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Back to News & Blogs TfSE Centre of Excellence: Empowering Local Transport Authorities to Deliver By: TfSE The Government made a commitment to establish Centres of Excellence in the Levelling Up White Paper in February 2022. This White Paper tacitly acknowledged the fact that, after twelve years of cuts, a lack of capacity and capability was holding back the delivery of improvements to local transport. Centres of Excellence were a new approach to fixing this problem. Previously, funding was spread thinly across local transport authorities, pushing up costs as all local transport authorities compete for the same, limited resource. Centres of Excellence maximise value for money, by developing tools and models, and procuring specialists at the regional level. The TfSE Centre of Excellence is building an empowered community of local transport authorities, who are able to deliver DfT priorities and evolving demands of the transport sector, and reduce their reliance on consultancies, saving money. TfSE has developed an industry-leading Centre of Excellence. We are the only STB that has built a dedicated website for the Centre of Excellence. This website gives every local transport authority Officer a space where they can log on to access: New to the Sector, Case Studies, Procurement, Funding, Consultations, Qualifications, Webinars, Resources, News & Blogs, Key tools, Events & Data The platform also offers a chat forum, which brings together partners such as academics, operators, DfT, national agencies and professional institutes, to discuss challenges and opportunities. Supporting our local transport authorities to deliver the Government’s missions: EV Charging Infrastructure Locate Tool : Provide LTAs with forecasts of charge point demand Carbon Assessment Playbook : A tool developed to help LTAs reduce carbon emissions Bus Back Better : 11 support packages developed to help BSIP delivery, including a Regional Bus Forum Training : 8 deep dives on a range of topics including business case development and modelling, attended by 250+ officers. Why it matters... The TfSE Centre of Excellence is a vital platform, helping to deliver the Government’s missions, and a valued resource for LTA officers in delivering their local priorities. It does this by: Enhancing the capability of local authorities to deliver impactful transport solutions, improving the lives of local residents. Helping to deliver national missions on economic growth, by using public transport to unlock new housebuilding, and decarbonising the transport system, by supporting buses and the transition to EVs. Ensuring the South East remains at the forefront of innovation and excellence, helping local authorities leverage new technologies like AI. Why STBs? The Department for Transport commissioned STBs to create Centres of Excellence, recognising our unique place in the market. STBs already bring together Local Transport Authorities through our Board, and had already built strong regional models, in the process of developing our Transport Strategies. Successes so far... Reach : 240 Sign Ups 100% of TfSE’s local transport authorities Support : 211 new uploads containing relevant, timely and useful information Engagement : 1196 unique visitors between Sept-Nov Resources : Our Tools and Case Studies have been accessed 308 times For further details or to arrange a briefing, please contact Rupert.Clubb@eastsussex.gov.uk

Back to News & Blogs Transport modelling By: TfSE Transport modelling is a fascinating blend of fields such as transport planning, engineering, data science, behaviour science, and more. It uses math and computers to understand how transportation systems work, critical for making smart decisions about land use and infrastructure investments. In a recent review of transport modelling in the South East region, we found that all local transport authorities have access to models covering their areas. However, many authorities feel they don't have enough expertise to use these models effectively and rely on consultants. This can be overwhelming, especially considering the costs involved. So, why bother spending all this money on what seems like a ‘black box’? Let's break it down into two questions: Do we really need a model to help us plan transport? And do we have to spend a fortune to get one? Consider this: Have you ever used Google Maps to plan a trip? Congratulations, you've experienced a basic form of transport modelling! Whether it's plotting the quickest route, estimating travel costs, or identifying a preferred shop for a stopover, it's all a testament to the power of modelling. While for a local journey you may rely on memory, even that is a form of 'modelling' based on “data” - past experiences. What would happen without these “models”? You may find yourself in the wrong place or having spent significantly more time and effort than necessary. While this may not seem like an immediate concern on an individual level, in the realm of transport planning, such oversights can have significant repercussions. We cannot afford to invest in infrastructure projects only to later realise that it generates more issues than benefits. A robust transport model aids in testing our plans, ensuring that we identify optimal solutions within the intricate framework of the city's transportation system. There are various types of models (e.g. strategic, mesoscopic, microsimulation, machine learning, AI), each with its own complexity and purpose. While a comprehensive review of modelling would require a doctoral thesis, let's simplify matters by envisioning the analytical framework as building blocks within a pyramid. At the core of this framework (Level 1) lies data—the foundation for everything else. A model without good quality data to train and validate is not different from an expensive video game. Next comes the model itself. There are simpler models (Level 2) that simulate what we observe, such as traffic flow or journey time, and more complex ones (Level 3) that delve into root of problems. These often integrate a number of simpler models from Level 2, for instance, the Variable Demand Model to simulate how and why a specific group of people travel in observed patterns. Nowadays, with AI models, we're predicting outcomes faster than ever before. However, there is a catch: despite their speed and accuracy, interpreting the results of AI models remains challenging for even modellers. Advancing up the pyramid, we have tools for policy formulation and decision-making (Level 4). These tools leverage the model's output to assist in decisions such as whether to build new roads or improve public transport. Lastly, at Level 5, we develop the means to share and disseminate analysis results. Now, to the second question: Must we break the bank to develop an analytical framework? Not necessarily! Many of the tools, or at least the methodology for developing the tools, already exist and are documented in a machine-readable language. The key lies in obtaining the right data and employing appropriate tools. You wouldn’t want to use sledgehammer to crack a nut, or even worse, a peanut! This is where we can assist. At TfSE, we're dedicated to supporting our partners, whether as a “Contributor” bridging gaps in data availability, or as “Product Owner” leading the development of models and tools in optimal form. We are fully aware of that this does not mean, as a local transport authority officer, you no longer need to build or manage a local transport model. However, this will reduce the time and, therefore, the costs for building or updating your local transport model. Additionally, we hope this provides you with resources to better understand your local models and tools. All you need to do is talking to us about your needs. The Regional Centre of Excellence and the South East Transport Modelling and Appraisal Forum are the two of example flatforms that we have provided for you to contribute to and benefits from what we do here at TfSE. In conclusion, while transport modelling may seem daunting, it remains essential for making evidence-based decisions to shape the future of our cities. By collaborating and utilising the right tools, we can make informed decisions and create more sustainable transportation systems. If you have any questions about our analytical framework, please don't hesitate to reach out to us.

Return to all Resources Hampshire County Council | Fixing Transport Assessments Phase 2 recommendations The report summarises Phase 2 findings, covering detailed recommendations on metrics that should be considered through transport assessment. Fixing Transport Assessments .pdf Download PDF • 1.06MB Associated skills: Statutory Planning

Return to all Resources Department for Transport | A step-by-step guide to electric vehicles for fleets A guide to integrating EVs into your fleet https://energysavingtrust.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/EST0018-001-EV-Guide-for-Fleet-Manager-WEB.pdf Associated skills: Future Technologies

Return to all Resources UK GOV | Transport appraisal and strategic modelling research reports Forecasting the future demand for travel https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/transport-appraisal-and-strategic-modelling-tasm-research-reports#forecasting-the-future-demand-for-travel Associated skills: Appraisal

Return to all Events TfSE | Draft Transport Strategy Consultation Launch Webinar You are invited to join us to hear more about our plans for the Strategy from the TfSE Chair and Chief Officer, guest speakers and the Transport Strategy Team. We will cover the development and content of the Transport Strategy, new areas of focus and developing priorities, as well as the opportunities for feedback during the 12-week consultation. Associated Documentation Transport Strategy Refresh - Launch Webinar Presentation (10-12-2024) .pdf Download PDF • 2.98MB

Back to Key Tools National Audit Office | Transport accessibility to local services: a journey time tool Examining transport accessibility to key local services in England Explore tool

Back to Key Tools Transport for the North | Transport related social exclusion Transport-related social exclusion in England Explore tool

Back to Key Tools National EV Insight & Support Supplying reliable, independent, up-to-date information about Electric Vehicles and EV Infrastructure. Explore tool

Back to Key Tools Active Travel England (ATE) | Scheme review tools Route and area check tools to assess the quality of active travel designs for active travel interventions and schemes. Explore tool

Back to Key Tools Active Travel England (ATE) | Design assistance tools Route cross-section and crossing selector tools to support users during the design process of active travel interventions and schemes. Explore tool

Back to Key Tools National Highways | Carbon emissions calculation tool A tool to calculate carbon emissions for operational, construction and maintenance activities undertaken on behalf of National Highways. Explore tool