Managing Traffic Incidents - University of Queensland

The UK Multi-Modal Transport Studies
– are there any ideas for Australian transport planning?
Figure 1: Typical MMS Area
Underinvestment in
transport
10 DECEMBER 2001
by Stephen Luke, PPK Environment and Infrastructure, Brisbane Australia
T
Deprivation
his article provides an overview of
the strategic Multi-Modal Transport
Studies (MMS) currently underway
in the UK and is based on research
documents and UK publications and experience
from an interurban multi modal transport study
between London and Ipswich. The purpose of
this article is to identify and stimulate discussion
about techniques and ideas which could be
appropriate to Australasian transport planning
practice.
Multi Modal Studies – what are they?
Transport issues are becoming increasingly important
to economic prosperity and quality of
life. To plan for the future, the UK Government
has commissioned a number of major transport
studies throughout England. These are looking
at current transport problems and issues, how
these might change in the future, and what
transport solutions might be found to best address
them.
The studies are large-scale regional studies
and are very important since they collectively
encompass a large part of England and are expected
to address complex problems of transport,
the economy and the environment.
Figure 1 shows the study area for the MMS
covering the south west of England from London
to Cornwall. This particular region has a
Links to South Wales
Environmental
Preservation
Peripherality
Population growth
and Tourist Traffic
Links to Europe
Economic
growth
Rurality
number of transport problems including summer
congestion on road and rail links, daily
peak period congestion on key motorways, rail
capacity constraints and infrequent rail services
to some destinations. Air services provide only
limited access to the national and world network.
There are significant pockets of deprivation
in some areas whilst other areas have very
buoyant local economies. The region also suffers
peripherality from the remainder of the UK
and Europe. The south west of England also has
very significant natural and built environmental
assets that need to be protected.
As the above example demonstrates, instead
of focussing on a particular mode, MMS examine
the role of each of the transport modes in
the area or corridor concerned to identify the
contribution that each can make to meeting objectives
for the sustainable development of the
region, area or corridor under consideration.
Therefore MMS do not simply look at a congested
or unsafe stretch of road to decide what
improvements could be made, but will also examine
what scope there is for expanding the
role of public transport, or for using traffic
management or other measures to manage the
demand on the existing infrastructure, as well
as other options improve the road in question.
In most cases the solution is likely to be a
combination of measures which together meet
the national, local and regional objectives.
The UK Department of Environmental,
Transport and the
Regions has drawn up guidance
on the methodologies to be
used when undertaking the
MMS (GOMMS).
The studies should identify
transport and other policy options
to cater for future demands
and to assess the contri-
Links to Europe
butions which different modes
of transport can make to meet
future demands. These options
could include:
– Measures to make better use
of existing transport infrastructure;
Links to Midlands