Travel Plan
2013 - 2018
‘Supporting Sustainable
& Active Travel’
Introduction
With over 2,600 staff and over 20,000 students based at Preston
the University recognises that our travel demands are significant.
This Travel Plan aims to manage and mitigate our environmental
impact whilst improving accessibility and conditions for staff,
students, visitors as well as our city centre neighbours.
Development of the Travel Plan
The University’s five year Travel Plan (2007-2012) was developed
from ideas contained within the University’s first Green Travel Plan
(2000) together with recommendations from Lancashire County
Council. The Plan identified many measures to encourage
sustainable commuter travel and set modal split targets for both
students and staff. Over the course of the Plan the scope was
widened beyond the focus on commuter travel to include
elements of business travel and fleet vehicles as well as visitor
travel. This new five year Travel Plan recognises the move towards
the collection of carbon emissions from both business and
commuting travel in line with sector based requirements advised
by HEFCE.
Achievements to date
• Over 500 cycle parking spaces including 3 compounds and
over 20 individual bike lockers
• Over 240 tax free bikes for work purchased (since 2008)
• In-house cycle training delivered by National Standard Cycle
instructors
• Annual data on staff and student travel patterns
• Car share parking permits and dedicated car share parking
• Online private car share database for staff and students
• Annual rail season ticket loans for staff
• Staff and student bus travel discounts with main providers
• 47% increase in Stagecoach Unirider tickets since 2010/11
to date
• Data collection of UK and international business travel emissions
Key Outcomes
•
•
•
•
•
Significant decrease in solo car commuting journeys
Reduction in student car use
Increase in cycling rates
Increase in rail and bus travel
Greater awareness of the environmental impacts of travel
Purpose of the Travel Plan
Objectives
• To reduce the environmental impact of the University's travel
demands
• To encourage modal shift and reduce the dependence on solo
car use
• To improve transport modes available
• To contribute to the health and well-being of staff and students
• To help reduce pressures on parking
• To be good neighbours
•
•
•
•
Reduction of fleet size and use of modern and efficient vehicles
Virtual conferencing platforms to reduce the need to travel
Further promotion of the benefits of sustainable and active travel
University’s commitment to meeting the BREEAM criteria for
sustainability as a minimum
• Student Advantage credits for the purchase of bus and rail tickets
• Car parking demand management controls in place and
maximum levels of parking space set.
• Availability of day time parking at UCLan Sports Arena
Scope
Travel Plan Barriers
•
•
•
•
• Over 40% of staff live over 10 miles from campus
• Public transport seen as impractical and expensive compared
with the car
• Car parking pricing structure and availability of staff car
parking
• Difficulty changing behaviours
• Availability of unrestricted on-street parking (residential and
non-residential)
• Annual rail price increases and restrictions on the use of Young
Persons’ rail cards before 10am
• Lack of integrated public transport
• City Park and Ride Scheme does not serve the Campus
Commuting journeys by staff and students
Business travel by staff and students
Fleet vehicles
Visitor travel
Travel Plan Opportunities
• Proximity of both rail and bus stations
• City centre location
• Bus services serving heart of campus and good working
relationships with bus providers
• Large availability of student halls of residence (over 4,000 beds)
on or adjacent to campus
Management of the Travel Plan
Environmental Sustainability Policy
The University’s Environmental Sustainability Policy includes the
commitment ‘to reduce the carbon emissions associated with
the University’s travel demands’. Our commitment to the building
standard BREEAM for new buildings and significant refurbishments
also ensures that sustainable travel is catered for.
Environmental Management System
The University developed its Environmental Management System,
certified to ISO14001:2004 in October 2010 and re-certified in
October 2013, following commitment secured from the
Vice-Chancellor in the Medium Term Strategy in which the
University aims to ‘be a model international University for
Sustainability by 2017’.
The Environmental Management System (EMS) identifies the
significant environmental aspects of the University’s operations,
products and services and provides a set of procedures for
environmental management within the University. Within the
system the University’s commuter and business travel demands
have been identified as having a significant environmental impact.
Operational procedures have been written for travel/transport
detailing how the University manages and mitigates the impacts
of travel. The EMS includes an Environmental Management Plan
listing actions to ensure continual improvements are made and a
Sustainable and Active Travel Improvement Group provides the
forum for consulting and discussing implementation of the Travel
Plan.
Carbon Management Plan
The Higher Education Funding Council (HEFCE) has set sector-wide
carbon reduction targets that are in line with UK Government
targets of 34% by 2020 and 80% by 2050 (Climate Change Act,
2008). The HEFCE strategy requires individual institutions to set
their own targets for Scope 1 and Scope 2 against a 2005/06
baseline, which equates to a 48% reduction by 2020. These
requirements are contained within the University’s five year
Carbon Management Plan (2010). In terms of travel, Scope 1
relates to emissions from our fleet vehicles. Scope 3 emissions,
which include emissions from business and commuting travel are
not currently included within the Carbon Management Plan.
Supporting Strategies
Equality and Diversity
The Travel Plan is implemented and monitored by the Safety, Health
and Environment Section based in Facilities Management (FM).
However, to maximise its effectiveness, the Travel Plan forms part
of a coordinated approach to pursuing Sustainable Development
at UCLan and cooperation from across the University’s Services
and academic Schools is required. In particular, the Plan requires
the continued support from strategies including the Sustainability
Strategy, Car Parking Strategy, Vehicle Replacement Strategy,
Carbon Management Plan, Estates Strategy and Healthy University
Strategy.
An Equality Impact Assessment highlighted that there are no
adverse impacts of the Travel Plan on the six equality target groups;
Age, Gender, Disability, Race, Religion and Belief or Sexual
Orientation. However, modal choice will be determined to some
extent by Age, Gender and Disability and the Travel Plan aims to
improve facilities for all members of the University community.
Commuter Travel
Travel Targets
A large part of this Travel Plan is devoted to influencing the travel
patterns of significant numbers of daily commuters to the campus.
In the Travel Plan 2007-2012 a target to achieve an 18% reduction
in solo car commuting rates by staff and students from a base-line
of 2004/5 was set by Lancashire County Council (LCC).
In this new Travel Plan a new target of 47% solo car commuting
from 2012/13 to 2017/18 has been set for staff as it is considered,
by LCC, that there is still some scope to encourage staff to switch
mode through a range of both incentives and disincentives.
However, the target of 16% solo car commuting for students
remains the same over the life of this plan.
Monitoring
Surveys of staff and students travelling patterns have been
conducted annually since 2004/5. These have been used to
determine modal split and more recently (2012/13) to estimate the
carbon emissions from commuting.
Surveys have also been used to determine why particular
modes are chosen and what incentives and disincentives would
encourage commuters to shift mode to more sustainable and
active options. This qualitative data is used in prioritising travel
plan actions. The most current annual survey audit summaries
are available as an addendum to this Travel Plan.
Staff Modal Split
Mode
Car, solo
commuter
Car Sharing
Walk
Cycle
Train
Bus/Coach
Motorbike/
Scooter
Student Modal Split
Actual
Actual
Target
Target
Target
2004/5 2012/13 2012/13 2014/15 2017/18
61
52
50
50
47
10
11
3
7
5
2
11
12
5
11
8
1
13
14
4.5
9
6.5
2
14
12
5
11
8
-
15
12
6
12
8
-
The survey results (2012/13) show a significant shift away from
car use to more sustainable modes of transport over the life of the
previous Travel Plan. The most marked change was for solo car
commuting which achieved a 9% decrease, the majority of staff
switching to public transport which saw increases of 4% and 3%
for rail and bus travel respectively. Cycling has increased by 2%
taking cycling rates to a more respectable level of 5%.
Mode
Car, solo
commuter
Car Sharing
Walk
Cycle
Train
Bus/Coach
Motorbike/
Scooter
Actual
Actual
Target
Target
Target
2004/5 2012/13 2012/13 2014/15 2017/18
19
15
16
16
16
9.5
44
1
12
6
0.5
7
53
2
15
8
-
12
49
2.5
12
8
-
12
49
2.5
12
8
-
12
49
2.5
12
8
-
Survey results (2012/13) show the majority of students choose to
walk to campus. Students commuting from greater distances are
more inclined to take public transport, particularly the train which
has seen an increase of 3%. Car parking permit policy has meant
that fewer students commute to campus by car and as a result the
percentage of students car sharing has also decreased.
Postcode Mapping
Over 35% of staff live within 4 miles of the campus which is
within easy cycling distance and the Travel Plan can influence
modal shifts with this group and continue to increase cycling rates.
However, the greatest potential to reduce solo car commuting
rates is by increasing car sharing as over 40% of staff live over
10 miles from campus.
Lancashire County Council produce postcode maps on our behalf
plotting the modal split data obtained from the annual surveys.
The maps are useful in highlighting where opportunities for car
sharing and bus travel exist.
Car Parking Space and Demand Management
At present, the University manages its car parks through a permit
allocation system for students and staff as well as providing a
limited number of free visitor parking and pay & display for short
stay parking. The Car Parking Strategy (2011/12-2015/16) specifies
that a maximum of 1400 car park spaces will be provided to
accommodate staff, students and visitors. Whilst demand can
outstrip supply at peak times the University will continue to
concentrate its efforts to control the demand for parking, through
measures contained within this Travel Plan, and will not increase
supply above 1400.
Car parking spaces are also eroded both temporarily, to
accommodate construction compounds and permanently under
new building footprints. The University ensures, however that the
loss of specific car parking spaces to construction is ameliorated
through space allocation on campus or through leasing land
adjacent to campus whilst ensuring that the total number of
spaces remains below 1400. The University also provide facilities
in new buildings and significant refurbishments to encourage
travel by sustainable modes.
Car Parking Locations
Student Parking
As a city centre campus this Travel Plan monitors where staff and
students park in order that we continue to have good relationships
with our neighbours.
Staff Parking
Car Parking Location
University Car Park
Public Car Park
Park & Ride
On Street (residential street)
On Street (non-residential street)
2006/7
%
90
2
1
2
5
2009/10 2012/13
%
%
90
2
0.4
3.5
4
81
3
0
4
10
The majority of staff car commuters park on University car parks,
all staff are entitled to purchase car parking permits no matter
how close they live to the University.
On Street parking has seen a dramatic 7% increase since 2006/7
whilst University car parking has seen a 9% decrease. This could be
due to the national economic situation and personal cost saving
choices. The availability of on street parking in Preston along with
staff prepared to park and walk further distances to campus may
also account for these increases.
Car Parking Location
University car park
Public car park
Park and Ride car park
On street (residential street)
On street (non-residential street)
2006/7
%
30
21
8
24
17
2009/10 2012/13
%
%
25
25
5
28
17
27
26.8
5
24.5
16.6
Students permits are issued subject to strict eligibility criteria based
on distance and personal circumstance and as a result similar
numbers of students use the University car parks and public
car parks. However, on street parking accounts for the majority
of student parking at over 41%.
Think about car sharing...
UCLan Staff and students can
search for a car sharing partner
at www.sharedwheels.co.uk
Comparisons with major local employers
Staff
Modal
Split
Car Solo
Car Share
Walk
Cycle
Train
Bus
UCLan
(2013)
52
11
12
5
11
8
Edge Hill Lancaster Preston
University University
City
(2012)
(2012)
Council
(2009)
58
18
6
4.5
10
3.3
44
17
4
14
22
70.3*
5.2*
4.3
4.1
2.9
12.7
Royal
Preston
Hospital
(2006)
67
2.7
8.4
6
6
* PCC collect data as Car Driver and Car Passenger rather than Car Solo and Car
Sharing so these figures not directly comparable with the other organisations
Single occupancy car use at the University is low in relation to
other major local employers, Preston City Council and the Royal
Preston Hospital. A comparison between UCLan and other Higher
Education institutes shows that whilst solo car commuting rates
are average there is a real potential for increasing staff car sharing
which help us meet our 2017/18 solo car commuting target. Staff
walking rates are significantly greater than other local employers
and cycling rates are average (excluding Lancaster University).
It has been estimated that cycling can account for 10-15% of
journeys to work, and this has been demonstrated by Lancaster
University, however, these figures are probably unrealistic in
Preston because of a lack of safe cycling routes.
UCLan welcomes the opportunity to share data, benchmark and
make publically available all Travel Plans, measures and incentives.
It seeks commitment from all major local employers to do the
same.
Carbon Emissions
The annual travel surveys conducted since 2012/13 have also
been used to estimate carbon emissions associated with staff and
student commuting. Carbon emissions from commuting will be
reported to HEFCE when reporting of Scope 3 travel emissions
becomes mandatory in the Estate Management Records.
Business Travel
Travel Allowances
Business travel allowances are largely managed from the Travel
Office, Financial Services. Business travel procedures specify that
the maximum car mileage allowance (45p/mile) that can be
claimed for any round trip journey is restricted to 150 miles.
For distances between 150 miles and 300 miles a lower rate of
25p/mile will be paid to encourage alternative modes. For distances
over 300 miles the equivalent second class rail fare can be claimed
to encourage rail travel. Mileage rates for cycling are set at 20p/mile.
Carbon Emissions
Since 2010/11 the University’s Agresso Financial software has
been used to collect domestic business mileage using destinations
of travel. Destinations are then used to estimate the carbon
emission data for UK business travel by car (grey fleet), hire car,
rail, bus/coach and domestic air travel.
The Travel Office book international travel and provide data on
airport destinations and type of flight (long haul or short haul)
from which mileage and carbon emissions can be estimated.
Carbon emissions from business travel (by both staff and students)
will be reported to HEFCE when the reporting of Scope 3 travel
emissions becomes mandatory in the Estate Management Records.
No targets for reducing the carbon emissions of business travel
have been agreed as yet.
Fleet Management
The University’s total fleet is limited to around 35 vehicles, most
of which either have specialised functions (e.g. tractors, fork-lift
trucks) or are used almost exclusively on campus (e.g. security,
waste and recycling, catering services). A review of the University
fleet which is currently underway will see a reduction in fleet size.
The vehicle replacement strategy (VRS) specifies that vehicles are
selected according to carbon emissions, fuel efficiency as well as
value for money.
Annual statistics on fleet vehicle mileage and emissions (Scope 1)
for all University vehicles (fleet, SU owned and leased vehicles)
have been collected since 2005/6.
Visitor Travel
Visitors are encouraged to travel to campus by sustainable modes
and a Preston Campus and City guide is available to inform visitors
of available travel options.
Implementation of the Travel Plan
Action Plans
Action plans detail short, medium and long term specific travel
planning measures to support the aims of the Travel Plan. These
are designed to be realistic programmes of work, having regard to
staff and financial resources.
The action plans include:
•
•
•
•
•
Measures to encourage car-sharing
Measures to encourage active travel (cycling and walking)
Measures to encourage rail and bus travel
Reducing the need to travel
Measures to reduce business travel emissions
Partnership
There are many other large employers in Preston who the
University will continue to work in partnership with. These include
Lancashire County Council, Preston City Council and the Royal
Preston Hospital all of whom have site travel plans in place. By
working with these partners, the local transport infrastructure as
a whole can be developed and improved.
Reporting
• Annual Travel Surveys: Modal split audits are reported on
annually as a Key Performance Indicator within Facilities
Management’s planning and business cycles.
• Environmental Management System (ISO14001): Headline
actions for business and commuting travel are tracked through
the system’s Environmental Management Plan and reported on
monthly as a Key Performance Indicator within Facilities
Management’s planning and business cycles. The Plan is
externally audited by the ISO14001 accredited auditors.
• HEFCE/HESA Estate Management Records: It is mandatory to
report Scope 1 emissions (fleet vehicles) annually to HEFCE.
Currently, Scope 3 (business and commuting travel) reporting to
HEFCE is optional but likely to be made mandatory in the future.
• Carbon Trust Standard: The University reports carbon emissions
from fleet and business travel to the Carbon Trust in advance of
certification against the Standard. The University achieved
re-certification in 2013.
University of Central Lancashire
Preston PR1 2HE
www.uclan.ac.uk