Collaboration and engagement with local stakeholders are vital in the delivery of efficient transport services as demonstrated by the Government’s Total Transport initiative, delegates to a CIHT seminar heard last week.
The event explored how taking an integrated approach to transport in rural and isolated areas has the potential to cut cost, reduce carbon emissions and improve customer service.
This came two years after the launch of a Total Transport pilot fund in 2015 which saw £7.8M allocated for projects across 26 local authorities. Successful proposals largely focused on better coordinating transport services within the health and education sectors.
CIHT’s event marked the end of the funding period and provided an opportunity to share lessons learned.
“CIHT has supported this initiative and these pilot schemes have given us a real insight into some of the innovative thinking going on in our industry,” said the Institution’s director of policy and technical affairs Andrew Hugill. “One of the key benefits from this pilot has been in showing how important it is to communicate and collaborate with local partners in the delivery of transport.”
He added: “There are real advantages for transport providers that could lead to significant efficiencies in the way services are provided at the local level. The schemes reporting back have also shown an improved level of customer service for the end users.”
Department for Transport’s Steve Blackmore was one of the speakers at the event and said that, by pooling resources and eliminating duplication of work, several of the pilot schemes have been able to demonstrate real cost efficiencies.
He also revealed that the DfT will be working with local authorities on how to improve engagement with NHS Clinical Commissioning Groups, describing this as vital to the success of Total Transport.
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