a report by the International Energy Agency reveals.  In 2016 the EV market increased by 60%, compared with 77% in 2015 and 85% in 2014. EVs have a long way to go before reaching deployment scales capable of making a

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Regular feature Fri, 27 Oct 2017 11:34:00 GMT 55085
What future for local transport in an age of rapid change? https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55083/what-future-for-local-transport-in-an-age-of-rapid-change-

Local transport has long held an important place on the political agenda, though it moves up and down the rankings as other challenges and issues assert their own significance. Global level matters like Brexit, terrorism and international conflicts apart, there are things with a degree of equivalence in the political landscape – the NHS, education, policing and social welfare, for example – jockeying for position with congestion, the state of the roads (or railways), cycling, parking

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Regular feature Fri, 27 Oct 2017 11:15:00 GMT 55083
Tackling gender inequality not just about political correctness https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55077/tackling-gender-inequality-not-just-about-political-correctness I was pleased to read that Network Rail is looking into the issue of gender imbalance in its workforce (LTT 13 Oct). Earlier this year, the Department for Transport was named one of the Times Top 50 Employers for Women 2017 - a brilliant and well deserved achievement, but sadly an area where many parts of the industry still lag behind.  This isn’t just an issue of quotas or political correctness - the DfT’s National Travel Survey shows that on average, women make more trips tha

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Letters to the editor Fri, 27 Oct 2017 11:02:00 GMT 55077
More women in transport would shape highways for all https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55076/more-women-in-transport-would-shape-highways-for-all Network Rail’s Mark Carne has described the lack of female engineers at his organisation as “shocking” (LTT 13 Oct). Is it really? The exclusion of women from transport in the public sector is perhaps not so unusual. Transport affects everybody. Different voices are vital not only for the empowerment of women (and other excluded groups), but because the exclusion of women from the transport workforce has serious repercussions on what gets built. Projects driven by a male-domin

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Letters to the editor Fri, 27 Oct 2017 11:00:00 GMT 55076
Obesity rates higher in suburbs https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55065/-obesity-rates-higher-in-suburbs- Living in more densely built areas significantly lowers your risk of being dangerously overweight, according to a new survey of obesity rates in UK cities published in The Lancet. The study, carried out by the universities of Oxford and Hong Kong, found that obesity rates were markedly lower in areas where homes were more tightly clustered.  The study analysed data for over 419,000 respondents in 22 British metropolitan areas over a period of four years.  The worst obesity rates, th

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In brief Fri, 27 Oct 2017 10:27:00 GMT 55065
Lessons can be learned from overseas stations says CBT https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55058/lessons-can-be-learned-from-overseas-stations-says-cbt

The UK has much to learn from other countries when it comes to maximising the economic, social and environmental benefits of railway stations, according to a report published by the Campaign for Better Transport. Development around stations: Exploring international experience and lessons for the UK examines the international experience of creating development hubs around railway stations and the benefits that they can bring. The report has been published by the campaign’s Tracks think-ta

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Secondary stories Fri, 27 Oct 2017 10:15:00 GMT 55058
TfL open data saves up to 130m a year https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55055/tfl-open-data-saves-up-to-130m-a-year The release of open data by Transport for London (TfL) is generating annual economic benefits and savings of up to £130m a year by improving journeys, saving time, supporting innovation and creating jobs, says a new report.  Research conducted for TfL by Deloitte found that open data  allows customers to plan journeys more accurately using apps with real-time information and advice on how to adjust their routes. This results in time savings worth between £70m and £90m

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In brief Fri, 27 Oct 2017 10:11:00 GMT 55055
Manchester trials MaaS to encourage mode shift https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55049/manchester-trials-maas-to-encourage-mode-shift A Mobility as a Service (MaaS) research project is underway to help people in Greater Manchester use public transport by customising travel information, including details of the most accessible and affordable options. The project is sponsored by Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) and will be delivered by consultancy Atkins. It will explore how people could use smart technology to plan and pay for their door-to-door journey using a range of modes include tram, buses, bike hire and ride-shar

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Regular news Fri, 27 Oct 2017 10:01:00 GMT 55049
Ford opens smart mobility base in UK https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55047/ford-opens-smart-mobility-base-in-uk US carmaker Ford has launched an innovation office in London that will target on the near-term development of smart mobility technologies while focusing on the specific requirements of European cities.The Ford Smart Mobility Office on the Here East campus on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in east London is led by director Sarah-Jayne Williams. The US company said having an office in London offers Ford close proximity to its projects and partners. Ford is currently working on a number of projec

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In brief Fri, 27 Oct 2017 09:55:00 GMT 55047
Apprentices offered free travel passes https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55044/apprentices-offered-free-travel-passes Apprentices in Greater Manchester are being offered to free bikes or a free travel pass to help them travel to and from work.  The scheme, run by Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) and the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), will offer apprentices a free 28-day travel pass valid on all Metrolink trams and most bus services within Greater Manchester. Meanwhile, the Apprentice Bike to Work scheme provides a free refurbished bike, cycle training and bike maintenance courses fr

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In brief Fri, 27 Oct 2017 09:51:00 GMT 55044
Pod trial looks at feasibility of driverless buses in Cambridge https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55041/pod-trial-looks-at-feasibility-of-driverless-buses-in-cambridge

Automated pods are being tested between Cambridge Station and Trumpington park & ride to look at the feasibility of launching a driverless bus system.  The £250,000 project, funded by Innovate UK, is being delivered in partnership with Connecting Cambridgeshire and the Smart Cambridge Programme. The automonous PodZero vehicle has been developed by Coventry-based RDM Group. The trial aims to pave the way for 10-seater driverless buses on a guided busway after 8pm, filling the cur

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Secondary stories Fri, 27 Oct 2017 09:46:00 GMT 55041
Treadwell joins Papercast https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55030/treadwell-joins-papercast Mark Treadwell is new operations manager UK & Ireland at  Papercast, which develops bus stop passenger information using solar powered wireless e-paper displays.

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People/people Fri, 27 Oct 2017 09:13:00 GMT 55030
Reed moves from TRL to Bosch https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55029/reed-moves-from-trl-to-bosch Nick Reed has been hired by Bosch to develop R&D activities related to future mobility, particularly in cities. Reed was previously director at TRL Academy. 

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People/people Fri, 27 Oct 2017 09:13:00 GMT 55029
New senior directors at Mace https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55028/new-senior-directors-at-mace Consultancy and construction company Mace has appointed two senior directors in its transport sector portfolio. Carl Dainter has been appointed head of aviation in the consultancy; he was previously at consultants AECOM. Meanwhile, Caroline Lassen has been promoted to head of highways and ports. She joined the consultancy in 2004 as project manager. As an operations director, Lassen was named the Best Woman Consultant at the 2016 Women in Construction and Engineering Awards.

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People/people Fri, 27 Oct 2017 09:11:00 GMT 55028
Went to lead Arups high speed team https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55027/went-to-lead-arup-s-high-speed-team Professional services firm Arup has appointed Andrew Went to lead the firm’s global high speed rail offering. He was previously development director for Network Rail’s Crewe Hub. The newly created role will build on Arup's integrated and collaborative approach to high-speed rail projects by connecting experts across all of the firm’s 80 offices.  

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People/people Fri, 27 Oct 2017 09:10:00 GMT 55027
Atkins Intelligent Mobility team grows https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55026/atkins-intelligent-mobility-team-grows Consultancy Atkins has expanded its Intelligent Mobility (iM) practice with four appointments.  The new recruits specialise in research and development, human factors, cyborg ethnography and new product development. They will work with new and existing clients including Highways England, Innovation UK and Department for Transport. Louise Lawrence has moved to the role of iM practice director, UK and Europe, having previously been Atkins’ tolling services director.  Dr Claire Wi

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People/people Fri, 27 Oct 2017 09:08:00 GMT 55026
Transport planning does not measure full benefit of active travel says City Science https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55016/transport-planning-does-not-measure-full-benefit-of-active-travel-says-city-science

Active travel will enable cities to spend less on building, maintaining, and upgrading their infrastructure by replacing congested urban road networks and car parking infrastructure, according to a new report by technology company City Science. Helping incorporate higher levels of physical activity into the daily life of the city, walking and cycling can reduce regional healthcare costs, says the report. Some of these benefits might be readily captured by conventional transport planning impact

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Regular news Thu, 26 Oct 2017 08:47:00 GMT 55016
Pink kittens road safety film aims to save lives https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55013/pink-kittens-road-safety-film-aims-to-save-lives

A road safety film featuring numerous pink kittens highlights how much drivers miss if they are distracted by looking at their phones. The THINK! road safety film is aimed at younger drivers in particular. The video was directed We Are From LA, the directors behind the video for Pharrell Williams’ hit song Happy. It has been shot in the style of a music video with a soundtrack from musician Aphex Twin. The music video style of the film marks a change from previous THINK! campaigns. THIN

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Regular news Wed, 25 Oct 2017 14:16:00 GMT 55013
Shared mobility services all necessary car journeys with 96% fewer private vehicles says study https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55011/shared-mobility-services-all-necessary-car-journeys-with-96-fewer-private-vehicles-says-study

Replacing private car traffic with new shared mobility services in urban areas can dramatically reduce the number of cars needed, significantly cut CO2 emissions and free public land for uses other than parking – without making it more difficult for users to get from door to door. This latest report from the International Transport Forum at the OECD, presented at Smarter Travel LIVE!, examines how the optimised use of new on-demand shared transport modes could change the future of mobilit

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Lead Story Tue, 24 Oct 2017 13:14:00 GMT 55011
Movement Code for London could civilise capital's streets says independent commission https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55005/movement-code-for-london-could-civilise-capital-s-streets-says-independent-commission

A new set of road use rules devised specifically for London is among the ideas proposed by an independent commission studying ways of making the capital’s highways work more efficiently. A ‘Movement Code’ is one of a series of policies proposed by the Commission on the Future of London’s Roads and Streets, convened by the Centre for London think-tank with the aim of developing new thinking on what can be done to manage the conflicting pressures on the capital's surface t

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Regular news Mon, 23 Oct 2017 15:30:00 GMT 55005
'Green Block' concept could turn city streets into urban parks https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55003/-green-block-concept-could-turn-city-streets-into-urban-parks

Urban streets could be converted into pedestrian and cyclist friendly green spaces by replacing roads for traffic with planting and adding greenery to building façades, a landscape architectural practice has suggested. WATG has unveiled its ‘Green Block’ concept with a visualisation of how Fleet Street in central London could look if transformed into a traffic-free, planted environment. The design is a response to a public challenge by Mayor of London Sadiq Khan to designate

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Regular news Mon, 23 Oct 2017 15:21:00 GMT 55003
Smart benches will be refuelling points for smartphones says Ford https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55002/-smart-benches-will-be-refuelling-points-for-smartphones-says-ford

The way in which smartphones enable users to connect to information and services while on the move has made them an integral part of the way people engage with urban life. However, once a smartphone runs out of power that connectivity is lost. One solution to the problem of low power is to enable people to power up their phones for free in public spaces. This is the thinking behind ‘smart benches’ created by Strawberry Energy, a smart cities start-up which is now working with the Fo

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Regular news Mon, 23 Oct 2017 15:18:00 GMT 55002
Virtual reality crash course highlights risk of distraction to young drivers https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/54995/virtual-reality-crash-course-highlights-risk-of-distraction-to-young-drivers

Carmaker Ford has partnered with Google and virtual reality (VR) studio Happy Finish to create an app that will bring to life the potentially fatal consequences of driving while distracted. The Ford Reality Check app is specifically aimed at young people who have grown up surrounded by social media.  The training experience uses Google Daydream VR to cast participants as a distracted driver picking up friends on the way to a party. Instant messages, phone calls and chatty passengers all c

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Regular news Mon, 23 Oct 2017 14:47:00 GMT 54995
Ford opens smart mobility innovation office in London https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/54994/ford-opens-smart-mobility-innovation-office-in-london

US carmaker Ford has launched an innovation office in London that will target the near-term development of smart mobility technologies while focussing on the specific requirements of European cities. The Ford Smart Mobility Office on the Here East campus of the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in east London is led by director Sarah-Jayne Williams. The US company said having an office in London offers Ford close proximity to its projects and partners. Ford is currently working on a number of proje

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Regular news Mon, 23 Oct 2017 14:43:00 GMT 54994
Online Cleaner Vehicle Checker launched in London https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/54986/online-cleaner-vehicle-checker-launched-in-london

The Mayor of London has launched an online Cleaner Vehicle Checker that will provide an independent rating of nearly all new Euro 6 standard cars and many vans being sold in the UK showrooms.  The checker is designed to provide with a way of knowing whether a vehicle is performing as intended when driven in ‘real world’ conditions.  The checker can be accessed at www.london.gov.uk/cleaner-vehicle-checker  Consumers type in details of a new vehicle model to

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Regular news Mon, 23 Oct 2017 14:00:00 GMT 54986
Human factors must be planned into plans for driverless cars say experts https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/54983/human-factors-must-be-planned-into-plans-for-driverless-cars-say-experts

Driverless cars could create a highway to confusion unless training and coaching catches up with the fast pace of change and helps drivers cope with a whole new set of demands. This was conclusion reached by a panel industry experts at a conference organised by road safety charity IAM RoadSmart, the RAC Foundation and tyre-manufacturer Pirelli. The Driver Ahead conference in London looked how the next generation of autonomous cars will record much more information than ever before. This da

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Regular news Mon, 23 Oct 2017 13:52:00 GMT 54983
Government awards 51m for development of self-driving car testing infrastructure https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/54968/government-awards-51m-for-development-of-self-driving-car-testing-infrastructure

Four projects across five locations have been awarded a total of £51m in funding for creating the environments needed to fully test connected and automated vehicle (CAV) technology. The projects are the first to be funded from the government’s £100m Connected and Autonomous Vehicles testing infrastructure programme announced in November 2016 and will be matched by industry. The consortia selected selected in this first round are led by HORIBA MIRA, Millbrook Proving Ground, T

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Regular news Thu, 19 Oct 2017 18:19:00 GMT 54968
Art on the Underground shines light on refugee crisis https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/54965/art-on-the-underground-shines-light-on-refugee-crisis

Commuters in London are being made to contemplate the experience of asylum seekers fleeing the war in Syria by a film being projected at King’s Cross Tube station in London.  The Bureaucracy of Angels, by London-based artists Broomberg and Chanarin is the latest commission from Art on the Underground. It will run on a screen in the station until 25 November.  The 12-minute film records the demolition of 100 migrant boats in Sicily in the winter of 2016. The boats arrived carryi

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Regular news Tue, 17 Oct 2017 17:20:00 GMT 54965
Drink-drive rehabilitation courses should be made compulsory says road safety charity https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55010/drink-drive-rehabilitation-courses-should-be-made-compulsory-says-road-safety-charity

Road safety charity IAM RoadSmart is suggesting a drink-drive rehabilitation course should be made compulsory for those convicted of the crime, as opposed to it being voluntary. The suggestion was made as the UK’s drink-drive laws turned 50. The charity said driver training would complement more visible policing and a cut to the drink-drive limit in delivering a significant reduction in the numbers killed and seriously injured on the UK’s roads. Neil Greig, IAM RoadSmart’s di

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Regular news Mon, 16 Oct 2017 11:39:00 GMT 55010
THINK to mark 50 years of drink-drive law with new campaign https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/55008/think-to-mark-50-years-of-drink-drive-law-with-new-campaign

The Department for Transport will be launching a new THINK! drink-drive campaign at the end of November, marking the 50th anniversary of the introduction of the maximum legal drink drive limit was 50 years ago. The Road Safety Act 1967 made it an offence to drive a vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration of over 80mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood – a limit which remains in place to this day. Since official statistics first began in 1979, the number of drink drive deaths per year has f

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Regular news Fri, 13 Oct 2017 11:29:00 GMT 55008
Five must-attend reasons to be at Smarter Travel LIVE on 19 and 20 October https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/54959/five-must-attend-reasons-to-be-at-smarter-travel-live-on-19-and-20-october

Smarter Travel LIVE! 2017 offers an expertly-crafted overview of need-to know people, initiatives, products and services – all in one place Resources are squeezed, time is precious and expectations upon local authorities and transport professionals increase.  The travelling public assumes that everything about their travel experience can, and should be, improved through the smart (and positive) implementation of technological innovation.  But is it really that easy? The t

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Lead Story Fri, 13 Oct 2017 11:21:00 GMT 54959
oBike dockless bike sharing scheme launches in Oxford https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/54930/obike-dockless-bike-sharing-scheme-launches-in-oxford

Dockless bike sharing start-up oBike has launched in Oxford, providing cyclists and cyclists-to-be with a cost effective, convenient and sustainable way of travelling around the city.   Following substantial liaison with the local authorities, oBike will roll out its dockless bike sharing scheme across the city on an indefinite trial basis. Haroon Khan, Business Development Lead for oBike Uk, said: 'We are extremely excited to launch oBike in Oxford. Building on from our successes in

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Lead Story Fri, 13 Oct 2017 10:31:00 GMT 54930
Farrage joins Newcastle council https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/54913/farrage-joins-newcastle-council Newcastle City Council has appointed Kim Farrage as a special transport planner. Farrage was previously senior specialist transport planner at the North East Combined Authority.

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People/people Fri, 13 Oct 2017 09:47:00 GMT 54913
Living Streets recruits project coordinator https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/54912/living-streets-recruits-project-coordinator Jane Rickwood has joined the charity Living Streets as project coordinator. She was previously corporate engagement team leader at Merseytravel. 

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People/people Fri, 13 Oct 2017 09:46:00 GMT 54912
Mindell is UCLs Prof of Public Health https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/54911/mindell-is-ucl-s-prof-of-public-health Dr Jenny Mindell has been appointed Professor of Public Health at University College London. She was previously a Reader in Public Health at UCL. Mindell has carried out recent academic research exploring the links between transport and health in order to improve policy making.  

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People/people Fri, 13 Oct 2017 09:45:00 GMT 54911
Yu joins FiveAI https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/54909/yu-joins-fiveai

Lucy Yu has been appointed director of public policy at British technology start-up FiveAI. She was previously head of Innovation, MaaS & New Mobility Services at the Government’s Centre for Connected & Autonomous Vehicles. At FiveAI she will be involved in developing self-driving urban mobility services in London, as part of the Streetwise project with partners including Transport for London and the University of Oxford and others.

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People/people Fri, 13 Oct 2017 09:35:00 GMT 54909
Transport for the North brings in White https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/54908/transport-for-the-north-brings-in-white Transport for the North has announced the appointment of Barry White as its chief executive. He joins from his role as chief executive at Scottish Futures Trust. Previously he was managing director of Skanska Infrastructure Development.

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People/people Fri, 13 Oct 2017 09:34:00 GMT 54908
Cary quits DfT https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/54907/cary-quits-dft

Nic Cary has left the DfT to set up his own consutancy Waysphere Transport Intelligence. Cary had been head of data policy at the DfT since February, prior to which he spent more than three years at the department as Head of Digital Transformation. Cary said he plans to use his expertise in data and technology more widely to help the transport sector tackle the challenges ahead in the fields of congestion, network resilience and increasing vehicle autonomy.  

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People/people Fri, 13 Oct 2017 09:33:00 GMT 54907
Early movers are creating a new model for mobility https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/54899/early-movers-are-creating-a-new-model-for-mobility

The unlikely announcement that an upmarket vacuum-cleaner manufacturer is venturing into the electric vehicle (EV) market is a great metaphor for the scale of disruption and sheer unpredictability of our changing financial models. Did any of us predict Dyson would invest £1bn in battery technology alone over the next five years?  It will be interesting to see how far Dyson’s enterprise will fully immerse itself in this emerging sector. Will vehicles (and even batteries) be desi

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Regular feature Fri, 13 Oct 2017 09:09:00 GMT 54899
Latest DfT report on LSTF impacts points to 'impressive success stories' https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/54889/latest-dft-report-on-lstf-impacts-points-to-impressive-success-stories-

The Department for Transport has this week published its Summary Report on the Impacts of the Local Sustainable Transport Fund (LSTF), which indicates that the Fund successfully supported projects that reduced car use, increased walking and cycling levels, boosted bus patronage, supported local economies and cut carbon emissions. Published figures suggest that LSTF investments 'achieved high value for money', says the report. In 2011, the Department launched the £540 million LSTF to i

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Lead Story Fri, 6 Oct 2017 10:02:00 GMT 54889
Autonomous last mile delivery pod to be unveiled at Smarter Travel LIVE https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/54888/autonomous-last-mile-delivery-pod-to-be-unveiled-at-smarter-travel-live-

Propelmee, an autonomous mobility software provider with specialist expertise in perception, will unveil its last mile delivery pod ‘Go4’ at the Smarter Travel show in Milton Keynes on 19 & 20 October. ‘Go4’ will appear on the ‘Street of the Future’ showcasing the first demonstration platform of Propelmee’s unique and highly robust autonomous mobility capabilities. ‘Go4’ will go live in a public demo in Cambridge later this year as a foot

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Lead Story Thu, 5 Oct 2017 15:11:00 GMT 54888
Drivers should insist on autonomous emergency braking AEB when buying new cars https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/54855/drivers-should-insist-on-autonomous-emergency-braking-aeb-when-buying-new-cars

A coalition of road safety and motor industry bodies is encouraging private and fleet car buyers to insist on autonomous emergency braking (AEB) when they buy their next new car. AEB systems apply the brakes to avoid an impending crash with another vehicle, pedestrian or cyclist. It is estimated that pedestrian and cyclist sensing AEB systems could potentially save 1,100 lives and 122,860 casualties in the UK over the next ten years.  Thatcham Research has calculated that if more car buye

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Regular news Fri, 29 Sep 2017 14:55:00 GMT 54855
Why it makes sense to map out the future of EV charging https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/54851/why-it-makes-sense-to-map-out-the-future-of-ev-charging

With the days of the combustion engine seemingly numbered, an acceleration of the shift to electric vehicles (EVs) looks increasingly likely. EVs still make up a small proportion of all vehicles – just 1.7% of the total new car market in the UK – but local authorities should start planning now for charging point networks, says Dr David Connolly, Director of Innovation at transport planning consultants SYSTRA. “As the size of the electric vehicle fleet grows, we will need to en

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Regular feature Fri, 29 Sep 2017 12:58:00 GMT 54851
Ban car ownership in cities https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/54841/-ban-car-ownership-in-cities-

Private car ownership should be banned in cities as part of a “revolution” in urban transport planning, according to a new report.  “All cities should target at least 70-80 per cent of trips by public transport, walking and cycling – with the remainder of trips by low emission vehicles,” says the report for Greenpeace in Germany written by a team led by Robin Hickman, a reader at the Bartlett School of Planning, University College London. There should be &ldq

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Secondary stories Fri, 29 Sep 2017 10:45:00 GMT 54841
Uber has cannibalised Londons bus network consultant claims https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/54840/uber-has-cannibalised-london-s-bus-network-consultant-claims Uber has “cannibalised” London’s bus network, according to a consultant.  Uber’s popularity has helped push up the number of private hire drivers in the capital from 65,000 in 2013/14 to more than 116,000 today.   Says KPMG: “The effect of this has been to cannibalise the bus market, for two reasons: first, because Uber provides a viable alternative to bus travel around the city; and second, because its proliferation increases congestion, thereby slowing

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Regular news Fri, 29 Sep 2017 10:43:00 GMT 54840
Bike hire uni battle https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/54839/bike-hire-uni-battle Five universities are in the running for cycle hire schemes funded by Santander bank under its university challenge competition. The University of Birmingham; Brunel University London;  University of Portsmouth; University of Surrey; and Swansea University have been shortlisted from 23 entrants. Each must run a crowdfunding campaign for a month from early November to raise funds to meet the operating costs of its proposal. The two universities that achieve the highest percentage over the

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Regular news Fri, 29 Sep 2017 10:42:00 GMT 54839
Uber fights TfLs decision to terminate its operating licence https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/54838/uber-fights-tfl-s-decision-to-terminate-its-operating-licence

The future of app-based private hire platform Uber in London will be decided by the courts following Transport for London’s decision not to renew Uber’s licence from the end of this month.  TfL said it had concluded that Uber London Limited was “not fit and proper to hold a private hire operator licence”, having identified a number of issues “that have potential public safety and security implications” including: • Its approach to reporting serious

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Secondary stories Fri, 29 Sep 2017 10:40:00 GMT 54838
E-bike sharing in SE Scotland https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/54831/e-bike-sharing-in-se-scotland Electric bike sharing schemes are being set up in South East Scotland following an £183,500 funding award from SEStran, the South East Scotland transport partnership. St Andrews University, NHS Forth Valley, and Napier University have received a share of the funding. Bike Plus will help SEStran manage the project and expand coverage across the region. The funding has been awarded from SEStran’s £200,000 FAST (Forth Active Sustainable Travel grant). 

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In brief Fri, 29 Sep 2017 10:34:00 GMT 54831
Smartphone app to help drivers hit green https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/54825/smartphone-app-to-help-drivers-hit-green

A smartphone app could advise drivers what speed to drive at to receive a green light at the next signalised junction. West Midlands Combined Authority is commissioning an app developer for the  ‘green light optimal speed advisory project’. The app will “source accurate information about traffic signal timings from the road-side controller and provide them to the vehicle, so that the vehicle can calculate the most accurate speed in order to hit a green light”. The

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Regular news Fri, 29 Sep 2017 10:25:00 GMT 54825
HE appoints partner to steer connected vehicle programme https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/54823/he-appoints-partner-to-steer-connected-vehicle-programme Highways England has appointed consultant WSP to act as an implementation partner for  connected and autonomous vehicle (CAV) pilot projects on the strategic road network.  The consultant will assist on projects including: an interurban CAV testbed; the A2/M2 connected corridor; UK CITE; and freight platooning. These will test vehicle to infrastructure (V2I) and vehicle to vehicle (V2V) information systems.  Highways England (HE) says CAVs could deliver a number of benefits: &b

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Secondary stories Fri, 29 Sep 2017 10:23:00 GMT 54823
The DfT has got it wrong on community transport https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/54821/the-dft-has-got-it-wrong-on-community-transport We are writing on behalf of Mobility Matters, which includes over 200 organisations of Community Transport (CT) operators and other interested parties, regarding the letter of 31 July from Stephen Fidler at the DfT to the issuers of section 19 and section 22 permits (‘Authorities review community transport contracts after ruling’ LTT 04 Aug).  We are concerned at the widespread confusion this letter has caused and we want to clear some of this up. We know your readers appreciat

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Letters to the editor Fri, 29 Sep 2017 10:20:00 GMT 54821
Hugh Wenban-Smith https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/54769/hugh-wenban-smith Hugh Wenban-Smith, a former head of national roads policy at the DfT, has died. From the early 1970s Wenban-Smith was an economic adviser in a range of Government departments, including trade & industry, environment and transport. He left the Department in the mid-1990s and was an active early supporter of the creation of the Transport Planning Society.

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People/people Fri, 29 Sep 2017 09:10:00 GMT 54769
Bate is Catapults delivery chief https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/54768/bate-is-catapult-s-delivery-chief Paul Bate has been promoted from principal technologist to head of project delivery at the Transport Systems Catapult.

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People/people Fri, 29 Sep 2017 09:09:00 GMT 54768
Greer is West of England CA chief https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/54767/greer-is-west-of-england-ca-chief Patricia Greer has been appointed chief executive of the new West of England Combined Authority. A director of infrastructure is to be recruited.

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People/people Fri, 29 Sep 2017 09:08:00 GMT 54767
Sheridan heads Tube enhancements https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/54766/sheridan-heads-tube-enhancements Caroline Sheridan is joining London Underground in November as director of renewals and enhancements. She was delivery director at Heathrow Airport, responsible for capital investment. 

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People/people Fri, 29 Sep 2017 09:07:00 GMT 54766
Thomas leads KPMGtransport https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/54765/thomas-leads-kpmgtransport KPMG has appointed Ed Thomas UK head of transport, succeeding James Stamp who has joined National Express plc as commercial director. Thomas joined KPMG as a graduate in 1995. 

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People/people Fri, 29 Sep 2017 09:06:00 GMT 54765
Jacobs joins Hackney from Westminster https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/54764/jacobs-joins-hackney-from-westminster Toby Jacobs has joined the London Borough of Hackney as a senior transport planner. He was a sustainable transport officer at Westminster City Council. 

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People/people Fri, 29 Sep 2017 09:06:00 GMT 54764
Steele leaves TfL freight post https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/54763/steele-leaves-tfl-freight-post Transport for London’s freight and fleet programme manager Steve Steele has left to join emissions monitoring firm EMSOL as product requirements manager. 

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People/people Fri, 29 Sep 2017 09:04:00 GMT 54763
Eve is HS2 stakeholder manager https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/54762/eve-is-hs2-stakeholder-manager David Eve has been appointed stakeholder manager for the Align joint venture, which has been selected to build the Chilterns tunnels and Colne Valley viaduct section of the London-West Midlands high-speed rail line. Eve was business development manager at Bouygues Travaux Publics, a member of Align.

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People/people Fri, 29 Sep 2017 09:04:00 GMT 54762
Kenny joins Mott MacDonald from Jacobs https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/54761/kenny-joins-mott-macdonald-from-jacobs Mott MacDonald has appointed Kate Kenny as operations manager – surface transport. She joins from Jacobs where she was a divisional director and, before that, a transport modelling manager.

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People/people Fri, 29 Sep 2017 09:03:00 GMT 54761
Capstick to leave DfT regional post https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/54760/capstick-to-leave-dft-regional-post Martin Capstick, the DfT’s director of regional transport strategies, is leaving at the end of the year to become managing director of the North London Waste Authority.

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People/people Fri, 29 Sep 2017 09:02:00 GMT 54760
Bike-hire users in Asia swapping cars motorbikes and taxis for pedals says Thomson Reuters https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/54757/bike-hire-users-in-asia-swapping-cars-motorbikes-and-taxis-for-pedals-says-thomson-reuters Analysts are readjusting their forecasts for fuel demand and car sales in Asia due to the popularity of dockless urban bike-hire, it has been reported. The dockless bike-share operators Ofo and Mobike plan to be in more than 200 cities by the end of 2017 and the end of 2018 respectively and will have a combined total of 30 million bikes in operation by the end of the year having attracted $2bn in funding. Reuters TV reported results from a Thomson Reuters Survey suggesting that 18% of survey re

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Regular news Tue, 26 Sep 2017 22:12:00 GMT 54757
Running a petrol car cheaper overall than electric and diesel says YourMoneySupermarket https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/54745/running-a-petrol-car-cheaper-overall-than-electric-and-diesel-says-yourmoneysupermarket Driving electric an electric vehicle will be more expensive than running a petrol or diesel one, research by consumer website YourMoneySupermarket suggests. The claim is based on an estimate the average costs of each fuel type over six years, accounting for aspects such as insurance premiums and fuel costs to determine the best option for drivers in the UK “After the recent government announcement of plans to prohibit all petrol and diesel vehicles by the year 2040, people are weighing u

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Regular news Mon, 25 Sep 2017 17:39:00 GMT 54745
Higher penalties have not deterred persistent phone misuse by some drivers says RAC https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/54740/higher-penalties-have-not-deterred-persistent-phone-misuse-by-some-drivers-says-rac

A minority motorists admit to habitually flouting the law by using their handheld phones while driving, despite penalties for the offence being doubled on 1 March, RAC research has found. The government has increased the penalty for using handheld devices to six points and a £200 fine in a bid to stamp out the dangerous habit. However, research carried out with 1,727 motorists for the RAC’s Report on Motoring 2017 shows the move has not stopped as many as 9.2m drivers breaking the l

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Regular news Mon, 25 Sep 2017 17:25:00 GMT 54740
Uber loses London licence due to corporate responsibility concerns https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/54733/uber-loses-london-licence-due-to-corporate-responsibility-concerns

Uber London has lost its licence to provide minicab services after Transport for London (TfL) decided the ride-hailing app operator is not "fit and proper" to hold a private hire operator licence. This morning TfL announced that Uber would not be issued with a private hire operator licence after expiry of its current licence on 30 September.  Uber has signalled its intention to appeal the decision. In a statement, Uber said: "Transport for London and the mayor have caved in to a small

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Regular news Fri, 22 Sep 2017 14:12:00 GMT 54733
Transport Minister Jesse Norman to speak at Smarter Travel LIVE https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/54730/transport-minister-jesse-norman-to-speak-at-smarter-travel-live-

Jesse Norman MP, appointed Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for the Department for Transport in June 2017, will be giving a keynote speech and taking questions at Smarter Travel LIVE! on 19 October. As Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Roads, Local Transport and Devolution, the minister is responsible for buses cycling and walking policy, Highways England and strategic roads, local roads policy and funding, road safety, transport and the environment and transport technology (incl

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Lead Story Thu, 21 Sep 2017 09:40:00 GMT 54730
Meerkats take over Route 1 in Crawley https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/54727/meerkats-take-over-route-1-in-crawley

Meerkats can now be seen travelling around the streets of Crawley, on the side of a bus. The bus was redesigned by Metrobus to celebrate of Tilgate Nature Centre’s conservation work with endangered species. The West Sussex nature centre is home to more than 500 animals. The marketing team at Metrobus worked with Tilgate Nature Centre manager Simon Woodward to come up with the design and provide animal facts in the interior coving panels.   Nick Hill, Metrobus head of commercial, Nic

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Regular news Wed, 20 Sep 2017 11:53:00 GMT 54727
Multi-national companies back The Climate Group's EV100 campaign https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/54726/multi-national-companies-back-the-climate-group-s-ev100-campaign

An international business campaign designed to fast-track the uptake of electric vehicles (EV) and infrastructure was launched by The Climate Group in New York, as business and government leaders gather at Climate Week NYC. Baidu, Deutsche Post DHL Group, Heathrow Airport, HP Inc., IKEA Group, LeasePlan, METRO AG, PG&E, Unilever and Vattenfall were the 10 first members of EV100, the only initiative of its kind to encourage global business commitments on electric transport, with members swap

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Regular news Wed, 20 Sep 2017 11:49:00 GMT 54726
SEDRIC concept car will drive VW's journey to becoming mobility services provider https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/54724/sedric-concept-car-will-drive-vw-s-journey-to-becoming-mobility-services-provider

Volkswagen has signalled its ambition to move from vehicle manufacturer to an integrated provider of hardware, software and digital mobility services by announcing an autonomous vehicle concept that will form the basis of a diverse family of models. The company presented latest version of the SElf-DRIving Car (SEDRIC), the group’s first concept car, at the International Motor Show (IAA) 2017 in Frankfurt/Main. The SEDRIC concept combines fully automated driving at Level 5, electrification

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Regular news Wed, 20 Sep 2017 11:43:00 GMT 54724
Smarter charging could meet demand for electric vehicle charging reports Electric Nation https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/54719/smarter-charging-could-meet-demand-for-electric-vehicle-charging-reports-electric-nation

The initial findings of the Electric Nation trial suggest that smart charging could be a key solution to meeting the challenge of the demand from increasing numbers of electric vehicles (EVs) on electricity networks. Electric Nation is investigating the benefits that smart charging could provide for local electricity networks, where additional demand from local clusters of EVs could require reinforcement of these networks. Electric Nation is one of Western Power Distribution’s (WPD) inno

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Regular news Tue, 19 Sep 2017 16:16:00 GMT 54719
Electric vehicles will be cars of choice by 2022 driver survey suggests https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/54718/electric-vehicles-will-be-cars-of-choice-by-2022-driver-survey-suggests More than half of British motorists expect their main car to be electric within the next five years, according to a survey. The poll of 1,000 car owners was conducted by Total EV, a new website covering the electric vehicle and hybrid markets.  The survey revealed: 51% of British motorists expect to buy an electric car within five years Change is being driven by men, with 60% of male drivers expecting to drive an EV within five years compared to 42% of women 45% of motorists cite

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Regular news Tue, 19 Sep 2017 16:13:00 GMT 54718
Motorists like the idea of automated safety technology for other drivers https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/54717/motorists-like-the-idea-of-automated-safety-technology--for-other-drivers Motorists do not want future car technology to prevent them from breaking the law by speeding or illegally using a phone, a survey suggests. More than three-in-five drivers would be happy to see other road users have compulsory technology that prevents dangerous and illegal driving, suggests the survey of 2,000 UK motorists for Continental Tyres. The study revealed drivers believe that fewer road accidents and fatalities will be delivered by improving the actions of road users, rather than aut

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Regular news Tue, 19 Sep 2017 16:08:00 GMT 54717
Travel app developer wins Birmingham business awards https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/54708/travel-app-developer-wins-birmingham-business-awards

Tom Charman, chief executive of urban travel app Kompass has been selected as Birmingham’s Future Face of Innovation and Technology Charman, chief executive of travel technology firm Kompass, was a double winner in the 2017 Future Faces Awards of Birmingham ceremony. He won the Innovation and Technology category before going on to be named ‘Future Face of Greater Birmingham’. Kompas, which was founded in 2015, uses machine learning to personalise travel recommendations to its

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Regular news Mon, 18 Sep 2017 13:37:00 GMT 54708
Distracted drivers spotted eating drinking shaving and doing their hair says IAM RoadSmart https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/54702/distracted-drivers-spotted-eating-drinking-shaving-and-doing-their-hair-says-iam-roadsmart

Some drivers treat the driving seat as an extension of the bathroom mirror, engaging a wide range of personal grooming activities while behind the wheel. This dangerous behaviour was revealed in an online study conducted by road safety charity IAM RoadSmart. Over 2,300 driv

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Regular news Mon, 18 Sep 2017 10:06:00 GMT 54702
TfL probes Tube users mobile phone data https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/54699/tfl-probes-tube-users-mobile-phone-data Transport for London wants to collect depersonalised Wifi data from Tube travellers’ mobile phones on a regular basis after hailing the success of a trial.   A four-week pilot ran between November and December last year. Focused on 54 stations within travelcard zones 1-4, it saw more than 509 million depersonalised ‘probing requests’, or pieces of data, collected from 5.6 million mobile devices making around 42 million journeys.  The data was then analysed by TfL&rs

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Regular news Fri, 15 Sep 2017 10:24:00 GMT 54699
DfT studies if new technology can replace paper-based NTS https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/54698/dft-studies-if-new-technology-can-replace-paper-based-nts The DfT is reviewing the findings of two studies into how technology could be used in the National Travel Survey (NTS). Moving away from a paper-based survey may, however, lead to a break in the survey’s time series.   The NTS currently collects  data about household travel patterns using face-to-face interviews and a self-completion paper-based travel diary in which all household members record their trips over a week. In 2015 the NTS surveyed 7,005 households.  The DfT c

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Secondary stories Fri, 15 Sep 2017 10:19:00 GMT 54698
Apps can open up bus travel to the partially sighted https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/54685/apps-can-open-up-bus-travel-to-the-partially-sighted The Bus Services Act 2017 allows the Secretary of State to make regulations requiring bus operators to provide on-board audio visual (AV) information to help the blind and partially sighted. This is undoubtedly a step in the right direction to ensure that bus services are accessible for visually impaired passengers; but the provision of on-board AV technology is hugely expensive and does little to help get passengers on board in the first place. Arguably, blind and partially-sighted passengers s

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Letters to the editor Fri, 15 Sep 2017 10:06:00 GMT 54685
Welsh active travel maps a mixed bag https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/54665/welsh-active-travel-maps-a-mixed-bag- The first Integrated Network Maps produced by Welsh local authorities under the Active Travel (Wales) Act show a wide variation in proposed future provision of cycling and walking routes, according to Sustrans Cymru.  The charity believes the maps would have been more consistent had the Welsh Government provided clearer guidance, including an exemplar map. The Active Travel Act is the world’s first legislation to place a duty on local government to plan and implement networks of act

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Regular news Fri, 15 Sep 2017 09:54:00 GMT 54665
Step-entrance buses continue running two years after ban https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/54664/step-entrance-buses-continue-running-two-years-after-ban

Step-entrance minibuses are still being used on scheduled public services in some parts of England, more than two years after the deadline for phasing out such vehicles.  To get round the rules some operators have simply reclassified the vehicles as “coaches”, which are currently exempt from the accessibility regulations, by declaring that standing passengers are not permitted on board. The Public Service Vehicle Accessibility Regulations 2000 (PSVAR) apply to vehicles with a

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Secondary stories Fri, 15 Sep 2017 09:51:00 GMT 54664
Support package for CAV innovation https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/54653/support-package-for-cav-innovation A  support programme for UK innovators in the connected and autonomous vehicle (CAV) sector has been launched by the Government’s Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (CCAV), the Automotive Council, and the Advanced Propulsion Centre.  The Meridian programme will enable businesses from sectors such as artificial intelligence, insurance, law, telecommunications, gaming, mobility and financial services to pitch their CAV innovations in exchange for technical and financial

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Regular news Fri, 15 Sep 2017 09:45:00 GMT 54653
Leathley chairs London Travelwatch https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/54642/leathley-chairs-london-travelwatch Arthur Leathley, a former transport journalist at The Times, has been appointed the new chair of London Travelwatch, the statutory watchdog for transport users in and around London. Leathley  worked on the newspaper from 1991 to 2001. He moved on to become communications director of the Waterfront Partnership and then communications director of Virgin Trains. 

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In brief Fri, 15 Sep 2017 09:34:00 GMT 54642
TPS simplifies training https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/54619/tps-simplifies-training The Transport Planning Society (TPS) has revised its professional development scheme (PDS) for graduate trainees, reducing the time it takes to complete. The PDS provides much of the breadth and depth of skill necessary for the Transport Planning Professional (TPP) qualification.  Explaining the changes to the PDS, the TPS said: “Completing the PDS scheme still means that the knowledge requirements for TPP have been met, however, the levels of technical and managerial experience req

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Regular news Fri, 15 Sep 2017 09:01:00 GMT 54619
Lee is HTMAs new chief https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/54613/lee-is-htma-s-new-chief George Lee has been appointed chief executive of the Highways Term Maintenance Association, succeeding Geoff Allister, who is retiring from the role of executive director. Lee was chief executive of the Road Safety Markings Association. 

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People/people Fri, 15 Sep 2017 08:46:00 GMT 54613
Glennie joins Ansons from Sustrans https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/54611/glennie-joins-ansons-from-sustrans Philip Glennie is joining Edinburgh-based Ansons Consulting as a senior consultant. He was smarter choices manager at Sustrans Scotland.

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People/people Fri, 15 Sep 2017 08:45:00 GMT 54611
Matthews re-appointed to chair HE https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/54612/matthews-re-appointed-to-chair-he Colin Matthews has been reappointed chairman of Highways England on a three-year term. He will be paid £130,000 for a minimum of 78 days a year.

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People/people Fri, 15 Sep 2017 08:45:00 GMT 54612
Harris takes key role at ITP https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/54610/harris-takes-key-role-at-itp Consultant ITP has appointed Jon Harris its head of rail, integration and logistics. Harris’s town and transport planning consultancy, Harris Ethical, has become part of ITP. The move gives ITP a new Bristol office, the firm’s fifth, alongside London, Birmingham, Nottingham, and Milton Keynes.

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People/people Fri, 15 Sep 2017 08:44:00 GMT 54610
Harvey is TfLs major projects boss https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/54607/harvey-is-tfl-s-major-projects-boss Stuart Harvey has been appointed director of Transport for London’s new major projects directorate. Fourteen London Underground and surface transport projects have been brought into the directorate.

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People/people Fri, 15 Sep 2017 08:43:00 GMT 54607
McWilliams joins Cambridgeshire CA https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/54609/mcwilliams-joins-cambridgeshire-ca Keith McWilliams has been appointed interim transport and infrastructure directorby the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority. Hewas Skanska UK’s design services manager.

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People/people Fri, 15 Sep 2017 08:43:00 GMT 54609
Matson is TfLs strategy director https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/54606/matson-is-tfl-s-strategy-director Lilli Matson has been promoted to director of transport strategy at Transport for London. She was head of strategy and outcome planning.

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People/people Fri, 15 Sep 2017 08:42:00 GMT 54606
The needs of users must be at the heart of MaaS https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/54608/the-needs-of-users-must-be-at-the-heart-of-maas

While there has been plenty of debate over what Mobility as a Service (MaaS) could look like in the future, there are relatively few case studies on projects that have so far been delivered.  At Smarter Travel LIVE! I’ll be sharing my insights on a trial that Atkins ran in Cambridge. For many, MaaS is associated with mobile phone apps including integrated payment and journey planning. But providing the technology will not, on its own, ensure modal shift or an uptake of a MaaS servic

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Regular feature Fri, 15 Sep 2017 08:40:00 GMT 54608
Seagriff leads CH2M transport planning https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/54605/seagriff-leads-ch2m-transport-planning

Transport for London’s managing director of surface transport,  Leon Daniels, is to retire before the end of the year. Daniels has been in post for seven years and had planned to retire in 2015 but agreed to stay on at the request of London’s new transport commissioner at the time, Mike Brown.   

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People/people Fri, 15 Sep 2017 08:40:00 GMT 54605
Catapults new transport data hub https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/54604/catapult-s-new-transport-data-hub The Transport Systems Catapult is marketing a data hub for businesses, government and researchers.   The Intelligent Mobility Data Hub (IMDH) collates data from the public and private sectors and has 900TB of storage space.  Features include a searchable catalogue, a data analytics platform, and a ‘secure room’ for data analysis. The hub is supported by a team of IT and data experts.  Says the Catapult: “Currently data is not being shared in the transport secto

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Regular news Fri, 15 Sep 2017 08:39:00 GMT 54604
Start-up unveils plans for mobility cryptocurrency https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/54603/start-up-unveils-plans-for-mobility-cryptocurrency A transport start-up is planning to offer the public a new way of paying for travel. Dovu claims to be a seamless platform for multiple mobility services, which are paid for with one secure ‘global token’ for riding a bus or train, renting a bike or car, or even enabling people to share their own vehicle or vehicle data. The Dovu ‘transport eco-system’ has its own ‘marketplace’ on which operators can provide data about their vehicles and services, and a lang

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Secondary stories Fri, 15 Sep 2017 08:38:00 GMT 54603
Crack LCWIP to support a life less sedentary says ITPs Taylor https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/54602/crack-lcwip-to-support-a-life-less-sedentary-says-itp-s-taylor

Last year saw the publication of the Department for Transport’s eagerly anticipated Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy. This has since been accompanied by guidance to local authorities on how they can help double cycling activity by 2025.  While the availability of government funding for delivering walking and cycling network improvements remains a topic for debate, the guidance to councils appears sound. The guidance was developed by an expert advisory team, drawing on interna

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Regular feature Fri, 15 Sep 2017 08:35:00 GMT 54602
Network of people-friendly streets planned for capital https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/54601/network-of-people-friendly-streets-planned-for-capital

The arrival of Will Norman as London’s first Cycling & Walking Commissioner in February heralded a new approach to reducing car use in the capital. The former global partnerships director at Nike is seeking to develop a comprehensive network of ‘corridors’ that link main roads with Quietways, as set out in mayor Sadiq Khan’s draft Transport Strategy.  Alternatives to superhighways Norman moved to the Mayor’s office on the understanding that his remit woul

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Regular feature Fri, 15 Sep 2017 08:30:00 GMT 54601
Brightons bohemian bus seeks to spread a little happiness https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/54597/brighton-s-bohemian-bus-seeks-to-spread-a-little-happiness

“We’re happies not hippies,“ is the message driving through the streets of Brighton on the side of a bus. The bright geometric colours sported by the latest of Brighton & Hove Buses’ special edition buses are a celebration the south coast resort’s bohemian lifestyle. The artwork has been designed by artists Art+Believe, who previously painted the Old Steine Bus shelter in front of Brighton Pavilion for the bus company. Brighton & Hove Buses marketing manag

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Regular news Thu, 14 Sep 2017 14:20:00 GMT 54597
Digital artists transform Brighton air quality data into images https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/54592/digital-artists-transform-brighton-air-quality-data-into-images

Brighton & Hove Buses has teamed up with a local art gallery to take air quality data and transforms it into a visual spectacle that enables people to see the state of the air they breathe. Mephitic Air will run at the ONCA Gallery from 16 September to 1 October as 

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Regular news Thu, 14 Sep 2017 11:25:00 GMT 54592
Autonomous driving technology could deliver 'huge' safety benefits says Euro NCAP https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/54587/autonomous-driving-technology-could-deliver-huge-safety-benefits-says-euro-ncap

Euro NCAP is calling on car manufacturers to implement autonomous technology in new vehicles in a bid to boost road safety. The independent body for car safety has outlined targets for manufacturers to introduce certain levels of autonomous technology into their vehicles in its new Road Map 2025, published to mark its 20th anniversary. The Road Map 2025 challenges vehicle manufacturers to offer the best possible technology as standard in all market segments and countries, protecting not only ca

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Regular news Wed, 13 Sep 2017 16:56:00 GMT 54587
UK road safety coalition calls on mobile industry to help cut driver distraction caused by phones https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/54574/uk-road-safety-coalition-calls-on-mobile-industry-to-help-cut-driver-distraction-caused-by-phones

Technology to automatically prevent distracting alerts while driving, the coalition warns, is urgently needed to tackle deaths and serious injuries caused by drivers using handheld mobile phones behind the wheel, says a coalition of road charities and organisations. The coalition has written to Android, Microsoft and the GSMA (Groupe Spéciale Mobile Association) urging them to include an ‘opt out’ driving mode as standard across mobile handsets. The letter comes ahead

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Regular news Mon, 11 Sep 2017 12:56:00 GMT 54574
Cycling UK calls for greater public awareness of 'car-dooring' https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/54573/cycling-uk-calls-for-greater-public-awareness-of-car-dooring-

A cycling charity has called for wider awareness to be made about the dangers of ‘car-dooring’ and how to prevent it through a public awareness campaign. Car dooring incidents involve drivers or their passengers opening car doors without checking for the presence of cyclists. Cycling UK is also advocating that people open car doors with their far hand, rather than the near as a way of preventing avoidable collisions. This method is sometimes called ‘the Dutch Reach' as it is c

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Regular news Mon, 11 Sep 2017 11:53:00 GMT 54573
Smarter Travel LIVE 2017 Be where local authorities practitioners and innovators engage https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/54571/smarter-travel-live-2017-be-where-local-authorities-practitioners-and-innovators-engage

With less than six weeks to go before Smarter Travel LIVE! on 19 and 20 October, this year’s Smarter Travel LIVE! event is bringing together the widest ever range of key players to spark dialogue and debate. The convergence of digital technology with the travel and transport sector is catalysing the most radical and sophisticated possibilities in decades, and Smarter Travel LIVE! is the place to be for those who need to be engaged in what is happening across the UK and beyond. Such rapid

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Lead Story Fri, 8 Sep 2017 10:03:00 GMT 54571
Intelligent Mobility accelerator programme seeks UK start-ups https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/54569/intelligent-mobility-accelerator-programme-seeks-uk-start-ups

Start-up businesses with innovative solutions to transport challenges such as congestion, overcrowding, emissions and road safety are being encouraged to apply for a new accelerator programme. The Intelligent Mobility (IM) Accelerator programme focusses on IM areas such as connected and autonomous vehicles, connected infrastructure, customer experience, and transport data and analysis. The programme is a partnership between Transport Systems Catapult and Wayra UK, a start-up accelerator that i

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Regular news Thu, 7 Sep 2017 16:22:00 GMT 54569
New data platform will power transport innovation says Transport Systems Catapult https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/54568/new-data-platform-will-power-transport-innovation-says-transport-systems-catapult

The Transport Systems Catapult (TSC) has launched a data facility that will enable access and analysis of various data sources to help address challenges in transport.  The Intelligent Mobility Data Hub (IMDH) is designed to provide a neutral, secure platform for transport organisations to allow access to and analyse their data. The hub currently stores data sets from government organisations, transport and technology businesses that offer insights into road travel and haulage patterns in

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Regular news Thu, 7 Sep 2017 15:59:00 GMT 54568
Travel information needs to be improved if 'Mobility as a Service' is to succeed says ITS UK https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/54564/travel-information-needs-to-be-improved-if-mobility-as-a-service-is-to-succeed-says-its-uk-

Traveller information must get much more reliable and available before Mobility as a Service (MaaS) can become a reality, a group of transport experts has warned. The ITS (UK) Public Transport Interest Group in London says out that only a quarter of bus companies have their timetable organised electronically, rather than on paper, making dynamic travel solutions almost impossible. The group said that more complete real-time information is required from local authorities and t

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Regular news Thu, 7 Sep 2017 14:33:00 GMT 54564
Self-driving cars to deliver pizza to Domino customers in Michigan https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/54552/self-driving-cars-to-deliver-pizza-to-domino-customers-in-michigan

Domino’s Pizza has teamed up with Ford to run an autonomous car trial that delivers pizza to regular customers. The trial will monitor how people react to and interact with self-driving vehicles. Using the US version of the Mondeo, the Fusion hybrid autonomous cars are fitted with pizza containers designed to keep them warm whilst being delivered.  Once ordered, customers can check on the progress of the delivery using Domino’s app on their mobile phone. When the autonomous ve

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Regular news Tue, 5 Sep 2017 16:05:00 GMT 54552
Cycling Walking Innovations Summit 2017 keeping active modes at the heart of intelligent mobility https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/54549/cycling--walking-innovations-summit-2017-keeping-active-modes-at-the-heart-of-intelligent-mobility

The Department for Transport and Landor LINKS announce new Cycling & Walking Innovations event on 21 November in London.   This new event will focus on how cycling and walking is supporting the Government's Industrial Strategy by keeping active modes at the heart of intelligent mobility. Sessions will include best practice examples of using innovation and technology to boost levels of cycling and walking. The event will showcase smart ways for local authorities to work with investors

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Lead Story Tue, 5 Sep 2017 13:00:00 GMT 54549
Inaugural Healthy Streets conference awards and exhibition nears sell-out https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/54547/inaugural-healthy-streets-conference-awards-and-exhibition-nears-sell-out

The Healthy Streets conference, exhibition and awards will take place on Thursday 28 September at The Assembly Hall in Walthamstow, London. Anyone involved in the planning and provision of Healthy Streets should not miss out on this major industry event where the leading influencers, policy-makers and budget holders will meet, network and discuss the implications of the Mayor's draft Transport Strategy (MTS).   Healthy Streets is at the top of the policy agenda and will have implications

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Lead Story Tue, 5 Sep 2017 12:52:00 GMT 54547
TfL offers guided walks in capital to encourage active travel https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/54545/tfl-offers-guided-walks-in-capital-to-encourage-active-travel

Free guided walks are being offered by Transport for London (TfL) to encourage people to explore the capital on foot and to highlight the benefits of walking for health and wellbeing.  The Mayor’s draft Transport Strategy aims to increase the proportion of people walking, cycling and taking public transport to 80% by 2041, compared with 64% now. “To make this commitment a reality, a wide range of improvements to London’s streets, junctions and public spaces are underway,

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Regular news Tue, 5 Sep 2017 12:25:00 GMT 54545
Time to take transport to new level says intelligent mobility expert https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/54533/time-to-take-transport-to-new-level-says-intelligent-mobility-expert

The way we travel is on the threshold of a major transformation. We will be able to make journeys that are safer, cleaner, more efficient and cheaper. And the catalyst for that change will be intelligent mobility (IM). In this new environment we will have access to connected autonomous vehicles (CAVs) and new mobility services (including super-smart ticketing). But in order to see these benefits we will need sector collaboration and convergence. If this transition is managed well the rewards ac

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Regular news Tue, 5 Sep 2017 09:33:00 GMT 54533
DfT increases the monetised health benefits of active travel https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/54490/dft-increases-the-monetised-health-benefits-of-active-travel The monetised health benefits of most walking and cycling schemes will increase using new appraisal guidance issued by the DfT. The guidance revises advice on the ‘rate of decay’ – an assumed reduction in volumes of additional walking and cycling following an investment – and takes into account the health benefits experienced by older people. Says the DfT: “The new approach generally estimates greater economic benefits than the current WebTAG guidance.” 

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Secondary stories Fri, 1 Sep 2017 09:11:00 GMT 54490
Race to build the driverless car profiled in The Times https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/54487/race-to-build-the-driverless-car-profiled-in-the-times “Who will launch the first commercial self-driving car?” The Times’ magazine asked on 26 August, in an article written by contributors from Fortune and Wired. ‘It’s what obsesses the world’s most powerful CEOs, with their huge budgets and vast teams.” “The stakes are higher than ever as Google, Apple, Uber, Tesla, Ford and myriad start-ups sprint to bring the first self-driving car to market,”   said Erin Griffith a senior writer with F

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Media monitor Fri, 1 Sep 2017 09:10:00 GMT 54487
Community transport fights DfT rule changes https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/54476/community-transport-fights-dft-rule-changes Community transport operators are launching a campaign to fight proposed rule changes that they say could have a “catastrophic” impact on the sector and its users. The DfT notified councils and the community transport sector at the end of July that holders of Section 19 or 22 permits cannot undertake commercial work, such as bidding for council contracts (LTT04 Aug). Instead they must obtain a Public Service Vehicle (PSV) operator’s licence.   A number of community trans

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Lead Story Fri, 1 Sep 2017 09:01:00 GMT 54476
All transport is local https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/54482/all-transport-is-local-

The world is currently experiencing paradigm shifts in attitudes to transport, enabled largely by technology. To Europeans, US headlines about driverless cars and AI breakthroughs, the rise of Uber and Lyft, hyperloop and superfast electric cars, could give the impression that innovation happens easily stateside. But it can be just as hard to achieve lasting change there as anywhere else, says David Bragdon, Chief Executive of NYC’s Transit Center, and tells Juliana O’Rourke that the

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Regular feature Fri, 1 Sep 2017 09:00:00 GMT 54482
Blackwell is Londons digital chief https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/54471/blackwell-is-london-s-digital-chief London mayor Sadiq Khan has appointed Theo Blackwell as London’s first chief digital officer, a post that includes promoting the use of open data for public services. Blackwell was a policy fellow at Public Group, which advises start-ups on the growing market in local public services. He is also cabinet member for finance, technology and growth at the London Borough of Camden.

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People/people Fri, 1 Sep 2017 08:56:00 GMT 54471
Joyner leads Arriva Trains Wales https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/54470/joyner-leads-arriva-trains-wales Tom Joyner has been appointed managing director of Arriva Trains Wales, replacing Ian Bullock, who is moving to a senior business development role in the Arriva Group. Joyner is currently passenger services director at London Midland, and has previously held performance and planning posts with London Midland, Network Rail and First Group. He will take up his new post on 2 October.

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People/people Fri, 1 Sep 2017 08:55:00 GMT 54470
Rigby is GSKs travel plan co-ordinator https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/54469/rigby-is-gsk-s-travel-plan-co-ordinator Global healthcare company GSK has appointed Tim Rigby as a travel plan co-ordinator. He joins from the British Heart Foundation, where he was an events administrator.

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People/people Fri, 1 Sep 2017 08:54:00 GMT 54469
Devenish joins SCP https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/54468/devenish-joins-scp Mark Devenish has joined transport planning and infrastructure design consultant SCP as an associate director in its Manchester office. He joins from Sanderson Associates (Consulting Engineers), where he was an associate.

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People/people Fri, 1 Sep 2017 08:54:00 GMT 54468
Rose joins HS2 stations team from TfGM https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/54466/rose-joins-hs2-stations-team-from-tfgm Mark Rose has joined HS2 Ltd as commercial lead for station operations. He moves from Transport for Greater Manchester where he was stations policy lead. Rose was the DfT’s head of stations policy from 2013 to 2015, and Network Rail’s business change manager for stations and customer service from 2011 to 2013. 

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People/people Fri, 1 Sep 2017 08:53:00 GMT 54466
Ellerton joins WYCA from AECOM https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/54467/ellerton-joins-wyca-from-aecom Helen Ellerton has joined West Yorkshire Combined Authority as a policy manager from consultant AECOM, where she was a principal consultant.

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People/people Fri, 1 Sep 2017 08:53:00 GMT 54467
Heathrow policy chief joins Bristol Airport https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/54465/heathrow-policy-chief-joins-bristol-airport Simon Earles has left his position as planning and policy director at Heathrow Airport to become planning and sustainability director at Bristol Airport. 

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People/people Fri, 1 Sep 2017 08:52:00 GMT 54465
Mumford is HEs interim projects chief https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/54464/mumford-is-he-s-interim-projects-chief Highways England has appointed Peter Mumford as interim major projects executive director. He joins from HKA (formerly Hill International) where he was vice president. Mumford replaces Peter Adams who joined London City Airport this month as chief asset and programme manager.

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People/people Fri, 1 Sep 2017 08:51:00 GMT 54464
Healthy cycling takes off in Belfast https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/54433/healthy-cycling-takes-off-in-belfast

People living in Belfast are being encouraged to take up walking and cycling as a way of leading a healthier life. Northern Ireland’s Public Health Agency (PHA) has developed a Community Active Travel Programme, which is being delivered by sustainable transport charity Sustrans.

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Regular news Thu, 24 Aug 2017 10:42:00 GMT 54433
Sharp rise in NY cyclists linked to roll-out of bike lanes https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/54411/sharp-rise-in-ny-cyclists-linked-to-roll-out-of-bike-lanes

The number of New Yorkers regularly making bike journeys has risen nearly 50% in five years, reveals a report from the New York City Department of Transport (NYC DOT). Between 2009 and 2014 the number of people cycling ‘at least several times a month’ went up 49% from 521,000 to 778,000, says the report. It adds that the number of daily cycling trips has gone up from 100,000 in 1990 to 450,00 in 2015. The number of cycling commuters in New York has increased 80% between 2010 an

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Regular news Fri, 18 Aug 2017 13:09:00 GMT 54411
Indian transport minister rules out driverless cars https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/54403/indian-transport-minister-rules-out-driverless-cars Britain’s political leaders may see economic opportunities in driverless cars but not every country is so gung-ho. India’s transport minister says the country won’t allow driverless cars because of their potential detrimental impact on the economy. “We won’t allow driverless cars in India, I am very clear on this,” he told a newspaper. “In a country where you have unemployment, you can’t have a technology that ends up taking people’s jobs.&rd

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In Passing Fri, 18 Aug 2017 10:46:00 GMT 54403
Will self-driving cars really be a cure-all for transport problems? Dont be silly https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/54401/--will-self-driving-cars-really-be-a-cure-all-for-transport-problems-don-t-be-silly

Whenever we talk about autonomous vehicles, a little alarm bell goes off in my head. No, not the safety one – I am sure that boffins in white coats with pens in their top pockets will sort out the safety issues. We will probably all be safer with the Terminator driving behind us, rather than with the human idiot who decides that he has an unnatural fondness for my back bumper at 70mph on the M25. The little mental alarm bell is the one that sounds whenever we’re getting too excited

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Viewpoint Fri, 18 Aug 2017 10:41:00 GMT 54401
DfT issues CAV cyber security principles https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/54373/dft-issues-cav-cyber-security-principles Key principles for ensuring cyber security for connected and autonomous vehicles (CAVs) have been published by the Government.   “As vehicles get smarter, cyber security in the automotive industry is becoming an increasing concern,” says the guidance, prepared jointly by the DfT and the Government’s Centre for the Protection of National Infrastructure.  “Whether we’re turning cars into wi-fi connected hotspots or equipping them with millions of lines of c

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Regular news Fri, 18 Aug 2017 09:53:00 GMT 54373
Edgar is SEStrans new chair https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/54364/edgar-is-sestran-s-new-chair Gordon Edgar has been elected the new chair of SEStran, the South East Scotland Transport Partnership. Edgar is an independent councillor on Scottish Borders Council and spokesman for roads, transport and infrastructure. He has been a member of SEStran for nine years. SEStran has also appointed two deputy chairs: Colin Davidson, a Labour councillor on Fife Council and Lesley Macinnes, an SNP councillor on the City of Edinburgh Council. Following May’s Scottish local elections, SEStran&rsqu

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People/people Fri, 18 Aug 2017 09:33:00 GMT 54364
AL-Azzawi and Casola join Haskoning https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/54363/al-azzawi-and-casola-join-haskoning Marwan AL-Azzawi has joined consultant Royal HaskoningDHV as director, transport and planning, advisory group, in its Manchester office. He was technical director of Hyder Consulting from 2012-2016, becoming regional director of consultant Louis Berger last November. Paul Casola has joined Royal HaskoningDHV as an associate in its Birmingham office. He was an associate with Hydrock in Birmingham.

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People/people Fri, 18 Aug 2017 09:32:00 GMT 54363
Deegan joins AltaGO from TfL https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/54362/deegan-joins-altago-from-tfl Brian Deegan has left Transport for London, where he was a principal technical specialist focused on active travel, to join mobility consultant AltaGO as director – European sector.

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People/people Fri, 18 Aug 2017 09:31:00 GMT 54362
Skelley leaves TfL for Skanska https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/54361/skelley-leaves-tfl-for-skanska Dana Skelley has left Transport for London, where she was director of road asset management, to join Skanska Civil Engineering as director of strategy and operational excellence. Skelley’s responsibilities at TfL have now been split within surface transport with small-scale road maintenance transferring to road space management overseen by interim director Glynn Barton, and major interventions transferring to projects and programmes led by director Nick Fairholme. 

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People/people Fri, 18 Aug 2017 09:27:00 GMT 54361
Poulton is Newcastles assistant director https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/54360/poulton-is-newcastle-s-assistant-director Marshall Poulton has joined Newcastle City Council as assistant director for transport. Poulton was the City of Edinburgh Council’s head of transport from 2008 to 2013 and, before that, head of technology and systems at Transport for London from 2005 to 2008. Since 2013 he has run his own consultancy LBK Consultancy Ltd.

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People/people Fri, 18 Aug 2017 09:26:00 GMT 54360
Meikle leads transport strategy at Nexus https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/54359/meikle-leads-transport-strategy-at-nexus

Philip Meikle (pictured) has been appointed transport strategy director by Nexus, the Tyne and Wear PTE. He joins from Cross Country Trains where he was head of franchise growth and development. Meikle was a rail franchise specification advisor for the DfT from 2006 to 2008.

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People/people Fri, 18 Aug 2017 09:25:00 GMT 54359
New street design changing driver behaviour outside school https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/54351/new-street-design-changing-driver-behaviour-outside-school

Road safety outside schools has become an all too frequent cause for concern across the UK. In an effort to tackle the problem, a range of measures are being deployed including school-led awareness campaigns, CCTV enforcement and parents volunteering as parking patrol officers. Meanwhile, a project in south London has taken a different approach, re-configuring the street layout to bring about behaviour change. The layout on New Park Road, off Brixton Hill, was designed by the charity Sustrans i

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Regular news Thu, 17 Aug 2017 11:33:00 GMT 54351
Sustrans Scotland promotes healthy workplace travel https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/54323/sustrans-scotland-promotes-healthy-workplace-travel

Transport charity Sustrans Scotland is offering employers a way to offer its employees access to healthier journeys to and from work via its Active Travel Champion (ATC) programme. Active Travel Champions are organisations that have committed to increasing levels of walking and cycling at their organisation. Sustrans works with sites of 200 or more employees on which ‘champions’ are permitted to spend one to two hours of time per month on ATC related planning and activities.

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Regular news Mon, 14 Aug 2017 16:47:00 GMT 54323
AA publishes Cyclist's Highway Code https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/54299/aa-publishes-cyclist-s-highway-code

The Automobile Association (AA) has produced a version of the Highway Code specifically for cyclists. A recent AA-Populus Survey revealed that 21% of AA members cycle, with one-in-ten saying they cycle between one and five miles each week.

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Regular news Wed, 9 Aug 2017 09:06:00 GMT 54299
Londons share of spend justified says GLA https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/54261/london-s-share-of-spend-justified-says-gla A widely held perception that London receives more than its fair share of public expenditure on transport is a “myth”, according to a new report by the Greater London Authority. The claim that London benefits from a disproportionate amount of spending has been made by the Institute for Public Policy Research North’s Paying for our progress report and the Centre for Cities’ Mapping Britain’s public finances. These make use of the public expenditure data from the Tre

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Regular news Fri, 4 Aug 2017 10:43:00 GMT 54261
Air passenger demand to double predicts DfT https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/54259/air-passenger-demand-to-double-predicts-dft

Demand for air travel in the UK will almost double over the next 30 years, according to a new forecast prepared by the DfT.  The prediction appears in the DfT’s consultation document, Beyond the horizon – the future is UK aviation, which will inform a new aviation strategy to be published by the end of 2018.  The DfT says strong air passenger growth has returned following the economic downturn between 2007 and 2009. The number of passengers flying to/from UK airports sin

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Regular news Fri, 4 Aug 2017 10:37:00 GMT 54259
DfT releases forecasts for big city rail passenger demand https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/54246/dft-releases-forecasts-for-big-city-rail-passenger-demand New rail demand forecasts for London and England’s other major cities have been published in the DfT’s High Level Output Specification for rail in England and Wales.  The HLOS covers Network Rail’s next five-year regulatory control period, CP6 (2019/20-2023/24). Unlike previous versions, it does not specify a programme of rail enhancement projects. Following well-publicised problems with Network Rail’s CP5 enhancement programme, decisions on future enhancements will

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Secondary stories Fri, 4 Aug 2017 10:15:00 GMT 54246
Making the right connections between modes https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/54242/making-the-right-connections-between-modes

With roads close to saturation point and trains becoming overcrowded, transport providers and innovators must work together to develop new solutions, believes Stephen Hart at Innovate UK. “Congestion is getting worse, with growing frustration leading to more road rage,” he says. “There’s no longer a rush hour, there’s a rush five hours.” Current systems used to manage roads and rail services need to be better integrated to be effective, says Hart, head of co

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Regular feature Fri, 4 Aug 2017 09:50:00 GMT 54242
Ten percent drop in average distance travelled since 2002 https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/54235/ten-percent--in-average-distance-travelled-since-2002

The number of trips made by people in England continued to fall last year and is now 13% lower than 2002, according to the National Travel Survey.  People made on average 774 trips in 2016, excluding short walks (defined as being less than a mile in length). In 2002 the average was 886.   Average distance travelled, excluding short walks, was 6,396 miles in 2016 – 10% below the 7,104 miles recorded in 2002. The 2016 figure was 3% lower than 2015.   The average annual mile

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Secondary stories Fri, 4 Aug 2017 09:40:00 GMT 54235
British Standards for CAVs https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/54232/british-standards-for-cavs The British Standards Institute is developing standards for connected and autonomous vehicles. The BSI asked intelligent transport systems association ITS (UK) to identify two priority areas for action and to make recommendations. ITS (UK) has selected virtual testing for certification and validation prior to deployment, and the minimum safety-related information a CAV should record post-incident. ITS (UK) will make recommendations in the autumn.

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In brief Fri, 4 Aug 2017 09:37:00 GMT 54232
Community transport braced for upheaval after DVSA ruling https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/54210/community-transport-braced-for-upheaval-after-dvsa-ruling

Britain’s community transport sector faces a huge shake-up following the DfT’s announcement that operators must hold a public service vehicle (PSV) operator’s licence if bidding for work from local authorities. The decision affects the issue and use of Section 19 and Section 22 (of the Transport Act 1985) permits. Section 19 permits are issued to organisations that operate vehicles to transport their members, or people whom the organisation exists to help. Section 22 permits c

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Regular feature Fri, 4 Aug 2017 09:18:00 GMT 54210
Potential of Mobility as a Service MaaS assessed in new report https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/54208/potential-of-mobility-as-a-service-maas-assessed-in-new-report

A new report by Landor LINKS/LTT provides a state of play survey and analysis on how the concept of Mobility as a Service (MaaS) is developing in the UK, and the likely implications for traditional transport provision. The First Annual Survey of MaaS in the UK is available in printed and digital Kindle editions for the first time for a Landor LINKS/LTT publication.  “The potential prize for a MaaS system is enormous and the obvious enthusiasm for the concept amongst transport profes

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Lead Story Fri, 4 Aug 2017 09:16:00 GMT 54208
Sustrans recruits London director https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/54205/sustrans-recruits-london-director Sustrans is recruiting a new director for London. Previous director German Dector-Vega is continuing to work for Sustrans on projects until October. Matt Winfield is currently acting director for London.

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People/people Fri, 4 Aug 2017 09:09:00 GMT 54205
Macbeth leads TfLswork on CAVs https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/54203/macbeth-leads-tfl-swork-on-cavs Iain Macbeth has been appointed senior foresight manager at Transport for London, responsible for defining policy and strategy on connected & automated vehicles (CAVs), and managing TfL’s relationship with the automotive sector. Macbeth was TfL’s business engagement programme manager. 

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People/people Fri, 4 Aug 2017 09:08:00 GMT 54203
Griffiths-Allen joins Bechtel from HE https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/54204/griffiths-allen-joins-bechtel-from-he David Griffiths-Allen has joined construction and project management company Bechtel as an engagement consultant from Highways England, where he was a senior HS2 engagement manager, managing the interface between HS2 and the strategic road network.

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People/people Fri, 4 Aug 2017 09:08:00 GMT 54204
Pittam joins E-Car Club from SDG https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/54202/pittam-joins-e-car-club-from-sdg

Carl Pittam (pictured) has been appointed head of network development at E-Car Club Ltd. He was previously an associate with  consultant Steer Davies Gleave. Pittam was Sustrans’ England director before joining SDGin 2015. 

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People/people Fri, 4 Aug 2017 09:06:00 GMT 54202
Boardman is Greater Manchesters active travel supremo https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/54201/boardman-is-greater-manchester-s-active-travel-supremo

Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham has appointed Olympic gold medalcyclist Chris Boardman (pictured) as Greater Manchester’s first cycling and walking commissioner. Said Boardman: “With my background in sport, I’m a big fan of setting targets, being measured and being held accountable for results. I’m going to spend several weeks talking to people to understand the landscape for cycling in Greater Manchester before setting a number of goals we want to achieve and times

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People/people Fri, 4 Aug 2017 09:01:00 GMT 54201
Drivers attack Khans anti-car plan https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/54200/drivers-attack-khan-s-anti-car-plan The Alliance of British Drivers has launched a campaign against London mayor Sadiq Khan’s draft transport strategy, saying it represents the “biggest attack on drivers’ freedom and wallets yet”.  The ABD criticises the strategy (LTT23 Jun) which advocates reallocating space away from vehicles and floats London-wide congestion charging. The mayor wants to cut trips by car/taxi/private hire vehicles from 36% to 20% by 2041.  “The significance of the propos

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Regular news Fri, 4 Aug 2017 08:59:00 GMT 54200
Trend for falling distance travelled continues after blip says National Travel Survey https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/54198/trend-for-falling-distance-travelled-continues-after-blip-says-national-travel-survey A downward trend in the average distance travelled and number of trips continued last year, according to the National Travel Survey. The average distance travelled (6,396 miles) was 10% lower than in 2002, and 3% lower than in 2015 but similar to the 2014 figure, the 2016 survey says. The average number of trips per person was around 15 per week, 13% lower than the 2002 figure. Most of the fall in trips has been due to fewer car trips. The survey says that a small increase in the average number

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Regular news Thu, 3 Aug 2017 15:44:00 GMT 54198
Toolbox presents the economic benefits of active travel https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/54197/-toolbox-presents-the-economic-benefits-of-active-travel A ‘toolbox’ for councils seeking to build the business case for cycling and walking schemes has been launched by Sustrans in partnership with Living Streets and the TAS Partnership. The free pack - which includes guides, resources, tools and case studies – covers three specific areas: making the economic case for active travel; linking active travel and public transport to housing growth and planning; and highlighting the role of active travel in im

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Regular news Tue, 1 Aug 2017 17:52:00 GMT 54197
NTS reveals boost in walking and cycling among children says Living Streets https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/54298/nts-reveals-boost-in-walking-and-cycling-among-children--says-living-streets The government should keep in investing in programmes that encourage people, and children in particular, to take up walking and cycling, says Living Streets following the publication of the latest National Travel Survey (NTS). The results of the NTS show an increase in the number of children in Engla

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Regular news Mon, 31 Jul 2017 17:06:00 GMT 54298
Heathrow growth and Wolfson prize reinvigorate road pricing debate https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/54162/heathrow-growth-and-wolfson-prize-reinvigorate-road-pricing-debate

The subject of road pricing made a return to the pages of the mainstream media this month, initially due to reports that a congestion charge around Heathrow Airport is being mooted to enable the facility to meet air quality targets. On 7 July London’s Evening Standard said that: “A new ‘H-charge’ on motorists to tackle toxic air around Heathrow was today backed by two of Britain’s leading airport experts. Sir Howard Davies, who chaired Britain’s Airports Comm

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Media monitor Fri, 21 Jul 2017 10:44:00 GMT 54162
EV charge points life expired https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/54154/ev-charge-points-life-expired Most electric vehicle charging points installed in the North East of England with Government money just a few years ago are reaching the end of their useful life, says the North East Combined Authority.   Tobyn Hughes, NECA’s managing director of transport operations, said no provision for maintenance had been included in the  Government’s Plugged in Places grant scheme that funded most of the area’s charge points, installed earlier this decade.  “Further

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Secondary stories Fri, 21 Jul 2017 10:26:00 GMT 54154
DfT probes safety of car software updates https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/54153/dft-probes-safety-of-car-software-s The DfT is commissioning research to understand how safety critical software updates are managed in different industries, to inform how they should be managed in the automotive sector. All vehicles and their safety functions currently have to obtain safety certification, known as type approval. But the DfT points out that software in a vehicle may be updated throughout the vehicle’s life for reasons such as updating security, changing functionality and addressing software flaws.  &l

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Regular news Fri, 21 Jul 2017 10:25:00 GMT 54153
Further cost rise for Metrobus route https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/54109/further-cost-rise-for-metrobus-route The estimated cost of the Metrobus bus rapid transit (BRT) programme in Bristol, South Gloucestershire and North Somerset has risen again.  MetroBus comprises three routes: Ashton Vale to Temple Meads, Bristol’s North Fringe to Hengrove, and the South Bristol Link. The South Bristol Link is complete but construction of the other two is ongoing and both are understood to have been hit by cost increases.  South Gloucestershire Council has revealed details for the North Fringe to

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Regular news Fri, 21 Jul 2017 09:35:00 GMT 54109
Transport planner scoops 250k road pricing prize https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/54094/transport-planner-scoops-250k-road-pricing-prize

Gergely Raccuja, a graduate transport planner with Amey, has won the 2017 Wolfson Economics Prize, worth £250,000, to design a new way of paying for road use. Raccuja proposed replacing fuel duty and vehicle excise duty with a distance-based charge collected by insurers. Prize founder, Lord Wolfson of Aspley, said the submission was “ground-breaking, yet simple”. 

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Regular news Fri, 21 Jul 2017 09:07:00 GMT 54094
Healthy Street Awards 2017 - View the Entries https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/54091/healthy-street-awards-2017--view-the-entries-

Best Behaviour Change Initiative Award Big Commuting Challenge – Travelwest North West Leading the Way with Active Travel – Derry City & Strabane District Council Vehicle Idling Action project – Green Gumption on behalf of the Idling Action Partnership Destination Walking & Cycling Project – Visit Isle of Wight Ltd Build A Bike – Southwark Council Heathrow Commuter Goes Mobile –Landing in your term

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Secondary stories Fri, 21 Jul 2017 09:03:00 GMT 54091
Brown Joins TfL https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/54087/brown-joins-tfl Staynton Brown has joined Transport for London in the new position of director of diversity and inclusion. He was associate director – equalities at Guy’s and St Thomas’ Foundation Trust. 

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People/people Fri, 21 Jul 2017 08:56:00 GMT 54087
Arup appoints Sanders https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/54086/arup-appoints-sanders Stefan Sanders has been appointed Arup’s lead for rail in the UK, Middle East and Africa (UKMEA). Sanders has worked for Arup since 2003. Anna Squire has been appointed Arup’s global rail leader, based in Sydney Australia. She has worked for Arup since 2006. Both appointments follow the retirement of Colin Stewart, Arup’s global and UKMEA rail leader. 

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People/consultants Fri, 21 Jul 2017 08:54:00 GMT 54086
Withill joins Transport for the North https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/54084/withill-joins-transport-for-the-north Adrian Withill has joined Transport for the North as a senior project manager. Withill was Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council’s interim manager – highways and transportation.

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People/people Fri, 21 Jul 2017 08:54:00 GMT 54084
Oates joins i-Transport https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/54082/oates-joins-i-transport Andy Oates has joined consultant i-Transport as an associate in its Manchester office. He was a principal in Mott MacDonald’s integrated transport division.

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People/people Fri, 21 Jul 2017 08:53:00 GMT 54082
Darrall joins Transport Planning Associates https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/54081/darrall-joins-transport-planning-associates James Darrall has joined consultant Transport Planning Associates as an associate specialising in development transport planning and modelling. He was an associate with consultant i-Transport.

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People/people Fri, 21 Jul 2017 08:52:00 GMT 54081
Reeves takes new job at DfT https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/54079/reeves-takes-new-job-at-dft Pauline Reeves has been appointed head of road user licensing, insurance and safety at the DfT. 

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People/people Fri, 21 Jul 2017 08:51:00 GMT 54079
Westgate rejoins Nichols from HS2 Ltd https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/54080/westgate-rejoins-nichols-from-hs2-ltd Stuart Westgate has rejoined infrastructure consultancy The Nichols Group as a senior partner from HS2 Ltd where he was programme development director. Westgate worked for Nichols from 2000 to 2011, before becoming director of major project advisory at KPMG from 2011 to 2015. 

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People/people Fri, 21 Jul 2017 08:51:00 GMT 54080
Pickett quits WMCA--for SYSTRA https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/54078/pickett-quits-wmca-for-systra Alison Pickett has joined consultant SYSTRA as an associate director. She was head of sustainable travel at the West Midlands Combined Authority. 

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People/people Fri, 21 Jul 2017 08:50:00 GMT 54078
Greenwood is transport committee chair https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/54077/greenwood-is-transport-committee-chair

Lilian Greenwood (pictured), the Labour MP for Nottingham South, has been elected chair of the House of Commons transport committee, succeeding Louise Ellman. Greenwood, a former shadow transport minister, beat Bridget Phillipson, the Labour MP for Houghton and Sunderland South, in the final round of voting. 

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People/people Fri, 21 Jul 2017 08:49:00 GMT 54077
Pay-per-mile vehicle charging concept wins 250k Wolfson Economics Prize https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/54043/pay-per-mile-vehicle-charging-concept-wins-250k-wolfson-economics-prize

A recent graduate from University College London has won the 2017 Wolfson Economics Prize, a £250,000 competition that posed the question: “How can we pay for better, safer, more reliable roads in a way that is fair to road users and good for the economy and the environment?” Gergely Raccuja proposed a distance-based charge as a replacement for both fuel duty and vehicle excise duty. The money raised by a levy could be used to improve air quality and invested in making UK road

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Regular news Fri, 14 Jul 2017 17:44:00 GMT 54043
City of London guide shows employers how to boost active travel https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/54034/city-of-london-guide-shows-employers-how-to-boost-active-travel

A guide offering organisations in the Square Mile practical advice on how to get employees to switch to active travel is out now. 'Safer in the City' – Best Practice Guide 2017 has been developed by the City of London Corporation in partnership with the Active City Network – a forum created to promote safe active travel. The guide is full of case studies and interviews highlighting initiatives in a number of organisations across the City of London including the Bank of England, Nomu

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Regular news Fri, 14 Jul 2017 06:19:00 GMT 54034
Zipcar launches one-way car club https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/53998/zipcar-launches-one-way-car-club Car club firm Zipcar has launched one-way car hire in London, to complement its traditional round trip service. Zipcar Flex allows members to drop their car in any one of thousands of approved parking bays within a ‘Zipzone’ – an area of 70 square kilometres covering Wandsworth, Merton, south Lambeth, and most of Southwark. 

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In brief Fri, 7 Jul 2017 11:10:00 GMT 53998
Free bus passes for Cardiff home buyers https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/53990/free-bus-passes-for-cardiff-home-buyers

The first occupiers of thousands of future new homes in Cardiff will be offered a year’s free bus travel. Concerns have previously been expressed about the road network’s capacity to accommodate additional car journeys arising from the city’s expansion. The City of Cardiff Council’s local development plan (LDP) aims to reduce the proportion of journeys made by car so that there is a 50:50 split between car and ‘sustainable’ modes by 2026. Section 106 plannin

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Regular news Fri, 7 Jul 2017 10:51:00 GMT 53990
Keyless peer-to-peer car sharing https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/53966/keyless-peer-to-peer-car-sharing Peer-to-peer car sharing firm HiyaCar has launched a form of keyless mobile technology that enables users to hire out their car without giving away their car keys. The QuickStart technology requires car owners to have a ‘black box’ installed under the dashboard of their car by Hiyacar at a cost of £99. A company spokeswoman told LTT: “Once installed, this means the car can be securely opened and started by smartphone app, removing the need for the car’s key to be ha

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In brief Fri, 7 Jul 2017 10:13:00 GMT 53966
Markides is CIHTs new president https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/53958/markides-is-ciht-s-new-president Andreas Markides has taken up the presidency of the Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation for 2017/18. Markides was a board member of consultant Colin Buchanan for 12 years and chairman from 2009 to 2011. He now runs Markides Associates. Matthew Lugg is the CIHT’s senior vice president and next in line to be president. Martin Tugwell, programme director for the England’s Economic Heartland strategic alliance, has just been appointed vice president.

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People/people Fri, 7 Jul 2017 09:54:00 GMT 53958
Greater Cambridgeshire hears from academic that underground transport can be cheaper option - report https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/53956/greater-cambridgeshire-hears-from-academic-that-underground-transport-can-be-cheaper-option--report A Cambridge University professor has told a meeting of the Greater Cambridge Partnership that building underground transport could work out cheaper than overground alternatives, Cambridge News has reported. Professor John Miles told the representatives that putting transport on land in a city such as Cambridge is expensive. According to the report, he said: "If you deliberately keep the tunnels very small, and on the top you have a very congested urban space, then these things work to reverse t

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Regular news Fri, 7 Jul 2017 09:44:00 GMT 53956
Six of the best showcase smart technology https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/53936/six-of-the-best-showcase-smart-technology

New software designed to reduce congestion, encourage active travel, improve the passenger experience and help transport operators run more efficient services is being showcased by a programme to support startups. The programme was developed by Nitrous - a company that encourages collaboration between startups and the public sector to help create smart cities - and supported by Transport for London (TfL).   Several hundred applications were received and these were whittled down to a short

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Regular feature Fri, 7 Jul 2017 09:11:00 GMT 53936
Whiteley CE at Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/53919/whiteley-ce-at-cambridgeshire-and-peterborough-combined-authority Martin Whiteley has been appointed chief executive of the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority. Whiteley has been interim chief executive since March and was previously chief executive of Blue Marble Group and managing director of Capita Consulting. Dame Kate Barker will chair an economic commission, which will advise the CA on infrastructure priorities.

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People/people Fri, 7 Jul 2017 08:59:00 GMT 53919
Gill new chair at LTAG https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/53918/gill-new-chair-at-ltag Satbir Gill, Hounslow Highways’ network manager and principal designer, is the new chair of the London Technical Advisers Group.

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People/people Fri, 7 Jul 2017 08:58:00 GMT 53918
Richard Clarke for WSP https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/53917/richard-clarke-for-wsp Richard Clarke has joined WSP as an associate director. He was director of his own rail consultant, North Hill Consulting, and a part-time associate with SLC Rail. 

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People/people Fri, 7 Jul 2017 08:57:00 GMT 53917
Thomas quits NX for Stagecoach https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/53913/thomas-quits-nx-for-stagecoach Paul Thomas, managing director of National Express’s UK bus division, has left to become managing director for Stagecoach in the east of Scotland. Tom Stables takes over from Thomas at National Express, managing the UK bus business alongside the UK coach business and German rail operations. 

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People/people Fri, 7 Jul 2017 08:55:00 GMT 53913
Markides is CIHTs new president https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/53914/markides-is-ciht-s-new-president Andreas Markides has taken up the presidency of the Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation for 2017/18. Markides was a board member of consultant Colin Buchanan for 12 years and chairman from 2009 to 2011. He now runs Markides Associates. Matthew Lugg is the CIHT’s senior vice president and next in line to be president. Martin Tugwell, programme director for the England’s Economic Heartland strategic alliance, has just been appointed vice president.

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People/people Fri, 7 Jul 2017 08:55:00 GMT 53914
Patel leads interchanges at Ramboll https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/53912/patel-leads-interchanges-at-ramboll Vinny Patel has joined consultant Ramboll as market director of transport interchanges. He was Laing O’Rourke’s design and development leader for the rail sector.

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People/people Fri, 7 Jul 2017 08:54:00 GMT 53912
Lawrence named WMCAs transport lead https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/53909/lawrence-named-wmca-s-transport-lead West Midlands Combined Authority Conservative mayor Andy Street has appointed Wolverhampton City Council Labour leader Roger Lawrence portfolio lead for transport. Lawrence has been WMCA’s transport lead since the CA’s establishment last year. Solihull Council’s Conservative leader Bob Sleigh is portfolio holder for wellbeing and HS2. Birmingham City Council Labour leader John Clancy is portfolio holder for economic growth. Deborah Cadman has been appointed WMCA’s chief e

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People/people Fri, 7 Jul 2017 08:53:00 GMT 53909
Henkel retires from TfN https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/53910/henkel-retires-from-tfn John Henkel, executive sponsor for integrated and smart travel at Transport for the North, is retiring. He was previously director of passenger services at West Yorkshire PTE. 

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People/people Fri, 7 Jul 2017 08:53:00 GMT 53910
City of London struggles to recruit https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/53908/city-of-london-struggles-to-recruit Escalating work demand pressures and staff shortages are forcing the City of London Corporation to prioritise its transport programme.  Steve Presland, the City’s director of transportation and public realm, told members that the City’s transportation section, which was restructured and expanded in 2016, faced a heavy workload on matters such as cycle safety, TfL’s healthy streets agenda, the preparation of a new transport strategy, and action to regulate freight movement

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Regular news Fri, 7 Jul 2017 08:52:00 GMT 53908
World's largest autonomous electric rapid transit system planned for UAE in Indian-UK tie-up - report https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/53861/world-s-largest-autonomous-electric-rapid-transit-system-planned-for-uae-in-indian-uk-tie-up--report

The world's largest autonomous, electric personal/group rapid transit system is to be built under a $1.6bn project in the United Arab Emirates under a contract awarded to the Fairwood Group's 'UltraFairwood' scheme, it has been reported. Under a contract awarded, the PRT system for Ajman City in the UAE will provide six-seater, battery-powered driverless vehicles running on elevated guideways that will transport users anywhere within the network without stops, and connected to the GRT system of

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Regular news Mon, 3 Jul 2017 19:57:00 GMT 53861
Electric car club for capital https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/53845/electric-car-club-for-capital An electric car club has been launched in London. BlueCity was initially trialled in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham and is now available in the boroughs of Merton and Hounslow. The system is run by Bollore, which operates the Source London electric vehicle charging network. In Paris, Bollore runs the Autolib’ electric car sharing scheme. Normal subscription costs for BlueCity are reported to be £5 a year, with usage billed at 17p per minute, with a minimum charge of 20

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In brief Fri, 23 Jun 2017 11:22:00 GMT 53845
Toyota buys into MaaS https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/53843/toyota-buys-into-maas Toyota Financial Services has made an investment in MaaS Global, the Finnish firm the has pioneered Mobility as a Service with its Whim app. Toyota Financial Services , a subsidiary of car manufacturer Toyota that specialising in automotive financial services, and its insurance partner invested in MaaS Global, which was established last April. MaaS Global’s app enables customers to purchase a monthly subscription package suited to their mobility needs.  The app currently operates in

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Regular news Fri, 23 Jun 2017 11:21:00 GMT 53843
Dockless bike hire concept critiqued by The Guardian https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/53827/dockless-bike-hire-concept-critiqued-by-the-guardian

On 12 June The Guardian devoted a lengthy article to the proposed ‘dockless’ bike hire due to open in Manchester at the end of the month. Describing the concept of dockless bike hire schemes as having “the potential to reshape the look and feel of many cities”, the paper suggested that this ‘Uber for bikes’ model “has seen virulent competition and bikes littered haphazardly around cities or dumped by the hundreds in bushes and alleyways” in the con

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Media monitor Fri, 23 Jun 2017 10:18:00 GMT 53827
Simplify Clean Air Zones and centralise enforcement plans https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/53822/-simplify-clean-air-zones-and-centralise-enforcement-plans-

The Government should simplify its plans for charging Clean Air Zones (CAZs), with just two classes of zone instead of four, road transport organisations have said.  The Government’s plans are for charging CAZs classed A-D, each class covering progressively more vehicle types: A: buses, coaches and taxis B: buses, coaches, taxis and heavy goods vehicles C: buses, coaches, taxis, HGVs and light goods vehicles (LGVs) D: buses, coaches, taxis, HGVs, LGVs and cars Responding to the

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Secondary stories Fri, 23 Jun 2017 09:51:00 GMT 53822
Air quality plan modelling not fit for purpose say councils https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/53821/air-quality-plan-modelling-not-fit-for-purpose-say-councils The Government’s air quality monitoring regime is not suitable for identifying pollution hotspots where the imposition of measures such as charging Clean Air Zones (CAZs) are necessary, local authorities and air quality professionals have said.  The comments, contained in responses to the Government’s revised draft air quality plan, highlight the conflict between two different air quality monitoring regimes: the EU’s limit values, which are the Government’s focus; a

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Secondary stories Fri, 23 Jun 2017 09:49:00 GMT 53821
No place for competitive funding https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/53819/-no-place-for-competitive-funding- Government funding for measures to bring about compliance with the EU limit values for nitrogen dioxide should not be allocated through competitive funding streams, Transport for the West Midlands (TfWM) has told ministers. “There is a risk that competitive funding can leave areas without the necessary resource to deliver plans in full,” it says. “In the case of air quality proposals, plans will be required to be implemented in full in order to achieve compliance with legal obl

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In brief Fri, 23 Jun 2017 09:47:00 GMT 53819
HE seeks connected vehicle trials partner https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/53804/he-seeks-connected-vehicle-trials-partner Highways England is to appoint an implementation partner for connected and autonomous vehicle pilot projects.  The two-year contract will commence in mid-August. The supplier will work on projects including:  the A2/M2 connected corridor and EU’s InterCor project UK CITE (Connected Intelligent Transport Environment) Freight platooning Connected and autonomous vehicle testbeds  The contractor will be appointed from Lot 12 of the Crown Commercial Serv

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Regular news Fri, 23 Jun 2017 09:30:00 GMT 53804
Nextbike wins Cardiff bike hire https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/53806/nextbike-wins-cardiff-bike-hire Cardiff’s new bicycle hire scheme is to be operated by Nextbike UK. It will be significantly different from the city’s earlier scheme, operated by OYBike between 2009 and 2011. The City of Cardiff Council is unwilling to provide details ahead of an official announcement, but Nextbike UK managing director Julian Scriven has said the new scheme is expected to involve 500 bikes and 50 docking stations. He hopes to have a scheme sponsor in place by the end of this month, enabling the sch

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In brief Fri, 23 Jun 2017 09:30:00 GMT 53806
DfT builds coach service database https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/53796/dft-builds-coach-service-database The DfT is commissioning a national database of coach services. “To provide comprehensive data across all public transport modes, details of these services need to be present in any public transport planner claiming to offer comprehensive travel options to its customers,” explains the tender notice. The contract for preparing the database runs from August to the end of July next year.

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In brief Fri, 23 Jun 2017 09:26:00 GMT 53796
Mobike chooses Manchester for dockless bike hire pilot https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/53797/mobike-chooses-manchester-for-dockless-bike-hire-pilot

A dockless public bike hire system is to be piloted in Manchester. Chinese firm Mobike will provide 1,000 bikes in the six-month pilot scheme covers central Manchester and Salford. It is due to launch at the end of this month.  Mobike’s first scheme was launched in Shanghai last April and the company now operates in 100 cities across Singapore and China. The Manchester/ Salford trial is its first operation outside Asia.  An app enables users to locate a bike using inbuilt GPS

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Secondary stories Fri, 23 Jun 2017 09:26:00 GMT 53797
AVs and Hyperloop could transform travel patterns https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/53787/avs-and-hyperloop-could-transform-travel-patterns-

Human drivers will quickly have to be banned from roads on which autonomous vehicles are authorised, a transport economist has predicted.  Paul Buchanan, a partner at consultant Volterra, gave an upbeat assessment of a future in which highly autonomous vehicles (AVs) and Hyperloop magnetic levitation technology transform travel patterns.  “I love autonomous vehicles,” he said. The first place he expected them to be permitted was motorways because these were closed to pede

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Secondary stories Fri, 23 Jun 2017 09:21:00 GMT 53787
Uncertainties of disruptive technology occupy transport modellers minds https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/53783/uncertainties-of-disruptive-technology-occupy-transport-modellers-minds

The challenge that disruptive technologies such as autonomous vehicles and Mobility as a Service (MaaS) pose for transport modelling loomed large at this year’s Modelling World event.  Delivering the opening paper, Luis Willumsen, director of Willumsen Advisory Services and Kineo Mobility Analytics, said modellers were faced with huge new uncertainties, making the job of forecasting ever more difficult.  Factors included: political instability; behaviour change; autonomous vehi

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Secondary stories Fri, 23 Jun 2017 09:18:00 GMT 53783
TfL identifies connections with cycling potential https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/53780/tfl-identifies-connections-with-cycling-potential

Transport for London has identified 25 connections in inner and outer London with major potential for more cycling.  The routes were identified through an exercise that began with an analysis of about eight million trips each day that could reasonably be cycled – so-called  ‘cyclable trips’.  The study made use of Cynemon, TfL’s new Cycle Network Model for London. This is a strategic transport model that estimates cycling routes, journey times and flows &

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Regular news Fri, 23 Jun 2017 09:13:00 GMT 53780
Managing the transition to automated mobility https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/53779/managing-the-transition-to-automated-mobility

Milton Keynes central will be the testing ground for a new mobility solution when the roll-out of a fleet of 40 driverless pods begins early next year.  The foundations for the UK Autodrive project were laid in October 2016 with on-street trials of three LUTZ Pathfinder pods in Milton Keynes by Transport Systems Catapult (TSC). The two-seater pods were developed by Oxford University spin-out company Oxbotica and manufactured by Coventry automotive innovation firm RDM. The next generation o

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Regular feature Fri, 23 Jun 2017 09:12:00 GMT 53779
MKs network of AI sensors to monitor travel in real time https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/53774/mk-s-network-of-ai-sensors-to-monitor-travel-in-real-time

Artificial Intelligence (AI) sensors are to be installed at every major junction and council car park in Milton Keynes to monitor movement of vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians in real time. Around 2,500 sensors, provided by UK tech start-up Vivacity Lab, are due to be switched on early next year. The sensors will build up a picture of which areas of the town are most busy and at what times.  “This will provide real-time congestion information that can help with strategic planning a

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Secondary stories Fri, 23 Jun 2017 09:11:00 GMT 53774
Ending concessionary travel isnt on the agenda But tweaking the policy should be https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/53769/ending-concessionary-travel-isn-t-on-the-agenda-but-tweaking-the-policy-should-be

In January the Scottish transport minister Humza Yousaf announced that there would be a consultation on the future of Scotland’s concessionary travel scheme. The current scheme, which was set up in 2006, has faced criticism on the grounds of escalating cost – £207.8m in 2016/17 – and also from bus operators, who have seen reimbursement levels fall in recent years to a new low of 56.9% of the standard adult fare. However, the review is also timely in providing an opportun

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Viewpoint Fri, 23 Jun 2017 09:09:00 GMT 53769
Implement charging CAZs faster say greens https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/53764/implement-charging-cazs-faster-say-greens The Government should accelerate the introduction of Clean Air Zones, with zones covering 58 areas being in place by the end of 2018 rather than 2020, environmental campaign group Friends of the Earth (FoE) has said.  The 58 areas are those that FoE says are projected to have  illegal levels of air pollution in 2019. Each zone should cover all types of vehicle, including cars.  Says FoE: “As requested in the most recent legal challenge by Client Earth, the Government must

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Regular news Fri, 23 Jun 2017 09:04:00 GMT 53764
Taylor succeeds Seal-Driver at DriveNow https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/53760/taylor-succeeds-seal-driver-at-drivenow James Taylor has taken over as managing director of DriveNow UK Ltd following the departure of Joseph Seal-Driver to bike hire firm Ofo UK (LTT 09 Jun). Taylor has worked for DriveNow since 2015, latterly as head of UK marketing. 

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People/people Fri, 23 Jun 2017 08:57:00 GMT 53760
Dixon is Tees Valley CAs transport lead https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/53759/dixon-is-tees-valley-ca-s-transport-lead Bill Dixon, the leader of Darlington Council, has been appointed cabinet member for transport at the Tees Valley Combined Authority, which is chaired by elected mayor Ben Houchen. 

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People/people Fri, 23 Jun 2017 08:57:00 GMT 53759
Robinson leads transport at Liverpool CA https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/53756/robinson-leads-transport-at-liverpool-ca Liam Robinson, the chair of Merseytravel, has been appointed transport portfolio holder for the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority chaired by Labour mayor Steve Rotheram. Rotheram is portfolio holder for policy, finance and resources, digital and innovation. Barrie Grunewald, the leader of St Helens Council, has been appointed portfolio holder for spatial planning, environment and air quality. 

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People/people Fri, 23 Jun 2017 08:55:00 GMT 53756
Halewood joins SYSTRA https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/53755/halewood-joins-systra Phil Halewood has joined the Northern England business unit of SYSTRA Ltd as an associate director. He moves from Celeritas Transport Services Ltd, where he has been involved in bus interchange and rail station devolution projects for Transport for Greater Manchester. 

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People/people Fri, 23 Jun 2017 08:54:00 GMT 53755
Emmerson starts at ambulance service https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/53752/emmerson-starts-at-ambulance-service Transport for London’s former chief operating officer for surface transport, Garrett Emmerson, has begun a new job as chief executive of the London Ambulance Service. 

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People/people Fri, 23 Jun 2017 08:53:00 GMT 53752
RHAs Semple to retire https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/53753/rha-s-semple-to-retire Jack Semple, the Road Haulage Association’s director of policy, will retire at the end of July after ten-and-a-half years with the body. Semple will take a sabbatical before re-entering employment. His replacement at the RHA is deputy policy director Duncan Buchanan, who joined from the DfT last year. 

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People/people Fri, 23 Jun 2017 08:53:00 GMT 53753
Brown quits TfN for Northern Trains https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/53751/brown-quits-tfn-for-northern-trains Transport for the North (TfN) chief executive David Brown will leave in September to become managing director of Arriva Rail North Ltd, operator of the Northern franchise. Brown succeeds Alan Chaplin, who has been acting managing director since February. 

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People/people Fri, 23 Jun 2017 08:52:00 GMT 53751
Norman and Callanan join DfT https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/53750/norman-and-callanan-join-dft Jesse Norman, the MP for Hereford and South Herefordshire, has replaced Andrew Jones as a parliamentary under-secretary of state for transport in the post-General Election reshuffle. Jones has been appointed Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury. Lord Callanan is the new parliamentary under-secretary of state for transport in the Lords, replacing Lord Ahmed. The rest of the DfT’s ministerial team is: Chris Grayling (secretary of state), John Hayes (minister of state), and Paul Maynard (parli

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People/people Fri, 23 Jun 2017 08:49:00 GMT 53750
Major study to assess link between 20mph limit and safety https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/53691/major-study-to-assess-link-between-20mph-limit-and-safety

The road safety benefits of the 20mph speed limit in Edinburgh and Belfast are to be assessed by a three-year study. The study is to be conducted by the University of Edinburgh and the Scottish Collaboration for Public Health Research and Policy. The research will study casualties and traffic accident rates and will also assess rates of cycling and walking and its impact on transport use. The project – the largest of its type in the UK – will also look at wider effects on residents

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Regular news Tue, 13 Jun 2017 15:50:00 GMT 53691
Transport Catapult Systems names IBM's Campion as its new chief executive https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/53684/transport-catapult-systems-names-ibm-s-campion-as-its-new-chief-executive

The Transport Systems Catapult (TSC) has announced that Paul Campion has been appointed as chief executive officer.  Campion joins the TSC from his position leading IBM’s Global Financing in the UK and Ireland. IBM Global Financing is an IT financing house that helps IBM’s clients and partners optimise the financial cases for their IT transformations. He has previously worked in a variety of technical, marketing and sales operational leadership roles for IBM, both in the UK an

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Regular news Fri, 9 Jun 2017 15:09:00 GMT 53684
Mobility as a Service MaaS survey launched https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/53683/mobility-as-a-service-maas-survey-launched The first annual report of Mobility as a Service (MaaS) in the UK will be published by LTT in July. The report will include survey data from those working in transport planning and policy in the UK. To make your voice heard, we are inviting readers of LTT to take part. To take part in the survey please visit the website here The survey will close on Friday 23 June.  

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In brief Fri, 9 Jun 2017 10:41:00 GMT 53683
ScotRail criticised for rethinking bike policy https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/53668/scotrail-criticised-for-rethinking-bike-policy Politicians have criticised ScotRail for going back on a pledge to greatly increase cycle carriage on trains between central Scotland and Inverness/Aberdeen. ScotRail services between Edinburgh/Glasgow and Inverness/Aberdeen are currently operated by Class 170 trains, with each three-car set having capacity for four bikes. The 170s are due to be replaced next summer by 26 refurbished InterCity 125 trains.  In 2015 ScotRail operator Abellio said the 125s would have capacity for 20 cycles.

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Regular news Fri, 9 Jun 2017 10:14:00 GMT 53668
Brexit may cut UK influence on vehicle safety https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/53661/brexit-may-cut-uk-influence-on-vehicle-safety- The UK’s exit from the EU could remove our influence on European vehicle safety standards and weaken the UK’s vehicle safety research community, a vehicle safety expert has said. Consultant Paul Fay, who spent more than 30 years working on vehicle safety for Ford until retiring last year, makes the comments in a paper for the Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety (PACTS).  “The EU currently funds/coordinates most of Europe’s road safety research proje

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Regular news Fri, 9 Jun 2017 10:05:00 GMT 53661
Cyber security fears for connected cars https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/53659/cyber-security-fears-for-connected-cars Cyber security experts said this week that developers of connected and autonomous vehicles are not paying enough attention to the potential for vehicle systems to be hacked.  “The big problem that we foresee is that connectivity is being built into vehicles without necessarily the proper cyber security features,” Peter Vermaat, a principal consultant at TRL told LTT. TRL is working on cyber security projects with universities, governments and the EU. Andrew Martin, professor o

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Secondary stories Fri, 9 Jun 2017 09:58:00 GMT 53659
Morgan Tucker goes into administration https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/53654/morgan-tucker-goes-into-administration Transport and civil engineering consultant Morgan Tucker has gone into administration with the loss of 65 jobs after suffering losses on projects in the Middle East.  Founder Matthew Tucker stepped down as managing director of the Newark-based firm in  February, being replaced by Steve Hall (LTT 03 Mar).  Newark and Sherwood District Council provided a loan to the business in 2015 and was involved in unsuccessful discussions with organisations considering a rescue package. As w

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Regular news Fri, 9 Jun 2017 09:50:00 GMT 53654
Tory website calls for more rail privatisation not less https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/53642/tory-website-calls-for-more-rail-privatisation-not-less With much of what little media commentary there has been in the run up to the General Election focusing on Labour’s plans for rail renationalisation, an interesting commentary on what the Conservatives should do about rail should they win the election appeared on the Conservative Home website on 4 June. Here Tony Lodge, a research fellow at the Centre for Policy Studies (a right-of-centre think tank), conceded that: “In 25 years since the Conservatives privatised the railways, promis

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Media monitor Fri, 9 Jun 2017 09:34:00 GMT 53642
Are we alert to the risks of transports IT connectivity? https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/53639/are-we-alert-to-the-risks-of-transport-s-it-connectivity-

The entire Manchester Metrolink system was shut down one afternoon last month after an information technology (IT) failure resulted in the control room being unable to see the position of trams. The incident might have received more media attention had it not occurred on the quietest day of the week, a Sunday, and only two days after an unrelated ransomware attack disrupted organisations worldwide including the NHS, train operator Deutsche Bahn in Germany, and logistics company FedEx. Less than

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Regular feature Fri, 9 Jun 2017 09:22:00 GMT 53639
Patey is ITS UK chair https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/53637/patey-is-its-uk-chair Ian Patey has taken over as chairman of ITS UK, succeeding Alan Stevens, TRL’s chief scientist, who has completed his two-year term. Patey is head of profession for ITS, at consultant Mouchel – now part of WSP.

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People/people Fri, 9 Jun 2017 09:13:00 GMT 53637
ITS expert Harris joins HMI Technologies https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/53636/its-expert-harris-joins-hmi-technologies Richard Harris has been appointed director – Europe for intelligent transport systems firm HMI Technologies Ltd. He was solution director for international transportation and government at Conduent (formerly Xerox and ACS).

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People/people Fri, 9 Jun 2017 09:13:00 GMT 53636
Cambs mayor names portfolio holders https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/53635/cambs-mayor-names-portfolio-holders James Palmer, the Conservative elected mayor of the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority, has appointed Charles Roberts, the Conservative leader of East Cambridgeshire District Council, as portfolio holder for transport. Lewis Herbert, the Labour leader of Cambridge City Council, has been appointed portfolio holder for strategic planning, a position that includes responsibility for preparing a non-statutory spatial plan. Peter Topping, the Conservative leader of South Cambridgeshir

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People/people Fri, 9 Jun 2017 09:12:00 GMT 53635
Rosscraig leads FirstBus improvements https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/53634/rosscraig-leads-firstbus-improvements Elaine Rosscraig has been appointed to the newly created position of customer service improvement director at First Bus.  Rosscraig joined First earlier this year from the TAS Consultancy. She was previously Stagecoach’s head of customer insight.

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People/people Fri, 9 Jun 2017 09:11:00 GMT 53634
DriveNow UKs chief joins bike firm https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/53633/drivenow-uk-s-chief-joins-bike-firm Joseph Seal-Driver has left his position as chief executive officer of free floating car club DriveNow, to become operations director of Ofo UK, the non-docking bicycle sharing platform, which recently launched in Cambridge. DriveNow, a joint venture of BMW and Sixt, operates in north-east London and has so far failed to expand into new areas (LTT 20 Jan).

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People/people Fri, 9 Jun 2017 09:11:00 GMT 53633
Abrantes joins Highways England https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/53632/abrantes-joins-highways-england

Highways England has appointed Pedro Abrantes (pictured) as its principal economist. Abrantes joins from the Urban Transport Group, where he was senior economist. Paying tribute to him, Urban Transport Group (UTG) director Jonathan Bray said: “Pedro’s ability to get to the heart of complex economic issues quickly, and to explain them clearly, is second to none.” The UTG is not seeking a direct replacement but a recruitment process for an assistant director closed last week.

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People/people Fri, 9 Jun 2017 09:09:00 GMT 53632
Optimising investment in transport in an uncertain future https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/53577/optimising-investment-in-transport-in-an-uncertain-future

We can’t predict future demand, but the transport solutions we help shape will influence that demand. The longer the horizon, the less we know.  Yet our infrastructure can have a lifespan of 30-plus years. Where will we want to go to in 2040,  and when?  What will be the impact of disruptive new technologys such that the connected autonomous car (CAV)? How will socio-economic changes change travel patterns?  To what extent will we work more from home?  What will ha

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Feature Fri, 26 May 2017 11:41:00 GMT 53577
Real time traffic management for Grand Lyon https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/53572/real-time-traffic-management-for-grand-lyon

The EU project Opticities develops and implements real-time decision tool for traffic management based on dynamic simulation. The design is a combination of Grand Lyon’s existing traffic management system and Aimsun Online, which is developed and supported by TSS-Transport Simulation Systems. The tool allows the anticipative monitoring of the traffic in the network based on predetermined warnings by predicting the next hour in real time. By Emmanuel Bert The Opticities project has brought

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Feature Fri, 26 May 2017 11:06:00 GMT 53572
Why cities need mobility disruptive technologies https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/53571/why-cities-need-mobility-disruptive-technologies

There is one thing that cities around the world have in common: their streets are congested with cars, causing traffic jams and accidents, polluting the air and taking up an immense amount of the highly contested urban space. But addressing the symptoms alone is no solution; we also have to face up to the underlying cause: the conventional use of conventional cars. And therefore we need mobility disruptive technologies. There is one thing that almost all cities around the world have in common:

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Feature Fri, 26 May 2017 11:00:00 GMT 53571
No divine right for transport planners https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/53566/no-divine-right-for-transport-planners-

Modern transport planners are not just the sum of their technical skills, or the tools at their disposal. They are not even the sum of their own experience. They are the sum of more than 50 years of hard work, research, innovation and the experiences of many hundreds of thousands of planners and engineers.  Transport planning itself has found its way in an ever-changing world. The rise of the motor vehicle, the emergence of supercomputers, oil shocks, and the re-emergence of sustainable tr

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Feature Fri, 26 May 2017 10:35:00 GMT 53566
Charging CAZs may be only show in town to meet air quality legal limits https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/53563/charging-cazs-may-be-only-show-in-town-to-meet-air-quality-legal-limits

The Government’s draft air quality plan published earlier this month says local authorities should only introduce charging Clean Air Zones (CAZs) if they are unable to identify “equally effective alternatives” for bringing NO2 concentrations down to within the European limit values (LTT 12 May).  Yet, as the accompanying technical report, running to 253 pages, makes clear, in many places charging CAZs are likely to be the only way to comply with the limit value in the sho

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Secondary stories Fri, 26 May 2017 10:24:00 GMT 53563
A modeller's dilemma overfitting or underperforming? https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/53556/a-modeller-s-dilemma-overfitting-or-underperforming-

A transport model is devised with two primary requirements: replicating base year situations and forecasting future year implications.  To achieve an acceptable validation performance, measures are sometimes introduced which compromise the quality of the forecasting performance of the model. Overfitting the base year can undermine the reliability of the forecasting outcomes. This article explores the impact of ‘overfitting’ through three case studies that cover the three model

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Feature Fri, 26 May 2017 10:07:00 GMT 53556
Mobility techs must serve public needs https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/53522/-mobility-techs-must-serve-public-needs-

Central government and transport authorities need to do more to engage with the private sector to ensure that Mobility as a Service (MaaS) is truly customer-based, says Martin Higgitt, Market Director Sustainable Travel and Transport at transport planning consultancy Systra. “I sense at the moment the government is standing back,” he says. “There is this laissez faire attitude to let the market take care of innovation. The public sector needs to be involved. Of course, it need

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Regular feature Fri, 26 May 2017 09:17:00 GMT 53522
Londons couch potatoes are missing out on life https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/53517/london-s-couch-potatoes-are-missing-out-on-life I was shocked to read that, on any given day of the week, a fifth of Londoners make no journeys (‘Fifth of Londoners stay at home all day’ LTT 12 May).  During the coalition Government a transport minister had the task of reducing the need to travel written into his job description. But staying at home all day? Surely that is taking things to the extreme, and an unhealthy extreme at that.  A proportion of these people may be physically incapacitated but I would guess the

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Letters to the editor Fri, 26 May 2017 09:10:00 GMT 53517
Hammett for UK Tram https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/53509/hammett-for-uk-tram James Hammett has been appointed managing director of UK Tram, succeeding Colin Robey. Hammett was general manager.

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People/people Fri, 26 May 2017 08:59:00 GMT 53509
Burnham names Leese as deputy https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/53505/burnham-names-leese-as-deputy Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham has appointed Manchester City Council leader Sir Richard Leese as deputy mayor and lead for business and economy issues.

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People/people Fri, 26 May 2017 08:58:00 GMT 53505
Former Sustrans manager leads Cardiff https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/53504/former-sustrans-manager-leads-cardiff Former Sustrans Cymru project manager Huw Thomas is the  leader elect of the City of Cardiff Council following last month’s local elections, which saw Labour retain control of the council. During the election campaign Thomas, 31, said the council would introduce 20mph zones across his Splott ward. 

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People/people Fri, 26 May 2017 08:58:00 GMT 53504
Dutton joins SDG https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/53503/dutton-joins-sdg Strategic rail engineering specialist John Dutton has joined consultant Steer Davies Gleave as a director. Dutton began his career with Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire county councils. In 2001 he co-founded the rail consultancy Collinson Dutton Ltd with Andy Collinson. It merged with GHD Ltd in 2011. 

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People/people Fri, 26 May 2017 08:57:00 GMT 53503
Oldham heads WSP transport planning https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/53500/oldham-heads-wsp-transport-planning Darren Oldham has been appointed WSP’s head of transport planning in the UK. He was transport planning director at Mouchel Consulting, which WSP acquired from Kier Group last year. From 2009 to 2011 Oldham was chief executive officer of JMP Consultants.

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People/people Fri, 26 May 2017 08:56:00 GMT 53500
Batheram joins Atkins from WSP https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/53501/batheram-joins-atkins-from-wsp Mike Batheram has joined consultant Atkins as client director from WSP, where he was local government director. 

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People/people Fri, 26 May 2017 08:56:00 GMT 53501
Ciaburro leads Northants transport CIC https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/53499/ciaburro-leads-northants-transport-cic

Tony Ciaburro (pictured) has taken up three new posts after stepping down as Northamptonshire County Council’s corporate director for place commissioning last month (LTT 3 Mar). Ciaburro has been appointed chief executive of Societal, the transport Community Interest Company (CIC) being set up by Northamptonshire County Council and the University of Northampton (LTT 17 Mar). He is managing director of Castello Consultancy Services Ltd, specialising in environment, development, transport, w

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People/people Fri, 26 May 2017 08:53:00 GMT 53499
First annual survey of Mobility as a Service MaaS in the UK to be published by Landor LINKS https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/53486/first-annual-survey-of-mobility-as-a-service-maas-in-the-uk-to-be-published-by-landor-links The 32-page report, to be released in July, will map Mobility as a Service developments in the UK, surveying the organisations providing technology and data to enable MaaS, and looking at plans to pilot MaaS in towns and cities. While focusing on the UK, the report will include international perspectives on MaaS development. “This will be a reference point for the wider transport planning and policy industry and a must-read for anyone working in the field.” said Andrew Forster, edit

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Regular news Tue, 23 May 2017 08:49:00 GMT 53486
New event maps out vision for healthy streets https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/53472/new-event-maps-out-vision-for-healthy-streets

Air pollution in the UK kills 25.7 out of every 100,000 people, making it one of the most deadly countries in Western Europe, according to the 2017 Health Statistics from the World Health Organisation. The figures show that, by comparison, morality rates from air pollution are 0.4 per 100,000 in Sweden, 12.1 in the United States, 14.6 in Ireland, 14.7 in Spain and 15.8 in Brazil. Meanwhile, new figures from Kings College London reveal that air pollution in the capital is now worse than levels

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Lead Story Fri, 19 May 2017 08:38:00 GMT 53472
Young peoples travel probed https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/53421/young-people-s-travel-probed The implications of generational changes to travel behaviour are being considered in research for the DfT. Data on car use shows that young adults are driving much less than previous generations. The DfT has commissioned Kiron Chatterjee, an associate professor in travel behaviour at University of West of England’s Centre for Transport and Society,  to assess the causes and implications of the change.  Chatterjee says the trend is not peculiar to the UK and that similar pattern

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Regular news Fri, 12 May 2017 10:28:00 GMT 53421
Fifth of Londoners stay at home all day https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/53399/fifth-of-londoners-stay-at-home-all-day A fifth of Londoners stay at home all day on any given day of the week, thus making no journeys, according to Transport for London. The amount of time the average Londoner spends travelling each day fell more than 10 per cent, from 73 minutes to 66 minutes, between 2006/07 and 2015/16, says TfL.  “In particular, there has been a rise in non-travel, in other words, people staying at home all day and not making any trips,” TfL has told the Commission on Travel Demand. “On

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Lead Story Fri, 12 May 2017 08:42:00 GMT 53399
Enoch appointed professor https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/53396/enoch-appointed-professor Marcus Enoch has been promoted to professor of transport strategy at Loughborough University. He was previously a senior lecturer in transport studies. 

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People/people Fri, 12 May 2017 08:20:00 GMT 53396
Kay joins Sweco from Atkins https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/53394/kay-joins-sweco-from-atkins Stuart Kay has joined consultant Sweco as a principal engineer – operational safety, joining from Atkins where he was a road safety consultant.  

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People/people Fri, 12 May 2017 08:19:00 GMT 53394
Ishfaq is Barnets travel plan adviser https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/53395/ishfaq-is-barnet-s-travel-plan-adviser Safiah Ishfaq has joined consultant Capita as development travel plan adviser for the London Borough of Barnet. She has been development travel plan adviser for the London boroughs of Waltham Forest and Haringey.

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People/people Fri, 12 May 2017 08:19:00 GMT 53395
Osborne remains Powerhouse chairman https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/53393/osborne-remains-powerhouse-chairman Former Chancellor George Osborne is retaining the chairmanship of the Northern Powerhouse Partnership lobby group for the north of England, despite becoming editor of the London Evening Standard last week, and stepping down as the Conservative MP for Tatton, Cheshire, ahead of next month’s General Election. 

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People/people Fri, 12 May 2017 08:18:00 GMT 53393
Adonis appointed permanent NIC chair https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/53392/adonis-appointed-permanent-nic-chair The Government has appointed head of transport as the permanent chair of the National Infrastructure Commission and Lord Armitt as deputy chair. Adonis had led the NIC on an interim basis since its formation in October 2015. He served as a Labour transport secretary from 2009 to 2010 but resigned the Labour whip in 2015 and is now a non-affiliated peer. The Government has also appointed four new NIC commissioners: Dame Kate Barker, Professor David Fisk, Andy Green, and Julia Prescot. T

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People/people Fri, 12 May 2017 08:17:00 GMT 53392
Campion is Catapults new chief https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/53391/campion-is-catapult-s-new-chief Paul Campion has been appointed chief executive officer of the Transport Systems Catapult, succeeding Steve Yianni who  left in January. Campion will take up the position on 7 July. He is currently director of IBM Global Financing and has served as a non-executive director of the Transport Systems Catapult since February 2015. 

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People/people Fri, 12 May 2017 08:17:00 GMT 53391
Hayes is Milton Keynes transport head https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/53390/hayes-is-milton-keynes-transport-head

Steve Hayes (pictured) has been appointed Milton Keynes Council’s new head of transport. He joins from Transport for the West Midlands (TfWM) where he was network development manager. During his time at TfWM he oversaw implementation of the West Midlands Bus Alliance.

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People/people Fri, 12 May 2017 08:15:00 GMT 53390
Real world testbeds for innovation urged https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/53294/real-world-testbeds-for-innovation-urged The Government should designate part of the UK’s transport infrastructure for ‘real world’ testing environments of new technology, according to the UK engineering profession.  The suggestion comes in the Royal Academy of Engineering’s (RAE) submission to the Government’s industrial strategy consultation. The RAE calls for a UK-wide network of ‘national innovation assets’ where tests could be conducted.  It also wants a network of ‘chief

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Regular news Fri, 28 Apr 2017 10:09:00 GMT 53294
School travel plan activity at low ebb https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/53275/school-travel-plan-activity-at-low-ebb School travel planning activity in Buckinghamshire has collapsed because of funding pressures on the county council, a scrutiny inquiry has revealed.  In 2004 the Labour Government set a target for all schools in England to have a travel plan by 2010, with the aim of cutting home to school car trips. The Government provided funding for councils to appoint school travel advisors and to deliver travel plan measures.  The funding ceased following the election of the coalition Government

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Regular news Fri, 28 Apr 2017 09:25:00 GMT 53275
New active travel fund https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/53274/new-active-travel-fund The DfT is inviting bids to a £470,000 fund for projects to encourage walking or cycling.  The Small Business Research Initiative has two phases:  • Proof of concept, worth up to £170,000. Individual awards are likely to be up to £25,000, and projects will last up to 15 weeks. • Demonstration, worth up to £300,000. A maximum of £100,000 per contract, with projects lasting up to nine months. The competition is open to individuals, groups and o

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Regular news Fri, 28 Apr 2017 09:24:00 GMT 53274
Active travel caught in Catch 22 https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/53273/active-travel-caught-in-catch-22- Active travel investment is caught in a ‘Catch 22’ situation, with a lack of evidence for its effects undermining the case for more spending, a consultant has told the DfT.  Brook Lyndhurst was commissioned by the DfT to review the research evidence on the impacts of walking and cycling investment.  The report discusses findings from studies into matters such as trip rates, health, absenteeism and local economies. But it concludes: “The situation appears to have the

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Regular news Fri, 28 Apr 2017 09:21:00 GMT 53273
Pester succeeds Troy at BPA https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/53256/pester-succeeds-troy-at-bpa Andrew Pester has been appointed chief executive of the British Parking Association, succeeding Patrick Troy who resigned in February for personal reasons. 

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People/people Fri, 28 Apr 2017 08:30:00 GMT 53256
Kraven is TAGs new president https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/53255/kraven-is-tag-s-new-president Alan Kraven will take over as president of the Local Government Technical Advisers Group (TAG) on 8 May. Kraven, a service development manager with FM Conway, succeeds Rob Gillespie, a service director at Ringway Hounslow Highways. John Lamb moves up to become TAG’s senior vice president. 

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People/people Fri, 28 Apr 2017 08:30:00 GMT 53255
Turfitt named Senior Traffic Commissioner https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/53254/turfitt-named-senior-traffic-commissioner Transport minister John Hayes has appointed Richard Turfitt as Senior Traffic Commissioner. Turfitt is the traffic commissioner for the East of England and will take on the additional duties on 1 June from Beverley Bell, who is retiring. Traffic commissioners are responsible for the regulation of bus, coach and goods vehicle operators, and the registration of local bus services.

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People/people Fri, 28 Apr 2017 08:29:00 GMT 53254
Bowkett joins Arcadis from Peter Brett https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/53252/bowkett-joins-arcadis-from-peter-brett Helen Bowkett has joined consultant Arcadis as a senior technical director from Peter Brett Associates where she was a senior associate.

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People/people Fri, 28 Apr 2017 08:28:00 GMT 53252
Mudhar joins M-EC https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/53253/mudhar-joins-m-ec Amrit Mudhar has joined M-EC Consulting Development Engineers as a senior transport planner from Peter Brett Associates, where she was a senior transport planner. 

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People/people Fri, 28 Apr 2017 08:28:00 GMT 53253
Wilson joins Tees Valley from NECA https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/53250/wilson-joins-tees-valley-from-neca Mark Wilson has joined the Tees Valley Combined Authority as head of transport policy. He was head of transport policy at the North East Combined Authority. Helen Mathews, head of corporate planning at Nexus, has been appointed interim head of transport policy at NECA.

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People/people Fri, 28 Apr 2017 08:27:00 GMT 53250
Kelly is DfTs new permanent secretary https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/53249/kelly-is-dft-s-new-permanent-secretary

Bernadette Kelly (pictured) has been appointed the DfT’s new permanent secretary following Philip Rutnam’s move to become permanent secretary at the Home Office (LTT 31 Mar). Kelly joined the DfT in September 2015 as director general of the rail group. Before that she was director general for business and local growth at the Department for Business, Innovation and Skill.

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People/people Fri, 28 Apr 2017 08:25:00 GMT 53249
DfT seeks innovations that will boost cycling and walking https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/53224/dft-seeks-innovations-that-will-boost-cycling-and-walking The Department for Transport (DfT) is seeking innovations that encourage more people to make journeys by bike or on foot. An open competition was launched today, which will run through the Small Research Business Initiative (SRBI). The DfT said it would fund projects that propose innovative means of tackling the barriers to walking and cycling. Entries should outline ideas that make it easier for people to cycle to work, improve the image of cycling, make cycling feel safer for teenagers and wo

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Regular news Wed, 19 Apr 2017 15:39:00 GMT 53224
Contributory factors to bus ridership decline highlighted https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/53214/contributory-factors-to-bus-ridership-decline-highlighted The challenges facing bus operators and local authorities in growing bus ridership are highlighted in a new report.  The  by analyst Passenger Transport Intelligence Services examines  contributory factors to recent bus ridership trends across Britain.  Report author Chris Cheek believes the regulatory environment has little impact on observed trends. “The hope of every Government which seeks to reform the industry is to end the decline in bus patronage and ensure fut

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Secondary stories Thu, 13 Apr 2017 10:15:00 GMT 53214
Free cycle taxi hire for Hackney https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/53209/free-cycle-taxi-hire-for-hackney A cycle taxi service has been launched in the London Borough of Hackney, providing a free service for the elderly and people with mobility difficulties. The Ride Side by Side scheme is run by Cycle Training UK, and funded by Hackney, Transport for London and the DfT. It uses custom-built four-wheeled vehicles. The service will run every Tuesday throughout the spring and summer and can be booked online or by phone. 

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In brief Thu, 13 Apr 2017 10:06:00 GMT 53209
TfL adds cycle routes to open data https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/53208/tfl-adds-cycle-routes-to-open-data Transport for London has added mapping data of its eight cycle superhighways and one Quietway to its open data portal, to allow their incorporation into apps and websites.

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In brief Thu, 13 Apr 2017 10:05:00 GMT 53208
Councils need travel behaviour specialists' https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/53201/-councils-need-travel-behaviour-specialists- Councils should employ psychologists in their transport teams because influencing  behaviour is so central to policy, a politician has said.  Bert Biscoe, Cornwall’s cabinet member for transport, told colleagues: “After four years in this office I have come to the conclusion that, as well as excellent engineers, project managers, strategists and contractors, we would benefit from embracing the disciplines of psychology.  “I’m not sure if a profession of t

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Regular news Thu, 13 Apr 2017 09:55:00 GMT 53201
Government awards 31m to CAV projects https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/53194/government-awards-31m-to-cav-projects The government has awarded £31m to 24 connected and autonomous vehicle projects. One project to receive funds is the Cambridge autonomous bus system feasibility study, which could lead to driverless minibuses operating over part of the Cambridgeshire guided busway (LTT 17 Mar). Another successful project is CAPRI (Connected and Autonomous POD on-Road Implementation). It has secured more than £4.2m of the funding from Innovate UK and the Centre for Connected & Autonomous Vehicle

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Regular news Thu, 13 Apr 2017 09:46:00 GMT 53194
Forum for young professionals https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/53191/forum-for-young-professionals A forum for young transport professionals has been launched by the Chartered Institution for Highways and Transportation. The national young professionals network is chaired by Ed Downer, a principal transport planner with Jacobs in Manchester, and will have its own section on the CIHT website. For more details contact: communications@ciht.org.uk

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In brief Thu, 13 Apr 2017 09:29:00 GMT 53191
Making the right connections https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/53178/making-the-right-connections

There has been plenty of debate across West Yorkshire and beyond about the Leeds to Bradford Cycle Superhighway, which was completed last summer. The 23km route – the flagship of the CityConnect project – is the largest scheme of its kind outside of London. Questions have been raised about the route’s impact on traffic levels, the safety of bus stop bypasses for passengers and whether it will encourage people who have never cycled before to get in the saddle for everyday journ

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Regular feature Thu, 13 Apr 2017 09:10:00 GMT 53178
London-West Mids to host CAV test facilities https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/53175/london-west-mids-to-host-cav-test-facilities The Government is to create a ‘cluster of excellence’ for connected and autonomous vehicle testing between London and Birmingham. A £55m fund to support up to four test facilities – including up to two on public roads – has been announced by the Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (CCAV), a joint policy unit of the DfT and the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy. Facilities must be in a rectangular area, which starts from the north-w

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Regular news Thu, 13 Apr 2017 09:10:00 GMT 53175
Pro-cycling policies have hit capital's bus ridership https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/53168/pro-cycling-policies-have-hit-capital-s-bus-ridership I was not surprised to read three articles in the last issue, all of which amounted to “stating the bleedin’ obvious”. On the front page Transport for London has accepted that its own work to encourage cycling and walking has compromised bus services (‘TfL abandons plan to reverse capital’s bus ridership decline’ LTT 31 Mar). Secondly, a Campaign to Protect Rural England-commissioned report came up with the findings that “new roads fail to live up

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Letters to the editor Thu, 13 Apr 2017 09:01:00 GMT 53168
Mayoral candidates present their priorities for transport https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/53167/mayoral-candidates-present-their-priorities-for-transport

Candidates to become the elected mayors leading six combined authorities (CAs) in England have set out their plans to improve local transport networks. Inaugural mayoral elections are taking place on 4 May for CAs covering the West Midlands; Greater Manchester; Liverpool City Region; Tees Valley; Cambridgeshire and Peterborough; and the West of England (Bristol, South Gloucestershire and Bath & North East Somerset).  Local elections are also being held in: 35 English councils (27 coun

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Lead Story Thu, 13 Apr 2017 09:01:00 GMT 53167
Reimbursement appeals a hazardous route for operators https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/53166/reimbursement-appeals-a-hazardous-route-for-operators Ray Bentley may be unaware that many operators have used the appeal system (Letters LTT 31 Mar), but I would liken it to playing Russian roulette with five bullets in the chamber. One large private operator ended up £350,000 per annum worse off.  The appeals system amounts to the DfT auditing its own guidance, one of the many farces of the concessionary fares system. I assume the appeals are confidential as they include much of the operator’s financial data.

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Letters to the editor Thu, 13 Apr 2017 08:59:00 GMT 53166
Coates steps down as NEG bus boss https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/53159/coates-steps-down-as-neg-bus-boss Paul Thomas is to take over as managing director of National Express Group’s UK bus division on 1 May, succeeding Peter Coates. Thomas is currently chief operating officer for National Express West Midlands, having re-joined the group in 2014 from FirstGroup, where he had been managing director of c will continue working with National Express until retiring next year.

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People/people Thu, 13 Apr 2017 08:51:00 GMT 53159
Tuck joins SDGs economy team https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/53157/tuck-joins-sdg-s-economy-team Fiona Tuck has joined consultant Steer Davies Gleave as an associate in its new economic development business. She was head of research at economic research and strategy consultancy Trends Business Research Ltd. 

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People/people Thu, 13 Apr 2017 08:49:00 GMT 53157
Phil Jones Associates recruits engineers https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/53156/phil-jones-associates-recruits-engineers Birmingham-based transport planning consultant Phil Jones Associates (PJA) has appointed nine engineers for the launch of PJA Engineering, which will deliver land development services, including infrastructure design. The staff are: Mike Poland, Becky Lowe, Chris Johnson, Sara Bizzoca, Dan McCrudden, Jenny Mullen, Gemma Fuller, Arron Tullett and Conor Balant. 

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People/people Thu, 13 Apr 2017 08:48:00 GMT 53156
SYSTRA recruits to Manchester office https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/53155/systra-recruits-to-manchester-office Consultant SYSTRA has appointed four new staff to its Manchester office. Carl Peers joins as an associate director from development planning consultancy i-Transport LLP, where he was an associate. Gabriella Sala joins as an associate director from consultant MiC in Milan, where she was a senior consultant. David Weir joins as an associate director from Curtins Consulting, where he was an associate for infrastructure. Peter Black joins the environmental team as an associate, specialising in devel

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People/people Thu, 13 Apr 2017 08:46:00 GMT 53155
Whittaker joins WSP from Arup https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/53152/whittaker-joins-wsp-from-arup

Bryan Whittaker (pictured) has been appointed a director of consultant WSP|Parsons Brinckerhoff in the UK, joining from Arup, where he was an associate director. 

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People/people Thu, 13 Apr 2017 08:44:00 GMT 53152
Report into Southern Rail contract failures to moot possible break-up of deal claims The Times https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/53142/report-into-southern-rail-contract-failures-to-moot-possible-break-up-of-deal-claims-the-times

A report ordered by the DfT into problems at Southern Rail is set to suggest moving some services to other operators as part of moves to encourage the rail firm to focus on increasing capacity on peak-time commuter routes, according to The Times. The article by the newspaper, on the report the DfT has received but yet to publish, claims that the report by Chris Gibbs will recommend steps to reduce the size of the Govia Thameslink Railway franchise while criticising timetabling, with "empty trai

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Regular news Sun, 9 Apr 2017 20:16:00 GMT 53142
The second biggest prize in economics LTT readers await the results https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/53066/the-second-biggest-prize-in-economics-ltt-readers-await-the-results Without question, a Nobel Prize would be the pinnacle of any economist’s ambition, but let’s be realistic: this is usually for people who have a worldwide reputation for fundamental theoretical work over a lifetime of study. Don’t get me wrong, but I don’t think that even the most eminent of our readership include many contenders. But the second biggest prize, well, that’s a different matter. This is the Wolfson Economics Prize, an award of £250,000 made by th

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Phil Goodwin Fri, 31 Mar 2017 09:07:00 GMT 53066
Maas better than owning a car? https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/53068/maas-better-than-owning-a-car-

The West Midlands is shortly to become the first region to pilot Mobility as Service (MaaS) to its residents. MaaS brings several modes of travel together, combining options from different transport providers into a single mobile service, so removing the hassle of planning and one-off payments. It’s rather like a mobile phone package, where users choose set amounts of data, minutes and texts, although MaaS users would opt for a tailored package of public transport access, taxi use and car

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Regular feature Fri, 31 Mar 2017 09:06:00 GMT 53068
Lamp post charging could speed up capitals EV take-up https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/53056/lamp-post-charging-could-speed-up-capital-s-ev-take-up Borough association London Councils is gauging borough interest in lamp post electric vehicle charging points, which could offer a quick and relatively low cost way of expanding charging facilities on residential streets. The Government awarded London £13m last January from the Go Ultra Low City Scheme for a programme of works to encourage the uptake of electric vehicles. The funding will be used for four purposes: residential charging points, car club charging points, rapid charging poin

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Secondary stories Fri, 31 Mar 2017 08:58:00 GMT 53056
Smyth leaves CPRE https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/53045/smyth-leaves-cpre

Ralph Smyth (pictured) is leaving his position as head of infrastructure and legal at the Campaign to Protect Rural England at the end of April. Smyth is undertaking an MBA at Warwick Business School and will continue to conduct some consultancy work for CPRE.

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People/people Fri, 31 Mar 2017 08:42:00 GMT 53045
DfTs HS2 director leaves for Oxford Uni https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/53039/dft-s-hs2-director-leaves-for-oxford-uni David Prout, the DfT’s director general for HS2, is leaving to take up the position of Pro Vice-Chancellor for planning and resources at the University of Oxford. Prout will leave the DfT at the end of June. He has held the HS2 position since 2013.

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People/people Fri, 31 Mar 2017 08:41:00 GMT 53039
Rutnam leaves DfT for Home Office https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/53038/rutnam-leaves-dft-for-home-office DfT permanent secretary Philip Rutnam is leaving to become permanent secretary at the Home Office. Rutnam moves on 3 April. He joined the DfT as permanent secretary in 2012 from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. A civil service competition has been launched to find Rutnam’s successor. In the interim, Jonathan Moor, director general of the DfT’s resources and strategy group, will take up the position of acting permanent secretary. 

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People/people Fri, 31 Mar 2017 08:40:00 GMT 53038
Four select committees unite to investigate air quality https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/52986/four--committees-unite-to-investigate-air-quality MPs from four select committees have combined forces to launch what they call an “unprecedented”

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Regular news Mon, 20 Mar 2017 18:03:00 GMT 52986
Transport Scotland procures public transport ePurse https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/52958/transport-scotland-procures-public-transport-epurse Transport Scotland has launched the procurement process for a national public transport ePurse and new back office system to support smart ticketing. An information day for prospective bidders is being held next week. Two contracts will be procured: one for delivering a national ePurse and the other for a back office system to process payments. A Transport Scotland spokeswoman told LTT: “We have worked closely with public transport operators to define the requirements for the new nationa

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Lead Story Fri, 17 Mar 2017 09:32:00 GMT 52958
Driverless minibuses plan for Cambridge guided busway https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/52932/driverless-minibuses-plan-for-cambridge-guided-busway

Autonomous minibuses could be trialled on the Cambridgeshire guided busway.  Smart Cambridge, a partnership of public and private sector organisations, has commissioned the University of Cambridge’s engineering department to study the “potential application of autonomous vehicles on the busway”, Aaron Blowers, project manager for the Greater Cambridge City Deal, told councillors this month. Driverless minibuses would  connect academic, medical and business campuses

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Lead Story Fri, 17 Mar 2017 09:10:00 GMT 52932
Promote autonomous public transport and freight peers https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/52926/promote-autonomous-public-transport-and-freight--peers

The Government’s interest in autonomous vehicles is too focused on cars at the expense of wider applications such as in public transport, freight, and agriculture, according to a new report from a House of Lords committee.  “The Government must not allow hype and media attention around driverless cars to cause it to lose sight of the many potential benefits that CAV [connected and autonomous vehicles] can provide in areas outside the roads sector and within the roads sector for

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Lead Story Fri, 17 Mar 2017 09:01:00 GMT 52926
TfL misses ridership target on every mode https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/52913/tfl-misses-ridership-target-on-every-mode Passenger numbers on every form of public transport operated by Transport for London has been below expectations in 2016/17, according to latest figures released by Transport for London.  The figures for the 2016/17 financial year as far as 4 February show: • Buses: 65 million fewer trips (3.3%); 1.91 billion versus 1.97bn forecast • London Underground: 21.1 million fewer trips (1.8%); 1.16bn versus 1.184bn forecast • TfL Rail (Liverpool Street to Shenfield services): 800

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Regular news Fri, 17 Mar 2017 08:45:00 GMT 52913
Carson to oversee Tyne and Wear Metro https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/52902/carson-to-oversee-tyne-and-wear-metro Nexus has appointed Chris Carson as Metro services director to oversee the Tyne and Wear Metro, which transfers from DB Regio to Nexus on 1 April. Carson, 45, has been operations and safety director at DB Regio since February last year, and has 20 years experience in the rail sector. 

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People/people Fri, 17 Mar 2017 08:25:00 GMT 52902
Brereton joins Landor Links https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/52903/brereton-joins-landor-links Dion Brereton has joined Landor Links as exhibition and events manager. He was previously an account manager at events company Marcus Evans in Barcelona, and is a former professional musician, having played drums for the Pasadenas.

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People/people Fri, 17 Mar 2017 08:25:00 GMT 52903
Two new Traffic Commissioners named https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/52901/two-new-traffic-commissioners-named Two new traffic commissioners have been appointed by transport secretary Chris Grayling. Tim Blackmore OBE will cover the North East of England, succeeding Kevin Rooney who took over the West of England last October. Simon Evans will cover the North West, taking over from Beverley Bell who steps down this spring. Blackmore currently leads the British Forces Post Office. Evans is currently deputy traffic commissioner for the North West. Both appointments take effect in May. Grayling has also appo

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People/people Fri, 17 Mar 2017 08:23:00 GMT 52901
Yianni quits Transport Catapult https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/52900/yianni-quits-transport-catapult Steve Yianni has left his post as chief executive of the Transport Systems Catapult after three-and-a-half years. Mark Ruddy has taken over as interim chief executive officer, conducting the duties alongside his role as chief operating officer.

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People/people Fri, 17 Mar 2017 08:22:00 GMT 52900
Vaughan leads Metrolink https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/52899/vaughan-leads-metrolink Transport for Greater Manchester has appointed Danny Vaughan as head of Metrolink, succeeding Peter Cushing who has overseen delivery of the Metrolink expansion programme, which culminated with the opening of the second city crossing last month (LTT 03 Mar). Vaughan has been Cushing’s deputy since joining TfGM in 2013 from Luas, Dublin’s light rail network. Cushing will continue working part-time to oversee the change in Metrolink operator from RATP Dev UK Ltd to KeolisAmey in July.&

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People/people Fri, 17 Mar 2017 08:21:00 GMT 52899
Gilligan is SYPTEs public transport head https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/52898/gilligan-is-sypte-s-public-transport-head South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive has appointed Ben Gilligan as its new director of public transport. Gilligan was managing director of First South Yorkshire and First York from 2013 to 2015. Since then he has run his own consultancy and served as business development director at Flash Forward Consulting.

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People/people Fri, 17 Mar 2017 08:20:00 GMT 52898
Car club membership approaching 14000 in Wandsworth https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/52752/car-club-membership-approaching-14-000-in-wandsworth Almost 14,000 bling to shared car schemes in Wandsworth, which lays claim to having London’s highest level of car club membership. The council said that car club members tend to drive only when they really need to – much less than car owners – therefore having a club in the borough h

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Regular news Thu, 2 Mar 2017 12:14:00 GMT 52752
Tougher penalties for misusing mobiles when driving https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/52751/tougher-penalties-for-misusing-mobiles-when-driving

Penalties for using a phone at the wheel of a car double from 1 March to six points and a £200 fine. These form part of a range of tougher sanctions designed to reduce driver distraction. Drivers caught using a phone within two years of passing their test will have their licence revoked under new rules in England, Scotland and Wales. New drivers who get six points or more must retake their practical and theory. More experienced drivers can be banned if they get 12 points in three years.

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Regular news Wed, 1 Mar 2017 12:08:00 GMT 52751
Electric Nation starts installing free smart chargers https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/52995/electric-nation-starts-installing-free-smart-chargers

Electric vehicle owners are starting to have free smart chargers installed as a result of their participation in the Electric Nation project. The electric vehicle (EV) chargers will play an important role in a research project to ensure that the UK’s local electricity networks can cope with the ever-growing numbers of electric cars. The UK electricity grid currently has sufficient capacity to deliver power to electric vehicles, however if clusters of EVs develop in local areas and they

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Regular news Fri, 24 Feb 2017 16:04:00 GMT 52995
Traffic congestion costs London over 30bn a year claims INRIX https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/52743/traffic-congestion-costs-london-over-30bn-a-year-claims-inrix The UK has been ranked as the fourth most congested developed country in the world and the third most congested in Europe in an index of global traffic. British drivers spending an average of 32 hours a year in congestion during peak hours, according to INRIX Research. The INRIX Global Traffic Scorecard analyses and ranks the impact of traffic congestion in 1,064 cities across 38 countries worldwide. Some 87 cities and large urban areas were analysed across the UK, and the direct and indirect c

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Regular news Mon, 20 Feb 2017 10:44:00 GMT 52743
Building connected communities https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/52711/building-connected-communities

The pitfall of focusing solely on efficacy or cost is that it’s often to the detriment of human experience; both psychological and physiological. However, over recent years, we’ve seen a positive change towards attitudes to health and wellbeing of people and communities.  Originally developed for use in the built environment, WellBriefingTM enables the most influential factors on health and wellbeing to be prioritised. Some of these, including noise, movement and air quality, a

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Regular feature Fri, 17 Feb 2017 09:52:00 GMT 52711
Electricity companies are plugging in to electric vehicles https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/52703/electricity-companies-are-plugging-in-to-electric-vehicles You recently reported that energy company ENGIE has told the National Infrastructure Commission that companies bringing electricity from the National Grid to homes and businesses must do more to promote electric vehicles (“Electricity supply ‘must support EVs’” LTT 20 Jan). Whilst there may be justification for a general comment such as this, it should be highlighted that a number of Distribution Network Operators (DNOs) are involved in projects to make sure that Britain

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Letters to the editor Fri, 17 Feb 2017 09:36:00 GMT 52703
In Passing https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/52696/in-passing We’ve been critical of the secrecy surrounding the Local Growth Fund in the past: large sums of public money awarded to business-led Local Enterprise Partnerships whose bids are typically drawn up with no public engagement whatsoever. But it gets worse, because the press releases issued to announce the funding awards from the latest round have the distinct feel of being written by someone who can’t be bothered telling us anything of value. Greater Manchester’s £130m award

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In Passing Fri, 17 Feb 2017 09:32:00 GMT 52696
Public debate on travel demand https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/52685/public-debate-on-travel-demand The Commission on Travel Demand has announced a public debate after its first evidence meeting in Leeds on the 7 March. The debate topic is: ‘This house believes that forecasting has had its day’. Booking is required to attend the event, which runs from 17.30 to 18.45 at the Institute for Transport Studies, University of Leeds. Contact Zoe Clough to reserve a place. Email: z.clough@leeds.ac.uk

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In brief Fri, 17 Feb 2017 09:19:00 GMT 52685
AVs must consider needs of disabled https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/52681/avs-must-consider-needs-of-disabled- The needs of the disabled must be fully considered in the design of autonomous vehicles (AVs) and in policies governing their use, according to consultancy Not for Profit Planning. David Hunter, who runs the Edinburgh-based consultant, says: “It is easy to envisage the advantages that on-demand driverless vehicles would offer to many people with a disability especially for those who cannot currently drive, such as people with visual impairments, conditions such as epilepsy and certain phys

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In brief Fri, 17 Feb 2017 09:16:00 GMT 52681
Network Rail Consulting opens in Toronto https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/52666/network-rail-consulting-opens-in-toronto Network Rail Consulting has opened a Canadian subsidiary based in Toronto, led by Susanne Manaigre in the post of vice president. Manaigre has more than 30 years experience in the rail sector and will report to Ron Hartman, Network Rail Consulting’s president for North America. Nigel Ash is managing director of Network Rail Consulting.

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People/people Fri, 17 Feb 2017 08:46:00 GMT 52666
Woodward is Leeds high-speed rail prof https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/52665/woodward-is-leeds-high-speed-rail-prof Peter Woodward has been appointed professor of high-speed rail engineering at the University of Leeds. Woodward is currently the Atkins professor of high-speed railways at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh. At Leeds he will be responsible for developing a new Institute for High Speed Rail Engineering, specialising in train-track interaction and infrastructure systems.

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People/people Fri, 17 Feb 2017 08:44:00 GMT 52665
Hazel leads MaaS in Scotland https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/52664/hazel-leads-maas-in-scotland George Hazel has been appointed programme manager for the Scottish Mobility as a Service (MaaS) alliance, a network of more than 50 companies developing MaaS applications. Hazel, who runs the George Hazel Consultancy, will work on the project for 2.5 days a week for the next year. He is also a strategic advisor to peer-to-peer car sharing company Hiyacar Ltd. 

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People/people Fri, 17 Feb 2017 08:44:00 GMT 52664
Yellowlees retires from ScotRail https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/52663/yellowlees-retires-from-scotrail John Yellowlees, ScotRail’s external relations manager, has retired. He has been appointed ScotRail’s first ‘Honorary Rail Ambassador’. 

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People/people Fri, 17 Feb 2017 08:43:00 GMT 52663
Drury joins DfTs modelling team https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/52662/drury-joins-dft-s-modelling-team Craig Drury has been appointed principal transport modeller at the DfT, joining from Highways England where he was a senior transport planning and economics advisor.

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People/people Fri, 17 Feb 2017 08:42:00 GMT 52662
Salter joins Mott MacDonald from Cambs https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/52661/salter-joins-mott-macdonald-from-cambs Mike Salter has been appointed transport planning projects director at consultant Mott MacDonald. He joins from Cambridgeshire County Council where he was transport assessment manager/ transport and infrastructure strategy manager. 

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People/people Fri, 17 Feb 2017 08:41:00 GMT 52661
Ciaburro to retire from Northants https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/52660/ciaburro-to-retire-from-northants

Tony Ciaburro (pictured), Northamptonshire County Council’s corporate director for place commissioning, is to retire at the end of April. Ciaburro has been a driving force for the England’s Economic Heartland strategic transport forum and the council’s proposed social enterprise company for passenger transport (LTT 25 Nov 16). He joined Northants in 2008 from Essex County Council where he had been director for development, highways and transportation. Before Essex he worked for

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People/people Fri, 17 Feb 2017 08:34:00 GMT 52660
How do we get people into public transport asks UITP https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/52641/how-do-we-get-people-into-public-transport-asks-uitp

“How do you attract the best talent to help improve public transport?” Mohamed Mezghani, the deputy secretary general of the International Association of Public Transport (UITP), asked in The Guardian on 6 February.  “Faced with fierce competition from more ‘glamorous’ industries such as airlines, car manufacturers, financial services and tech startups, public transport has sometimes struggled to be seen as the place for a great career. “Public transpor

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Media monitor Fri, 17 Feb 2017 07:44:00 GMT 52641
Collaboration key to rail station development balancing railway and commercial aims - summit chair https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/52619/collaboration-key-to-rail-station-development-balancing-railway-and-commercial-aims--summit-chair

A Government announcement tasking Network Rail with the delivery of 10,000 homes, a more than fivefold increase on its last five-year investment period, was followed by the housing white paper’s call to further increase housing densities at hubs. At the same time, rail travel continues to grow and this growing number of rail passengers also needs to be accommodated.     Philip Beer, partner, law firm Burgess Salmon, said there was a need to balance the needs of the operational r

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Regular news Wed, 8 Feb 2017 10:56:00 GMT 52619
What matters most when we create liveable cities? We need to go back to first principles and talk about people says Allison Dutoit Gehl Architects https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/52589/what-matters-most-when-we-create-liveable-cities-we-need-to-go-back-to-first-principles-and-talk-about-people-says-allison-dutoit-gehl-architects

A cycling strategy is not only about getting more people on bikes. It’s about positive development and health, it’s about safety, social equality and well-being. That's what cycling and walking strategies can deliver. Policy, planning and urban design is part of the mix: it’s about tying these things together, and it transcends a transport plan. We need to change the conversation. We need to go back to first principles and talk about people. This includes understanding how we d

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Regular feature Fri, 3 Feb 2017 09:45:00 GMT 52589
Committing to walking and cycling planning https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/52585/committing-to-walking-and-cycling-planning

The ambitious targets range from doubling cycling, reversing the decline in walking activity, reducing cyclist fatalities or serious injuries and increasing the number of children (aged 5-10 years) walking to school. The benefits are far-reaching, from encouraging local economic growth, to positively impacting health and well-being and promoting sustainable transport modes. However local authorities must recognise the true value the strategy can bring, and commit to developing bespoke plans for

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Regular feature Fri, 3 Feb 2017 09:35:00 GMT 52585
No more nudges? https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/52559/no-more-nudges- Champions of ‘smarter choice’ travel behaviour change measures such as personal travel plans and car sharing can sometimes be heard grumbling that, no matter what evidence they present, some people just seem unwilling to believe in the value of the interventions. The sceptics will be emboldened by the DfT’s release this week of a new report by the Behavioural Insights Team (BIT) into low cost travel behaviour interventions applied at Heathrow Airport. The BIT is a social purpo

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Main editorial comment Fri, 3 Feb 2017 09:09:00 GMT 52559
The future will be different so where's the wisdom in major infrastructure planning? https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/52561/the-future-will-be-different-so-where-s-the-wisdom-in-major-infrastructure-planning-

We may not be able to predict what the future of transport will be, but we can be sure of what it will not be. And we can be wiser. There is no need to scan deeply into the horizon to spot the green shoots of change: they are everywhere to see. We may not be sure exactly what shape it will take, but we know that the revolution in transportation and travel habits is going to be big. Increased robotics are already in every new vehicle: assisted parking, sensors, automated efficiency, and even sof

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Viewpoint Fri, 3 Feb 2017 09:09:00 GMT 52561
Dates for travel demand inquiry https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/52560/dates-for-travel-demand-inquiry The Commission on Travel Demand has announced the dates of its evidence hearings,  each of which will include a public event. The Commission is exploring future travel demand in the UK and how it can be consistent with the UK’s Climate Change Act targets (LTT 06 Jan). The project is part of Research Council UK’s DEMAND (Dynamics of energy, mobility and demand) Centre.  Dates, venues and topics are: • 7 March – Leeds – Understanding demand • 4 May &

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Regular news Fri, 3 Feb 2017 09:09:00 GMT 52560
Hughes is Urban Transport Group chair https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/52556/hughes-is-urban-transport-group-chair Tobyn Hughes, managing director of transport operations for the North East Combined Authority, has been appointed the new chair of the Urban Transport Group on a two-year term. He succeeds Jon Lamonte, chief executive of Transport for Greater Manchester.

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People/people Fri, 3 Feb 2017 09:03:00 GMT 52556
McGuinness quits Nexus for CPT https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/52555/mcguinness-quits-nexus-for-cpt Andrew McGuinness has joined the Confederation of Passenger Transport as regional manager for the Northern and Yorkshire regions. He moves from Nexus where he was community relations officer. He succeeds Steve Noble (Northern) and Keith McNally (Yorkshire).

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People/people Fri, 3 Feb 2017 09:02:00 GMT 52555
Verster heads East West Rail as Hynes moves to ScotRail Alliance https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/52554/verster-heads-east-west-rail-as-hynes-moves-to-scotrail-alliance Phil Verster has been appointed managing director of the Government’s East West Rail project to build a railway between Oxford and Cambridge. He will report to recently appointed project chair Rob Brighouse. Verster was managing director of the ScotRail Alliance, the ‘deep alliance’ between Network Rail and ScotRail franchise holder Abellio. Alex Hynes has been appointed Verster’s replacement in Scotland. He is currently managing director of Arriva Rail North. Welcoming H

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People/people Fri, 3 Feb 2017 09:00:00 GMT 52554
Thurston leaves CH2M to lead HS2 https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/52553/thurston-leaves-ch2m-to-lead-hs2 Mark Thurston has been appointed the new chief executive officer of HS2 Ltd, succeeding Simon Kirby who left last year to join Rolls Royce. Thurston is currently regional managing director of consultant CH2M’s European operations, which includes those in the UK. He has worked for the Nichols Group, Metronet, and joined CH2M in 2008, where he has worked on the Olympics and Crossrail. He will take up his new position this spring.

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People/people Fri, 3 Feb 2017 08:58:00 GMT 52553
Watson leaves TfGM for consultancy https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/52552/watson-leaves-tfgm-for-consultancy Melanie Watson has left Transport for Greater Manchester after 11 years to set up her own consultancy business, MW Associates PTS Ltd. Watson delivered the Quality Bus Corridors programme for Greater Manchester PTE (the forerunner to TfGM), followed by operational management of the bus & rail contract teams, data collection and analysis teams. She developed and delivered TfGM’s bus partnership with operators and played a leading role in the early development of bus franchising. She lea

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People/people Fri, 3 Feb 2017 08:57:00 GMT 52552
Taylor is SYPTEs customer services chief https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/52551/taylor-is-sypte-s-customer-services-chief South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive has appointed Tim Taylor to the new position of director of customer services. He joins next month from Working Links where he is head of customer services. SYPTE is currently strengthening its top management team – it was interviewing for a director of public transport this week. 

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People/people Fri, 3 Feb 2017 08:55:00 GMT 52551
Car clubs compete in Inverness https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/52538/car-clubs-compete-in-inverness Europcar has chosen Scotland for the launch of its new car club business, Europcar Hourly Hire. Vehicles will be available for hire in Inverness and at six airports: Inverness, Stornoway, Sunburgh, Kirkwall, Wick and Dundee. Europcar’s sister company E-Car Club already operates in Stirling, St Andrews and the Western Isles. In Inverness, Europcar will be going head-to-head with Enterprise Car Club, which has also just launched in the city. The Highland Council has created 16 car club parki

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Detail Fri, 3 Feb 2017 08:26:00 GMT 52538
Active travel a New Years resolution everyone can stick to https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/52513/active-travel-a-new-year-s-resolution-everyone-can-stick-to

January – the time for fresh starts, a time when many of us will be resolving to get healthy – to go to the gym every day after work perhaps, or to join that running club. These good intentions can be hard to sustain as the winter chill draws you indoors towards box sets and comfort food. Fortunately, there is a way to boost your physical activity level without breaking too much of a sweat. It could be as simple as changing the way you travel. Transport is among the key issues deter

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Sub story to regular feature Mon, 30 Jan 2017 12:38:00 GMT 52513
Transport as community planning https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/52512/transport-as-community-planning

There are three pillars of sustainability that must be appropriately addressed to achieve meaningful results; be it in transport, housing or any other sector. You could think of these as three interstitial layers, each necessary in their own right, to create a functional system of sustainability: economic, environmental and societal requirements. The success of one relies on the others, and our focus will be on the most neglected of the trio, society.  The societal impact of sustainability

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Regular feature Mon, 30 Jan 2017 12:31:00 GMT 52512
TRL trials automated vehicles for disabled people https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/52466/trl-trials-automated-vehicles-for-disabled-people

The UK’s first demonstration of a ‘teleoperated’ autonomous vehicle service for people with reduced mobility has been completed as part of the GATEway project (Greenwich Automated Transport Environment), which is being led by TRL. The demonstration, which took place at the InterContinental Hotel in the Royal Borough of Greenwich, used an autonomous-enabled Toyota Prius. It ma

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Regular news Thu, 26 Jan 2017 10:27:00 GMT 52466
Data on individual developments can better predict changes in transport use say researchers https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/52463/data-on-individual-developments-can-better-predict-changes-in-transport-use-say-researchers Bringing together data on specific city amenities and smartcard data can help better predict changes in public transport ridership resulting from new developments, Singapore researchers have said. The A*STAR Institute of High Performance Computing told Phys.org that it had produced a model to predict ridership under the Singapore urban plan to develop regional centres across the city-state in a bid to reduce congestion. This was built with data on 20m trips gathered from smartcards and data on

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Regular news Wed, 25 Jan 2017 17:14:00 GMT 52463
Sentencing Council brings in higher speeding fines https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/52460/sentencing-council-brings-in-higher-speeding-fines Speeding fines for the most serious cases in England and Wales will rise by up to 50% following a review of sentencing guidelines for magistrates courts. A driver caught doing 41mph in a 20mph zone, or 101mph on a motorway, will face fines of up to 150% of their weekly income.  The current limit for a speeding fine is 100% of the driver's weekly wage, up to £1,000 - or £2,500 if they are caught on a motorway.  During 2015 some 166,695 people in England and Wales were sente

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Regular news Tue, 24 Jan 2017 10:00:00 GMT 52460
Police catch 8000 drivers using mobile phones at wheel in one week https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/52452/police-catch-8-000-drivers-using-mobile-phones-at-wheel-in-one-week

Almost 8,000 drivers were caught using a mobile phone behind the wheel during a week-long campaign by police in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. It is illegal to use a handheld phone while driving, with drivers caught breaking the rules facing penalty points and a fine.  Officers handed out 7,966 fixed penalty notices (FPNs) for the offence in November. The number of FPNs issued, equivalent to a rate of 47 an hour, is the highest yet for a week of enforcement on “distraction dri

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Regular news Mon, 23 Jan 2017 09:59:00 GMT 52452
ZipCar and DriveNow seek green light for floating car clubs https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/52434/zipcar-and-drivenow-seek-green-light-for-floating-car-clubs ZipCar and DriveNow both want to launch floating car clubs across the three south London boroughs of Merton, Lambeth and Wandsworth. But one of the companies’ ambitions could be thwarted by Lambeth’s preference to authorise only a single operator.  Floating car clubs allow users to leave vehicles in any authorised parking space within the scheme’s operating territory. Users locate parked vehicles via an app.  ZipCar is the UK’s biggest operator of traditional

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Lead Story Fri, 20 Jan 2017 10:06:00 GMT 52434