Big data, small changes: evaluating the impact of the local sustainable transport fund on travel behaviour and awareness

A common question asked in current travel behaviour research is whether investment in sustainable travel leads to significant changes in travel behaviour and awareness? In this large-scale study, we looked at the preliminary impact of UK Central Government funding to encourage sustainable modes of transport as implemented by three regional transport authorities and local councils through the Local Sustainable Transport Fund (LSTF). The evaluation method was predominantly quantitative, the main component being a longitudinal postal cohort survey. The survey was conducted in five treatment areas that werethe subject of local LSTF-funded transport interventions, which included physicalinfrastructure upgrades as well as softer measures: a town in Leicestershire; two districts in South Hampshire, and two districts of Greater Manchester. In addition, in each of the three regions, surveys were undertaken in control (or comparison) areas that had not received such interventions. The survey tool comprised a self-completion questionnaire covering respondents’ awareness and usage of various land-based transport modes, including a seven-day travel diary. The initial survey was conducted in December 2013/Spring 2014 (withthe after survey a year later - to follow), and the results compared against identical surveys in the three similar demographic control areas in the three regions. Over 64,000 questionnaires were distributed, which gave rise to a response rate of over 13%, from which nearly 6,800 completed or partially completed records were obtained and analysed. An age-weighting wasapplied to the travel diary data, to account for the variation in the sample versus the demography of the local populations, and the results analysed according to five different travel purposes, using guidance from the UK’s Department for Transport, the project sponsor. The data from this 2013/14 survey suggests there are already small effects arising from the LSTF interventions, particularly from public transport interchange improvements, bus priority measures, demand responsive transport and improved cycling infrastructure. The level of awareness for these schemes is higher in the treatment areas than the control areas, and this is reflected in the travel diary data, which suggests respondents from the treatment areas tend to travel shorter distances per round trip on average, with a significant greater proportion being conducted by bus, and less as car driver. This study also shows the potential of collecting large datasets across different sources for travel behaviour analysis; however further research, including comparisons with cordon counts and results from the follow-on survey, need to be conducted before more substantive conclusions can be drawn