What's the outlook for Smarter Choices?

When Scotland wakes on 6th May, one thing is for certain; the transport sector will continue to face extreme pressure in terms of funding. 

With less money available, prioritising programmes and projects to ensure best value is achieved is vital. The current vision of transport in Scotland across all the main parties is dominated by high cost infrastructure projects – the new Forth Crossing, Edinburgh Tram,  Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route, dualling the A9, motorway improvements on the M8, M73 and M74, Glasgow-Edinburgh rail programme, redevelopment of the Glasgow Subway and Borders Rail being just some examples. While some of these high cost schemes are seen by the main parties as essential to improve transport infrastructure in Scotland, it’s hard to imagine sustaining this level of spending in the future when money is so tight and so much appears to hang on efficiency savings.

Smarter Choices measures can deliver wide ranging benefits at little cost and over a short timescale, which is attractive in times of austerity. The political parties understand this to a degree, and have pledged support to sustainable travel in their manifestos. 

With relatively modest resources, programmes such as Smarter Choices Smarter Places have resulted in real change in the communities where they have been delivered, through implementation of sustainable travel measures across all modes and have seen wide ranging carbon, health and economic benefits.

Evaluation of the Smarter Choices Smarter Places programme is ongoing. Evidence from previous similar schemes in the UK – such as the sustainable travel demonstration town projects in Darlington, Peterborough and Worcester – show impressive results, with car driver trips down by 9% points and increases in bus, cycle and walking trips against a pattern of decline in other similar locations.

Compared to the more costly interventions, research shows per pound spent Smarter Choices can deliver benefits in excess of more costly schemes. For example, research undertaken on behalf of the Department for Transport (DfT) has highlighted a Benefit-Cost Ratio (BCR) of 4.5 for the Sustainable Travel Town pilots (www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/sustainable/smarterchoices/programmes/pdf/chap21.pdf), rising to up to 6.1 for cycling-focussed programmes, such as the cycling demonstration towns (Beyond The Numbers: Exploring The Wider Benefits And Indicators Of Successful Personalised Travel Planning Through Real Life Case Studies, Scott Gibson - East Renfrewshire Council, John Geelan & Kirsty Davison - Steer Davies Gleave). These compare favourably with larger infrastructure projects and highlight the cost effective nature of smarter measures.

It is anticipated that external evaluation of ‘Go Barrhead’, along with the other six Smarter Choices programmes, will provide evidence that Smarter Choices in Scotland has delivered the same level of benefit as the English examples. Already, preliminary evaluation in Barrhead has shown cycling and walking counts to have increased and feedback from residents has highlighted direct health impacts .  Could this mean that with budgets under  continued pressure and large scale infrastructure projects becoming harder to deliver, Smarter Choices can finally play a greater role  as the practical as well as ‘smarter’ option for meeting Scotland’s transport, health and environmental challenges?

Scott Gibson, Senior Transportation Office and Project Manager for East Renfrewshire Council’s Go Barrhead Project, thinks there is a significant role for Smarter Choices in the future:

“Go Barrhead isn’t just a transport project.  We really want to make the most of the wide ranging community benefits that Smarter Choices can bring.  As a result of Go Barrhead, we’ve recorded increased levels of walking and cycling activity, meaning people are not only travelling in a more environmentally friendly way, but are also improving their general health and fitness.

Smarter Choices can also provide wider quality of life benefits to individuals and lead to increased use of local retail and community facilities. Consultants input to the project was necessary, but was kept proportionate, with their knowledge and expertise used to develop the skills of local people employed to work on the project.”

Steer Davies Gleave has supported clients across Scotland, including East Renfrewshire and Orkney Islands Council in delivering effective Smarter Choices interventions in their community.  As well as in delivery, we are experts in transferring our knowledge and supporting clients by targeting interventions where they will have the greatest benefit, for example in using innovative and low cost GIS techniques.  Other examples include our current work with Car Plus, considering expansion opportunities for Car Clubs across Scotland and promotion of sustainable travel options via social networking sites such as for Tactran’s Connect website.

To arrange an informal meeting to discuss how you could take Smarter Choices forward within your organisation, please contact John Geelan on 0141 224 0923.