‘Smarter choices’ – essential in today’s economic climate

The use of transportation demand management (TDM) techniques, including ‘smarter choices’ travel behaviour change policies, to deliver better value from transport-related investment is well documented and internationally recognised. Promotion of ‘smarter travel’ by the DfT over the last decade has consistently been on the basis that it serves to ‘lock-in the benefits’ of transport-related investment.

The Treasury in 2011 re-emphasised the benefits of TDM, and encouraged the smarter use of existing assets as a ‘do minimum’ option (Valuing infrastructure spend: supplementary guidance to the Green Book). It stressed that TDM was often the cheapest solution to make best use of transport infrastructure assets in place. The Treasury highlights the point that demand management can apply to all infrastructure investment options, and should be considered, at the outset, when generating options for new programmes.

Back in 2007 the Treasury’s Budget statement proposed that local planning authorities should be required to undertake sound infrastructure planning as part of the formation and review of their local development frameworks, maximising the use of existing infrastructure and deploying demand management options before setting out plans for new infrastructure. The potential to improve the performance of existing transport networks and to maximise the benefits of further infrastructure investment was highlighted. The Treasury is clear that TDM “may involve measures that influence consumer behaviour in ways such as information provision or influencing how a consumer makes a choice”, what we refer to as ‘smarter choices’.

‘Smarter choices’ was clearly a priority of the last Government, and remains a priority for this Government, as evidenced by Treasury support and the £1bn the Government has so far committed. Too many transport professionals have yet to fully comprehend the value of these measures and the support given by successive Governments.

Kieran Seale’s letter (Letters LTT 26 Oct) emphasises the continued importance of ACT Travelwise in helping to dispel myths and communicate the benefits of ‘smarter choices’. Today’s economic climate should serve to enhance the value of TDM, given its ability to ‘sweat the assets’ and deliver impressive cost-benefit ratios.

Discuss this topic at LTT's Re-Booting Smarter Travel event this December