Message from the Chair: What’s next?

A number of recent events have got me thinking about ‘what’s next?’, in particular this being my last Bulletin message as TPS Chair, as my two-year term ends this month.

I am writing this not long after the government announced its roadmap out of the current lockdown for England. If all goes to plan, by 21 June there will be no legal limits on ‘social contact or life events’. This is of course exciting news, but what’s next for travel behaviour and transport planning?

Our profession has always seen the pandemic as an opportunity to create positive change. I would like that to be the case, so was disappointed to see £93m worth of road upgrades described under the ‘build back better’ slogan in January and a surge in international flight bookings following the government’s roadmap announcement. It’s a reminder that transport planners need to remain focused and not miss this opportunity to create a low carbon transport system, from active travel on a local street to high speed rail for long distance travel.

But there are positive signs too. Climate change issues and the need for decarbonisation is becoming more mainstream, it’s being talked about more on the news and gaining support with the general public. And in our business, the Treasury’s review of the Green Book late last year had some very positive indications, with more emphasis on a project’s strategic case relative to the benefit-to-cost ratio (BCR), and the increased importance of place-based analysis to help drive the ‘levelling-up’ agenda. More recently, the new guidance note from TRICS on the practical implementation of the decide and provide approach for future development planning also looks like an important shift in thinking. Make sure you draw on these to support your assessments to build the case for sustainable transport.

And what’s next for the TPS? As I mentioned in my last message, we are planning our Transport Planning Day campaign this year focused on Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in transport planning. We have an important update to the Transport Planning Professional (TPP) guidance coming up, making it easier for non-UK based transport planners to get TPP and to include ideas of constructive challenge and dealing with uncertainty. We will have a number of new Board members joining the team and a new Chair appointed to replace me after the AGM on 11 March. So exciting times for the Society – and if you have any ideas about activities and events you would like to see then please get in touch.

And finally what next for me? Well, I have thoroughly enjoyed being Chair of TPS, it’s been an honour and a privilege. I am proud of what we have achieved over the last couple of years: gaining chartership status for the TPP qualification with the CIHT, the success of the Transport Planning Day campaigns, the continued popularity of the Bursary scheme, and our unique projects last year: the State of the Nations report and ‘Our Future Towns’ initiative.

I have met loads of great people in the role - on the TPS Board, from our membership, from our partner institutions and from the stakeholder organisations we work with. It’s been motivating and educational working with such passionate people and I am already thinking about what my next role might be, where I can make a similar contribution and support our profession. And of course, I plan to stay involved with TPS as an active member. And I would urge anyone thinking about getting involved with the Society, or other organisations, to go ahead and do it – you won’t regret it.

Goodbye for now !

Stephen Bennett

Chair, Transport Planning Society