TTR - November 2011

Newsletter Articles 

• ECO Stars hits the road – across the UK and now into Europe!

• Travel Plan Toolkit introduced by TTR to assist Retailers

• Something for nothing – harnessing the benefits of an 'open' data strategy

• A Breath of Fresh Air - TTR launches its Air Quality Measure Implementation Toolkit

• Building on our success – TTR's Construction Logistics Plans

• Blazing ahead with pan-European Delivery & Servicing Plans

• Quiet Deliveries Success - Something to shout about!

• TTR Racing ahead to help London's Businesses compete during Summer 2012

• BIOMASTER - Bridging the gap for Biomethane as a transport fuel

• TTR's Toolkits supporting promotion of low carbon vehicles

• City of London Corridor Freight study

• Sustainable transport conference a shining success!

• The TTR/TRL Partnership – A Successful First Year

   

  

ECO Stars hits the road – across the UK and now into Europe!

 

The South Yorkshire ECO Stars (Efficient and Cleaner Operations) Fleet Recognition Scheme is a free, voluntary scheme designed by TTR to assist local authorities in improving local air quality. The scheme provides recognition, guidance and advice to operators of goods vehicles, buses and coaches. The scheme provides operator support to help reduce fuel consumption, thereby helping to reduce operating costs and vehicle emissions.

South Yorkshire ECO Stars celebrated its second birthday earlier this year and now boasts over 30 members operating more than 5,500 vehicles. The scheme is now expanding across the UK and Europe.

TTR helped Mid Devon District Council launch their local ECO Stars scheme in March 2011. The Mid Devon scheme has already grown to a dozen members, the first of whom was Gregory Distribution Ltd, a nationally-known local haulier.

TTR is also lead coordinator for the European ECO Stars project which will run for 36 months beginning on 1st June 2011. The project expands the existing ECO Stars environmental fleet recognition scheme across a further seven regions throughout Europe. The project also includes continuation funding for the existing South Yorkshire scheme through project partner Barnsley MBC.

The European ECO Stars project began with a consortium meeting in partner city Edinburgh on June 20th-22nd with 22 attendees from the UK, Belgium, Italy, Spain, Sweden, Czech Republic and Rotterdam. The consortium meeting included a site visit to the local Air Quality Management Areas (AQMA) and presentations from Lothian Buses and City of Edinburgh Council air quality and freight policy experts.

 

To Find out More:

Information on the South Yorkshire ECO Stars scheme can be found at here or email: ecostars@ttr-ltd.com. For further information on the ECOStars Project please visit the ECOSTARS website. 
Queries relating to the European ECO Stars project can be sent to Project Coordinator Mark Fell by email or 020 7953 4069. 

  

   

 

Travel Plan Toolkit introduced by TTR to assist Retailers 

 

Since 1999, TTR has been heavily involved in developing travel plans for retailers throughout the UK. Building on this wealth of experience in implementing Travel Plans, TTR has developed the TTR ’Travel Plan DSM Toolkit’ to support retailers in all areas of sustainable transport and travel planning.

DSM stands for: Development – Support – Monitoring, key elements for all successful travel plans.

The TTR ’Travel Plan DSM Toolkit’ combines the key steps required throughout a Travel Plan’s lifecycle, from initial development through to ensuring Travel Plan targets are fully met as part of robust monitoring programmes.

 

B&Q is one of the larger retailers that currently utilise the TTR ‘Travel Plan DSM Toolkit’. They have found the Toolkit not only supports the implementation of a travel plan but can also bring a range of additional benefits to the business such as increased productivity, improved staff health and fitness, reduced staff stress – all as a result of implementing relevant and effective travel plan measures. There are also added benefits in terms of corporate and social responsibility (CSR) in the wider community, including the alleviation of local parking problems and congestion levels through more sustainable travel choices. 

 

To Find out More:

To find out more about the TTR ’Travel Plan DSM Toolkit’  or how TTR could review your company’s travel plan requirements please contact: Alastair Byers (email or 0117 907 6520).

 

  

Something for nothing – harnessing the benefits of an 'open' data strategy

 

Much has been written in recent years of the 'open' data movement – the release of electronic public sector data online for use by anyone and everyone without charge or commitment to complex contractual relationships.

Successful case studies of releasing transport datasets in London and Manchester have led other local authorities to consider releasing their data to harness the skills of the wider community. The case studies have demonstrated that enabling the private sector, academia and individuals to develop innovative software applications by using and combining these new publically available datasets aids in promoting sustainable transport modes in a city or region.

TTR understands the potentially knotty issues which cause organisations to hold back from releasing their static and dynamic data in this way. To this end we have developed an Open Data strategic framework to help make the process deliver best value for public funds.

We appreciate that there are stages that an organisation needs to go through to become comfortable in releasing data freely into the wider world. Effectively these stages are: 

• Building a transport data inventory (static and dynamic data)

• Risk analysis & mitigation strategies

• Data release and publicity strategy

• Engagement with the technical community

• Brand protection

• Requesting specific innovation, using crowd sourcing approaches

TTR can guide your organisation through these steps to ensure an effective implementation which will deliver results based upon your strategic requirements.

 

To Find out More:

If you'd like to find out more, then contact our Traveller Information Systems team leader, Mark Fell  (email or 020 7953 4069)

 

  

 A Breath of Fresh Air - TTR launches its Air Quality Measure Implementation Toolkit

 

In the wake of recent concerns over the UK's ability to meet the limit values for air quality, TTR has launched its local Air Quality Measure Implementation Toolkit .

The Toolkit can be used to assess the feasibility of air quality measures and determine how best they can be implemented in your area.

 

 

The toolkit can be used to:

• Identify suitable measures;

• Review the success of similar measures and schemes elsewhere;

• Look at the nature of local issues and how implementation can best be managed;

• Complete an evaluation of the likely local impact of the measure;

• Produce a bespoke local implementation plan.

The bespoke plan will outline the steps that should be taken to successfully implement the measure in your area, including details of necessary actions, relevant legislation and consultation processes.

There is a broad range of measures covered in the Air Quality Measure Implementation Toolkit that could be considered, including:

• Bus fleet emissions control strategies

• Low Emissions Strategies and Low Emissions Zones (LEZs)

• Implementing an ECO Stars Fleet Recognition Scheme

• Developing and implementing emissions schemes for local taxi fleets

• Reduction of idling bus emissions

• Delivery and Servicing Plans (DSPs)

• Integrated Movement Plans (IMPs)

• Establishing freight consolidation centres.

 

To Find out More:

For further information on the Air Quality Measure Implementation Toolkit, please contact Sofia Girnary  (email or 0117 907 6520).

 

  

 Building on our success – TTR's Construction Logistics Plans

 

Construction Logistics Plans (CLPs) are one of the key projects within the London Freight Plan, published by Transport for London (TfL) in October 2007. These key projects have subsequently been incorporated within the Mayor of London's Transport Strategy (2010). CLPs are now required as part of the planning approval process for all major developments within London.

The purpose of having a CLP is to reduce the number of deliveries made to a construction site and ensure that all delivery activity is well-managed, safe and legal. This combination of actions is expected to minimise impacts on the local environment such as congestion, noise, pollutant emissions and visual intrusion. It is expected that it will deliver cost benefits, programme control and good neighbour relations for the Client/Developer and operational cost benefits to the Contractor.

TTR has been working in partnership with Croydon Council on developing a construction logistics strategy since 2007. Initially conducted through the South London Freight Quality Partnership, TTR recently secured a direct contract to continue managing this process for the Council, in particular to oversee the development of a ground-breaking 'framework Construction Logistics Plan'.

This will operate at a higher level than individual construction projects to provide a template for sharing best practice across different construction sites, leading to more substantial benefits than would accrue from the implementation of stand-alone CLPs.

Development of the framework Construction Logistics Plan is now well underway, with TTR working in collaboration with a steering group comprising officers from Croydon Council's Pollution, Development Control, Transport Planning and Spatial Planning teams.

This approach will make it easier to integrate logistics processes across development sites; for example, removing potential conflicts between deliveries to neighbouring sites and allowing consolidation of deliveries leading to a reduction in the number of necessary heavy vehicle movements. This will require a greater degree of collaboration than is normal, but with a view to delivering benefits for all stakeholders by maximising efficiencies and providing greater project certainty.

 

To Find out More:

For more information on CLPs, contact Alan Lewis (email or 0115 853 2869).

 

  

Blazing ahead with pan-European Delivery & Servicing Plans

  

The TRAILBLAZER project (TRansport And Innovation Logistics By Local Authorities with a Zest for Efficiency and Realisation) aims to achieve energy saving in freight transport by promoting Delivery and Servicing Plans (DSPs) across Europe.

DSPs are key freight strategy documents that really can help cut costs. They outline a plan to manage deliveries more effectively and reduce numbers of delivery vehicle journeys.

TTR, the project leader is providing expert assistance to a group of PATHFINDER municipalities across Europe in developing their own DSPs.

The Municipalities of Eskilstuna and Växjö in Sweden are developing their DSP for all deliveries to municipality buildings, including schools, care homes and offices. As well as saving energy through use of a consolidation centre for municipality deliveries they are seeking to expand their base of local suppliers. By separating out the cost of transport from that of the actual goods they can clearly identify transport costs and savings. The operation in Växjö commenced last autumn with office supplies and in the spring expanded to cover multi-temperature food deliveries. Eskilstuna will be procuring a logistics partner this autumn and intends to commence new streamlined operations next spring.

The municipalities of Vercelli in northern Italy and Zagreb in Croatia are developing area-wide DSPs. Vercelli’s will cover the historic centre of the city and Zagreb’s will cover a section of Ilica Street, the longest street in the city, which includes both extensive retail and office premises, as well as busy tram tracks. Both municipalities are seeking to better manage loading and unloading activity to save energy and increase freight transport operational efficiency. They will be implementing various traffic management measures over the coming months to support the improved measures.

  

To Find out More:

If you would like to find out more and become involved in TRAILBLAZER please visit www.trailblazer.eu or contact Donald Chalker, Project Manager (email or 020 7953 4069).

 

  

Quiet Deliveries Success - Something to shout about!

 

The realisation of the environmental, economic and road safety benefits of delivering goods out-of-hours has taken a significant step forward with the results of the Quiet Delivery Demonstration Scheme (QDDS) trials, managed by TTR on behalf of a consortium comprising the Department for Transport, Noise Abatement Society and Freight Transport Association.

The project required TTR to set up and run six trials at retail outlets across England in 2010, to demonstrate that best practice in quiet delivery activity could lead to clear operational, retail and environmental benefits, while minimising the impact on local residents. Stores in Dorset, West Sussex, Staffordshire, Walsall, London and Berkshire looked to illustrate the potential benefits from curfew relaxations for quiet deliveries, while still protecting local residents’ right to a good night’s sleep.

Retailers were asked to adopt a consistent methodology, which included setting up a local Working Group (a partnership between local authority and retailer, facilitated by TTR), engaging with both local authorities and residents, installing noise monitoring equipment, introducing a ‘driver charter’ and a rigorous site assessment to reduce noise, and to compare and analyse the results before and after each trial.

Encouragingly, as well as evidence of improved fuel consumption, no residential complaints were logged in some of the completed trials and where nominal complaints were raised in the remainder, swift, remedial action was found to be entirely satisfactory.

 

Transport Minister Mike Penning said:

“This shows that by following proven methodology shop owners and supermarkets can receive deliveries out-of-hours without being a nuisance to residents.  Less congestion, better air quality and safer roads means a win-win situation.  I look forward to seeing more examples of retailers and local authorities working together to explore the mutual benefits of quiet deliveries.” 

The view or download a copy of the full results please click here.  

 

To Find out More:

If you’d like to find out more about TTR’s out-of-hours delivery work, contact Chris Douglas , TTR Director and freight specialist (email or 0117 907 6520).

   

  

TTR Racing ahead to help London's Businesses compete during Summer 2012

 

TTR has launched a Delivery and Servicing Toolkit for businesses and London Boroughs facing disruption to normal operations in Summer 2012.

The launch is in response to the Olympic Delivery Authority's call for businesses to play their part in reducing transport demand in the capital to ensure a successful Games.

In July 2010, Mayor of London, Boris Johnson said:"Thousands of visitors from around the world will descend on our great city in 2012 and transport will be critical to ensuring we deliver a Games that London can be proud of. The capital will be in the spotlight and temporary measures such as the Olympic Route Network will play a crucial role."

 But how do local businesses and London Boroughs plan for "business as usual" when faced with the Olympic transport restrictions?

TTR Director Chris Douglas said "Around 250,000 businesses in London face disruption to their daily operations for many weeks during the summer of 2012. Businesses need to look ahead and plan how they'll maximise the commercial opportunities of this period and planning for delivery and servicing restrictions is crucial to that. This is why freight experts at TTR have developed a delivery and servicing toolkit containing top actions that businesses can take to prepare for the games''.

Chris Douglas comments, "Through use of the TTR toolkit of strategies and practical measures, the impact of various restrictions (delivery time curfews and traffic management changes in particular) to delivery and servicing can be minimised and commercial opportunities maximised. Moreover, these strategies can potentially provide a longer term legacy – businesses will be forced to trial alternative approaches to delivery and servicing during the 2012 Games period and it is possible that these could lead to efficiency improvements in the longer term''.

 

The TTR Summer 2012 Delivery and Servicing Toolkit covers a package of measures, including:

• Out-of-hours Delivery Planning

• Delivery infrastructure reviews

• Bespoke delivery information for suppliers, operators and drivers

• Delivery and Servicing PlansFreight consolidation

• Smarter Choice travelling and working

  

To Find out More:

For more information on the Summer 2012 Toolkit, contact Chris Douglas, TTR Director and freight specialist (email or 0117 907 6520).

 

  

BIOMASTER - Bridging the gap for biomethane as a transport fuel

TTR, along with a European consortium from Bulgaria, Sweden, Italy, Austria, and Norfolk, have begun work on the BIOMASTER project. This project will bridge the gaps that remain in the chain of implementation for biomethane as a transport fuel, resulting in greater production, better distribution and improved opportunities for transport use of biomethane gas.

The project will cover the entire chain of the biomethane lifecycle from "waste to wheel", covering the production and upgrading of the gas, distribution to fuelling points (including a particular interest in grid injection of biomethane) and the best ways to use biomethane in vehicles across the partner regions.

The project will also build networks of stakeholders from further afield than the partner regions, sharing experience and knowledge to multiply the impacts of the work.

If you are interested in taking advantage of the support available from the project to help in promoting or utilising biomethane as a transport fuel, please contact Tristan Brightman.

  

To Find out More:

To find out more about BIOMASTER in general, keep tabs on the project, or subscribe to the project newsletter, please visit the BIOMASTER Website, or contact Tristan Brightman (email or 0117 907 6520). The BIOMASTER October Newsletter can be found here.

 

   

TTR's Toolkits supporting promotion of low carbon vehicles

 

In recent months, TTR has continued to provide advice to support the successful promotion and ongoing use of clean vehicles, low carbon fuels and efficient fleet operations in both private and public sector organisations, these include:

 

(1) Low Emissions Toolkit for the Low Emission Strategies Partnership (LESP)
TTR led a study team with CERC and RPS to produce a Low Emissions Toolkit for the Low Emission Strategies Partnership (LESP). This comprehensive, excel based, tool can be used to assess the impact and costs of selecting low emission vehicles and planning measures to help reduce GHG and air quality emissions associated with developments.

The toolkit includes three main components: vehicle technology assessment and comparison (at individual vehicle level); fleet assessment (to compare replacement strategies); and planning measures with development site impact assessment.

As well as project managing the team, TTR had technical input on the vehicle technology elements of the Toolkit: compiling a database on emissions, fuel consumption, costs, availability and technology status for new and retrofit technologies, vehicles drive-trains, and fuels.

The toolkit is currently in a beta release version being used by interested Local Authorities who are providing feedback. For further information about progress and to request access to the current version please click here.

 

(2) Toolkit of information and guidance for Local Authorities on the introduction of Low Carbon Buses
TTR, working with Strata Consultants, is also preparing a Toolkit of information and guidance for Local Authorities on the introduction of Low Carbon Buses, such as diesel-electric hybrids, battery electric or bio fuelled vehicles.

The work has summarised advice on current bus regulations and the way they can be used by Authorities to influence and/or direct bus operations to encourage higher standards of vehicles.

As part of the study TTR undertook extensive and in-depth interviews with Local Transport Authorities and Bus Operators on their experience and operation of Low Carbon Buses to date.

The outputs form an easy to use Toolkit, comprising a reference guide with case studies and check-lists to encourage enhanced use of options available. This will be published by the LowCVP and available from Autumn 2011. LowCVP will use the outputs to continue their Bus Working Group's promotion of low carbon options for the Passenger Service Vehicle sector.

 

(3) Data collection and cost model to support LowCVP in development of Biomethane for Transport
TTR, working with JouleVert, is currently completing a data collection and cost modelling exercise to support the LowCVP in their development of the Biomethane for Transport work-stream of Defra's June 2011 Anaerobic Digestion Strategy and Action Plan.

TTR has compiled performance and cost data for standard diesel, gas and dual fuel Heavy Goods Vehicles and prepared a cost model to analyse Return on Investment under a number of incentive scenarios.

The work included operator/stakeholder interviews and real-life data to assist with market growth forecasts. LowCVP are using the study outputs to continue their promotion of low carbon options for the commercial vehicle sector.

 

To Find out More:

To find out more, contact Tom Parker (email or 0117 907 6520). 

 

   

City of London Corridor Freight study

 

TTR was commissioned by the City of London to profile the nature of freight movement within the Bank, Cornhill and Leadenhall Street Corridor.

This study area included such landmark London buildings as the Bank of England, the Lloyds Building and the Gherkin at 30 St Mary's Axe.

There is minimal residential property within the area and very high levels of pedestrian footfall in the region of 300,000 workers who commute into the area daily. With substantial new office developments within the corridor, both pedestrian and freight activity were likely to increase significantly over the next five years. It was therefore essential to understand the current nature of activity and explore ways of engaging with businesses to manage freight movements more effectively.

The study involved profiling the delivery and servicing needs of local businesses which helped to inform the development of a freight strategy for the City of London. This included a 'toolkit' of appropriate freight management measures, relevant to the specific needs of businesses within the City and developed with the local business community, through a workshop and existing business transport forums.

TTR's specialist freight team carried out on-street observations and business surveys, along with supporting the completion of a series of delivery and servicing diaries by local businesses. Following the collaborative exercise with the Municipality of Rotterdam, results were presented by the City of London, with TTR, at a workshop of business representatives in late July.

To Find out More:

To find out more, contact Mark Fell (email or 0207 953 4069).

 

  

Sustainable transport conference a shining success!

 

The TTR-organised CIVINET UK & Ireland Network event, the Second Annual Sustainable Mobility Convention (SASMC) was held on June 15th at Broadway House in London.

The event proved a great success with many speakers invited by local authorities themselves discussing best (and worst!) practice.

The theme of the conference was on the importance of maintaining the sustainable transport agenda in a climate of reducing public sector spending – the speakers demonstrated that all is not doom and gloom, as plenty of innovative local authorities persist with new and interesting sustainable transport solutions.

The day began with a video speech from Parliamentary under-Secretary of State for Transport, Norman Baker MP, who thanked members of the UK & Ireland CIVINET Network for their "work towards achieving more sustainable clean and energy efficient transport systems".

He went onto say that the work done by the Network "is important and a great deal has happened since the First Annual Sustainable Mobility Convention in September last year. I am a strong supporter of local authorities working together to address our shared transport challenges in a way that helps local economies and reduces carbon emissions. CIVINET is an enduring example of such positive co-operation. In January this year I was delighted to launch our new Local Transport White Paper. This sets out how the government will deliver on its commitment to support sustainable travel. I'm sure some of you will have noticed the complimentary mention in the White Paper of CIVINET's efforts as an example for other local authorities to follow."

Other key speakers included Cllr Shona Johnstone of Cambridgeshire CC and the Local Government Association (LGA) Economy & Transport Board who spoke about funding the sustainable transport agenda with less public monies and the new 'localism' drive.

 

To Find out More:

For further information on the CIVINET UK & Ireland Network please contact: Alastair Byers (email or 0117 907 6520) or civinet@civitas.eu.

 

  

The TTR/TRL Partnership – A Successful First Year

 

The formal partnership between TTR and TRL was launched in November 2010 and the two companies have been cooperating successfully ever since. TRL are shareholders of TTR and plan to increase their shareholding in the company over the next few years. The close cooperation between TTR & TRL that this partnership has created can be seen in a large number of initiatives that have taken place in the last year.

We have collaborated on a number of proposals, worked together on various projects, shared knowledge and experience between the two companies, developed joint marketing activities, created joint teams that include staff from the two companies, developed a joint business development strategy and have recently launched a joint website which will explain in more detail how the two companies successfully collaborate.

 

Two projects stand out in demonstrating this partnership.

(1) Quiet Deliveries Demonstration Project carried out for the Department for Transport
This project sought to investigate and promote the potential benefits from relaxation of delivery curfews for quiet deliveries. The work to set up, run and report on these quiet delivery demonstration trials at an intended six retail premises across England was carried out by a consortium that included TTR and TRL together with the Freight Transport Association (FTA) and the Noise Abatement Society (NAS). More information about this successful project can be found here.

(2) Appraisal of local authorities' Air Quality Review and Assessment reports and Action Plans
TTR & TRL are working together to undertake the Appraisal of local authorities' Air Quality Review and Assessment reports and Action Planson behalf of Defra, the Devolved Administrations and the Greater London Authority (GLA). Local authorities in the UK have a statutory duty to manage local air quality, so as to reduce the negative health impacts and environmental damage caused by air pollution. The process, known as local air quality management (LAQM), involves each Local Authority carrying out regular reviews and assessments of the air quality in their area, for comparison against a set of regulated standards and objectives. Where a local authority identifies that levels of pollution in their area will exceed these objectives, they must take further steps, including undertaking detailed investigation of the problem, and developing an Air Quality Action Plan. At all steps in this process the Local Authority must consult the Secretary of State on their reports (as well as the Mayor of London for London Local Authorities).

 

Commenting on the first year of the partnership, David Blackledge (Chairman of TTR) said:

"In these difficult times for the transport sector, we have found it refreshing and challenging to work closely with our colleagues in TRL. We have enjoyed the experience of understanding each others' capabilities and realising just how much we complement each other. I am sure that our partnership will grow as clients experience the benefits of working with both companies in tandem".

His opposite number at TRL, Dr Sue Sharland (Chief Executive) said:

"We have established a very good working relationship with our colleagues at TTR and the complementary nature of our skills and experience has opened new market opportunities for TRL in the UK and in Europe". 

 

 To find out more about 'Partnering to deliver real customer value' please visit the partnership website

   

 

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