Local Sustainable Transport Fund
Northumberland County Council have been
successful in its bid for the Local Sustainable Transport Fund and
will be receiving £2.842 million from now until 2015 to deliver
sustainable transport solutions.
During 2011 the Government announced the
creation of a Local Sustainable Transport Fund (LSTF) to meet the
key objectives of helping to create growth in the economy and to
tackle climate change by cutting carbon emissions. The LSTF
allowed local authorities, outside of the London area, to bid for
funding to support delivery of sustainable transport solutions that
support economic growth.
During February 2012 the authority submitted a
bid to the LSTF entitled ‘South East Northumberland Sustainable
Transport to Work’. This bid asked for £2.842m to
deliver a package of measures to improve sustainable travel to
access jobs and training opportunities in South East
Northumberland. The delivery of this package would help
people access jobs and training, encourage sustainable commuting
and create a low-carbon travel culture for future generations.
The objectives of the Northumberland LSTF bid
are to:
- Enable people to access a
wider range of job opportunities improving connectivity and
creating sustainable transport links to jobs and training.
- Encourage sustainable
commuting for people already in work by making it more attractive
to use the bus, walk or cycle. This will reduce traffic
congestion and improve safety, health and air quality.
- Create a low-carbon travel
culture by giving people a better understanding of available travel
options to increase travel horizons and sustainable commuting.
The package of measures within the
Northumberland LSTF includes:
- Welfare to Work – Targeting
people who are claiming welfare benefits and seeking work.
Providing personalised Travel Planning and Travel Training to job
seekers and expanding the existing Green Light to Work scheme.
- Cycle to Work – Delivering
infrastructure improvements to enhance the South East
Northumberland cycle route network and provide cycle training and
confidence to both job seekers and those already in
employment.
- Bus to Work – Improving and
promoting the local bus services to improve access to major
employment sites in Northumberland and to job opportunities in
North Tyneside and beyond. This package will also deliver bus
infrastructure improvements and provide those entering employment a
Through Ticketing Multimodal Smart Card containing credit to allow
them to travel before they receive their first salary payment.
- Behaviour Change – Maximising
the benefits of the schemes through a targeted programme of
marketing, education, engagement and travel planning.
The LSTF project is leading on the
implementation of the LSTF project, however procurement
opportunities for individual strands may arise as the project
progresses.
Within the next year the following procurement
opportunities may arise:
- Car share website – joint procurement
exercise with Tyne & Wear authorities
- Scooter hire scheme to support job
starters
- Market research to understand
motivations behind travel habits of target audience – joint
procurement exercise with Tyne & Wear authorities
- Possibly some marketing assistance for
a campaign we are planning in February – again this may be a joint
exercise with the Tyne & Wear authorities
- Sustainable transport challenge
Follow this
link for details of the Northumberland LSTF Bid Document
Follow this link for details of Local Transport
Plan 2011 - 2026
Follow this
link to read the latest Go Smarter newsletter
