Take the Right Route is the locally adopted brand for the Scottish Government's "Smarter Choices, Smarter Places" initiative; the aim of the project is to achieve increased proportions of active travel and public transport use as contributions to Healthier, Greener, and Safer and Stronger outcomes specified in the National Performance Framework. This will be through the use of Smarter Choices and associated demand management mechanisms.
High quality transport services, information and infrastructure are key to achieving our shared goal of sustainable economic growth. However, transport emissions are increasing, congestion is a significant problem in many areas and car dependency is contributing to poor levels of physical activity. Improvements to public transport and development of new technologies are part of the solution, but behavioural change is crucial - particularly for shorter trips.
Having sought Council permission to proceed, Falkirk Council's Transport Projects Team submitted a successful Stage 1 bid to the Scottish Government's Sustainable Travel team. A total of 39 proposals from 28 Local Authorities were received for Stage 1. The proposals were assessed against an initial set of criteria. Following our success at this stage, we were invited to further develop our proposals and submit a bid for Stage 2. Twelve local authorities submitted Stage 2 proposals and these were assessed according to a further set of criteria. An announcement of the seven proposals to be funded was made on Wednesday 13th August, and Falkirk Council's bid was fortunate enough to be selected as a final candidate.
The following authorities and regional transport partnership have been successful in attracting Scottish Government funding:
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Dumfries & Galloway and SWestrans – Dumfries
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Dundee - Dundee Health Central
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East Dunbartonshire - Kirkintilloch and Lenzie
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East Renfrewshire – Barrhead
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Falkirk - Larbert and Stenhousemuir
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Glasgow - East End Accessibility (Supporting Commonwealth Games)
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Orkney – Kirkwall
Activities in these local authorities will include: better public transport services and residential improvements; upgrades in walking and cycling infrastructures; studies into travel patters and access; intensive marketing and awareness campaigns; and workshops and information packs. Communities involved range from between approximately 10,000 in Kirkwall to 37,000 in Dumfries.
The primary aims of Take the Right Route are:
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To achieve a modal shift from car use to active/ sustainable travel
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To acquire, demonstrate and share knowledge on what works in achieving modal shift, and what doesn't
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To improve the environment for the target area – physical and social
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To develop Community Champions for the project, ensuring a legacy beyond the funding round
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To assist in the delivery of Falkirk's commitment to SOA and National Indicators
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To increase levels of physical activity in the target audience, improving health and quality of life
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To directly tackle the challenge of Climate Change
This will be achieved through a package of measures covering:
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Infrastructure improvements
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Personal Travel Planning
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Mass Marketing and Promotion
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Practical support for those wishing to take up active/sustainable travel
Larbert and Stenhousemuir was chosen as the target area for this initiative because it is geographically distinct, compact and displays:
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Health issues related to obesity and sedentary lifestyles
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High 2nd and 3rd car ownership
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76% of residents travel to work by car
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Community identified issues around access to and provision of greenspace
Primary provisional Targets for Take the Right Route:
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To reduce by 20% the number of local trips (under 5 miles) made by car
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To reduce by 15% the number of trips over 5 miles made by car
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To increase the number of trips on local bus services by 15% over the lifetime of the project
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To increase levels of cycling to primary school by 15%
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To increase levels of walking to work (where employees live within 2 miles of their workplace) by 8%
Work to establish a baseline of travel activity and opinions will start in Spring 2009, with a roll out of activities following. In the meantime, work continues at a community level to develop our projects, and to get the people of Larbert and Stenhousemuir on-board with Take the Right Route.
Watch this space for further developments!