Revisions to the TPP were launched last month, following the 10 year Review of the TPP, undertaken by Professor Glenn Lyons.  The basic structure is maintained, but guidance has been clarified, expanded and updated. 

The Review showed that the profession has grown in its authority and reach since 2008 and has become acutely aware of the need to maintain our multi-disciplinary nature and to combine an open minded approach with the strongest possible evidence base.  This requires us, as professionals, to put forward an independent and rigorous view and this is embodied in the concept of constructive challenge, which runs throughout the TPP revisions. 

A second theme from the Review was how to deal with uncertainty, and how to be transparent about it to a wider public as well as ourselves as transport planners.  Again these elements will now be made explicit in the TPP and TPS has recently revised its Code of Conduct to more clearly reflect these important principles. For this reason there has been considerable emphasis on the sections of the TPP dealing with professional skills and how to develop them, particularly through CPD as a lifetime commitment.

In parallel, work on revising the TPS PDS (currently Version 3.1) has been going on since the end of last year and Version 4 will be launched at a webinar on 26th May at 2pm.  It will also be the main item for discussion at the PDS Managers meeting on 7th June.  As well as ensuring compatibility with the TPP, the opportunity has been taken to incorporate some of the content from PDS Advice Notes, remove duplication, increase clarity, and improve consistency.  Thanks are due to the PDS Managers, the TPP’s Professional Standards Committee and the TPS Board who have reviewed drafts and made important contributions as the work has progressed.

Mapping the PDS Units to the TPP is now even easier and includes a closer alignment in the Professional Skills Units, which have always been integral to the PDS.  Travel planning has been widened to include travel behaviour change of all types, modelling and appraisal reflect advice and guidance from both TPP and PDS, and items such as public and stakeholder engagement have been defined more clearly.

The Final Draft is being published in advance of the launch webinar and the document will be confirmed so that it can be used from June onwards for new PDS members.  We are suggesting that those already participating in the PDS should have two options:

1)              continue with Version 3.1 and complete the scheme using the existing guidance provided; or

2)              use Version 3.1 for those Units they are close to completing and Version 4 for other Units.

TPS Skills Director, Keith Buchan said:

“TPS has the strongest possible commitment to its skills work and will work closely as ever with our partners and colleagues to progress our shared vision for the profession and carry through our policy for continuous improvement.  The TPP and PDS revisions also open the door to non-UK participants. Together with the acquisition of the chartered title and the creation of the transport planning apprenticeships there are new and exciting routes to becoming qualified in this great profession.”

The Final Draft of Version 4 is available here.

The launch webinar is on 26th May with the link here 

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85665583416?pwd=U3NUZWFXV2FTZFFSV0VJbEdLbTBwZz09#success