Healthy Transport Plan
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Healthy Transport Plan UPDATE 2010 As part of its continuing site development and acknowledging its role within the local community, Kingston Hospital NHS Trust (KHT) is updating its Healthy Transport Plan (HTP). The HTP will include the following sections, including a review of the current position and introduction of additional measures. 1. Introduction 2. Objectives and benefits of the travel plan 3. Staff surveys 4. Management and funding arrangements 5. Travel Plan Measures Ø Pedestrians / Walking Ø Way finding Ø Cycling Ø Bus Ø Rail Ø Cars / Vehicles Ø Smarter Working Practices Ø Publicity/ Marketing 6. Targets and Monitoring 7. Conclusion Page 2 1. Introduction . The continuing rise in the number of cars on the roads contributes greatly towards the problems of traffic congestion and environmental pollution. It is estimated that the NHS generates around 5% of all traffic on UK Roads, so the Department of Health obliges all NHS Trusts to develop Travel Plans in order to manage the amount of car trips they generate. Kingston Hospital is the largest employer in the Borough and attracts huge amounts of patient and visitor trips, so it is likely that it contributes significantly to traffic congestion on local roads. KHT therefore has a responsibility to reduce the impact of its transport needs, for the benefit of the environment and the local community. In addition, encouraging active travel choices such as cycling and walking can help to combat health problems caused by lack of exercise, which is particularly important to the Hospital in it’s role as a health care provider. KHT has long term plans to expand the Hospital site and services. However, severe parking pressures are already experienced on site, so it is vital that the Hospital enables increased numbers of employees, patients and visitors to travel to the site, by means other than the private car. KHT therefore recognises that the Travel Plan is a key component of its long-term development. The car parking strategy at the Hospital is currently under review and proposals will be developed to deliver a better balance between patient and visitor parking and staff car parking levels. Kingston Hospital agreed and implemented a Healthy Transport Strategy in 1999 and was the first employer within the Royal Borough of Kingston–upon- Thames to do so. However, the Hospital site and services have changed significantly since 1999, and the Hospital is now updating the Travel Plan to better deal with the current transport challenges and to allow future expansion of the site without having a negative impact on the road network, the local community and the environment. The findings of recent surveys are included in this report and demonstrate the success of the HTP in reducing car travel to the site by staff. This update will outline a strategy for measures that will be introduced to reduce reliance on car travel and will set appropriate targets to enable the future effectiveness of the plan to be measured. The role of travel plan co-ordinator is currently undertaken by Diane Lee in the Hospital Facilities Department. Page 3 2. Objectives and benefits of the travel plan. The primary objectives of this Travel Plan are to: • Improve the accessibility of this site by increasing the travel choices available to staff, patients and visitors. • Reduce on site parking pressures and contribute to cutting congestion and pollution by reducing the number of cars trips to the site. The Travel Plan will have the following beneficial outcomes for the Hospital, its employees and patients and the wider community: For the Hospital: - • To reduce parking pressures on site and local traffic congestion. • To enable future expansion of the site and services, without having a detrimental effect on local traffic and parking. • To comply with obligations set by the Department of Health and Local Planning Authority to develop a travel plan. • To lead by example in encouraging active travel choices, which can help to improve health and well being. • To reduce staff absenteeism and improve staff health and motivation due to more active travel. • To improve staff travel options, to widen the recruitment pool and improve staff retention rates. • To improve the efficiency of deliveries to the site. For Hospital employees: - • The opportunity to improve health and fitness through active travel choices. • The opportunity to save money by switching to a cheaper travel mode. • An improvement to employees work/ life balance by reducing travel times or providing flexible working arrangements. • A reduction in parking pressures on site for those who really do need a car. For patients and the local community: - • Better access to Hospital services. • Reduced local traffic congestion. • Improved local air quality. • Reduced CO² emissions that contribute to environmental pollution and global warming. Page 4 3. Staff Surveys Since its introduction in 1999, the effectiveness of the travel plan in reducing staff car use has been measured by staff travel surveys that were conducted in 1999, 2002, 2004 and 2006. The 1999 survey is a record of staff travel before the Healthy Transport Strategy was introduced. The February 2002 survey shows the effect of the Strategy two years after its introduction, while the February 2004 survey encompasses the effect of the introduction of the nearby CPZ and Home Zones. Mode 1999 2002 2004 2004 2006 2010 % % (Winter) (Summer) (Autumn) % % % % Main mode Car driver on own 62 50 54 45 50 38 Car driver with 6 8 4 4 0 3 passenger Car passenger 0 2 2 2 0 4 Bus 11 17 13 13 18 19 Train 5 6 10 9 9 14 Walk 7 10 9 13 11 13 Cycle 7 5 5 11 10 4 Motorbike 1 1 2 2 1 1 Hospital transport 1 1 1 1 0 2 (minibus) The survey results indicate that when the HTS was first introduced there was initially a significant drop in car use by over 10%. Since 2002, however, the effectiveness of the travel plan has been relatively limited, with levels of car use continuing to fluctuate around the 50% mark. A detailed snapshot survey was commissioned in 2010, with a significant response rate and this demonstrated that car travel has been substantially reduced from this 2006 figure to around 37%. The survey indicates that cycle travel has dropped in popularity despite this reduction in car travel. The biggest increase has been in the popularity of the train as an alternative mode, which may reflect the fact that staff now travel from further afield. This would also explain the reduction in cycling as a preferred mode of travel. This updated travel plan will aim to improve the effectiveness of the travel plan to achieve further year-on-year reductions in car use. Car driver on own 1999 Survey Car driver with passenger 2002 Survey Car passenger Bus 2004 Survey Train (Winter) Walk 2004 Survey (Summer) Cycle Motorbike 2006 Survey Hospital transport (minibus) 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Page 5 A further ‘snapshot’ survey of staff travel patterns was undertaken in March 2010. In total, 874 independent responses were obtained during the survey, with a further 30 additional responses from staff who indicated differing travel behaviour in the return journey from work. The Trust has an estimated total workforce of 2,900 which includes a significant proportion of shift workers. Accordingly, the total number of staff on site at any one time is significantly less than this figure. Nonetheless, the survey response rate has been based on the total workforce, with a rate of 30.14%. The results demonstrate that single occupancy car driving remains the most popular single mode of travel at 37.8%. However public transport, when considered as whole, is a close second, being used by 35% of staff, reflecting the access to these modes of travel. The combined total of 16.5% of staff walking or cycling is representative of the site’s location within a significant suburban residential area. 4. Management and funding of the Travel Plan The Estates & Facilities committee have Board level responsibility for the Healthy Travel Plan. The day to day management of the plan is allocated to the Estates and Facilities Department. It is an integral part of all Estates Officer job plans to ensure that the aims of the HTP are considered as part of managing and developing the Hospital site. Page 6 Until recently KHT had a Travel Plan Coordinator, who was responsible for the travel plan in addition to other duties. However, whilst undertaking a difficult review of staffing levels at KHT, it was recognised that the role of Travel Plan Coordinator was not very effective. This post was therefore removed and made an integral part of the job description of a number of responsible officers within the Estates & Facilities directorate. This has proved very successful, highlighted by an award to KHT by RBK in recognition of the success of Bike Week, in 2006. KHT reviews the HTP and its impact on the estate and associated facilities at Estates & Facilities Committee, the Hospital Management Committee and also at the Trust Partnership Forum with the Trust Trade Union representation. Relevant Officers from KHT also take an active role in Travel Plan forums including the Kingston Travel Plan Network and the South West London NHS Travel Plan forum. This enables the KHT to keep up to date with travel planning best practice and to participate in wider travel and transport initiatives. The travel plan and associated measures are funded by income generated from staff parking permits. This funding facilitates staff benefit projects such as improved security and secure bike parking facilities. 5. Travel Plan Measures The following section will review progress so far and outline measures that will be introduced for each of the main modes of travel.