Event Report
Our Charity Partner
Transport for All (TfA)
Transport for All (TfA) champions accessible transport, and the rights of disabled and older people to travel with freedom and independence. Over 25 years, we have built a strong community of over 500 members that share our aims to challenge and change policies, practice and behaviour to create free and fair access. TfA’s trustees, staff and volunteers are made up of a majority of disabled and older people, who experience and understand the physical, social, economic and policy level barriers that prevent travel. We run effective campaigns and lobby on local, London-wide and national accessible transport issues.
Outline
Earlier this year (February 2017), the Department for Transport (DfT) awarded nineteen councils across England government funding of between £50,000 to £300,000 each, based on their ideas to improve journeys through digital innovation.
Improving the parking experience through government funding of smart parking projects has potential benefits for both motorists and the wider economy - it can cut congestion, speed up journeys, clean up the environment and improve accessibility.
As local traffic authorities, councils have a statutory duty to manage their networks with the aim of ‘securing the expeditious movement of traffic’ and are providing innovative approaches to tackling congestion, whilst keeping in check the predicted levels of traffic growth.
In addition, the Local Government Association (LGA) recently published a report (August 2017), identifying congestion as a severe problem for economic development, quality of life and public health. The report also highlighted that councils are constrained by a lack of resources and powers to act.
With the DfT forecasting up to 55 per cent increase in traffic by 2040 and up to 85 per cent in congestion levels, and rising concerns from people about congestion in towns and cities. This timely Cephas Public Policy Communications symposium provides an invaluable opportunity for local authorities, central government and businesses to identify ways councils can work with government and industry to develop smart parking projects, whilst better managing and finding solutions for traffic growth, congestion and air quality problems.
Order of the day
09:30 Registration and Morning Refreshments
10:15 Chairs Introduction
10:30 Morning Presentations
Parking strategies
- Explore the workplace parking levy and its potential impact on residents, commuters and businesses if implemented by more local transport authorities
- Testing parking related initiatives - understanding diesel vehicle surcharging and its intended policy outcome
- Pavement parking - discuss the pros and cons to banning pavement parking outside London
- Parking payment methods – in addition to offering a variety of ways to pay for parking, what more can councils do to better serve the needs of local communities?
- Case Study - Beyond parking payments: creating an effortless end-to-end experience
11:30 Morning Coffee Break
11:45 Open Floor Deliberation and Debate
12:45 Networking Lunch
13:30 Afternoon Presentations
The Role of Local Authorities in Tackling Congestion in our Towns, Cities and Communities
