Travel Planning Process Overview
The initial development of a Travel Plan divides into eight initial stages.
The Travel Planning Process
Securing senior management support is vital to the success of any Travel Plan, as is a clear identification of roles and responsibilities.
Once a clear picture of the current situation of travel patterns within your organisation, transport links and other facilities has been established, objectives for the Plan can be defined and measurable targets set.
A variety of practical measures to encourage a shift to more sustainable transport methods can then be selected and implemented.
Once completed, the success of the plan must be monitored and regularly reviewed against its defined objectives and targets and, where appropriate, adjusted and updated in order for it to remain effective.
The measures chosen to encourage more sustainable travel options must also be marketed and promoted to staff, clients and visitors throughout the life of the Travel Plan.
Delivering an effective Travel Plan
No matter how much time you dedicate to developing your Travel Plan, the goal is to ensure that it actually delivers the beneficial changes it is designed to bring about.
Travel Plans are site specific and therefore different for each organisation.
However, to be effective a Travel Plan must:
- have support from the highest level of your organisation
- be based on a recent assessment of your organisational travel patterns
- set out clear objectives and targets (or indicators) that arise from those objectives
- identify measures aimed at meeting those objectives
- implement the measures it identifies
- actively promote its chosen measures through awareness-raising and marketing
- outline a clearly defined and consistent monitoring programme
- contain a commitment to future review and renewal and demonstrate a commitment to its continuation
Results are, of course, what matters and the long-term effectiveness of a Travel Plan will ultimately be determined by its ability to deliver results.
Help, advice and the value of partnerships
There is lots of help available to you to help you develop and implement your Travel Plan.
Sources include:
- Regional Transport Partnerships
- Local Authorities
- ACT Travelwise
Your near-site neighbours are also a valuable resource, as they may share many of the same problems with transport and benefit from the same solutions. Together, you may be able to deliver more and enhance the success of your Travel Plans.
Developing your Plan in partnership with some or all of the above will greatly increase its chances of success.
For more information on helpful organisations, please see our section on Tools and Resources.
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