Travel Plans for New Residential Developments: Insights from Theory and Practice (eBook)

Chris is a Research Fellow in the Public Transport Research Group at the Institute of Transport Studies in the Department of Civil Engineering, Monash University. He is also the Deputy Director of the Sustainable and Effective Public Transport - Graduate Research Interdisciplinary Program (SEPT-GRIP). Prior to joining Monash, Chris worked as a transport planner for 12 years, both with the Victorian government and in consulting.

Supervisor’s Foreword 6
Abstract 8
Parts of this thesis have been published in the following journal articles: 10
Acknowledgements 11
Contents 13
Abbreviations 17
List of Figures 18
List of Tables 21
1 Introduction 24
1.1 Overview 24
1.2 Background and Motivation 24
1.3 Research Aim and Objectives 25
1.4 Scope and Theoretical Context 26
1.5 Contribution of This Study 27
1.6 Structure of This Thesis 27
References 29
2 Travel Plans and Their Application to New Developments 31
2.1 Introduction 31
2.2 The Travel Planning Process 33
2.3 Actors Involved in the Travel Planning Process 35
2.4 Geographical Coverage and Scope 38
2.4.1 United States: A Strong Regulatory Approach with a Focus on Workplaces 39
2.4.2 United Kingdom: A Large Focus on Requiring Travel Plans for New Developments 40
2.4.3 Australia: A Focus on Voluntary Adoption by Workplaces and Schools 43
2.4.4 Other Countries 44
2.5 Issues with Requiring Travel Plans for New Developments 45
2.6 Evaluating the Effectiveness of Travel Plans 46
2.7 Success Factors for Travel Plans 52
2.8 Conclusion 54
References 56
3 Theoretical Foundations 62
3.1 Introduction 62
3.2 Implementation Theory 63
3.2.1 Top-down Approach to Implementation 64
3.2.2 Bottom-up Approach to Implementation 67
3.2.3 Comparing Approaches to Implementation 68
3.3 Planning Enforcement Theory 70
3.3.1 Systematic Approach to Planning Enforcement 70
3.3.2 Facilitative Approach to Planning Enforcement 70
3.3.3 Comparing the Systematic and Facilitative Approaches to Planning Enforcement 71
3.4 Conclusion 73
References 74
4 Research Methodology 76
4.1 Introduction 76
4.2 Review of Research Methods 76
4.3 Overall Research Approach 81
4.3.1 Research Component 1: Online Survey of Victorian Councils 81
4.3.2 Research Component 2: Interviews with Industry Representatives 84
4.3.3 Research Component 3: Desktop Assessment of Travel Plans 85
4.3.4 Research Component 4: Case Studies of New Residential Developments 85
4.3.5 Research Component 5: Application and Integration of Implementation and Planning Enforcement Theories 86
4.4 Limitations of the Research Approach 87
4.5 Conclusion 88
References 89
5 The Scale of Travel Planning Practice 90
5.1 Introduction 90
5.2 Research Method 91
5.3 Results 94
5.3.1 Requirements for Travel Plans 94
5.3.2 Reasons for Requiring Travel Plans 95
5.3.3 Reasons for Not Requiring Travel Plans 96
5.3.4 Mechanisms Used to Require Travel Plans 96
5.3.5 Monitoring of Travel Plans 97
5.3.6 Familiarity and Experience with Travel Plans 97
5.3.7 Perceived Effectiveness of Travel Plans 98
5.3.8 Future Likelihood of Requiring Travel Plans 100
5.3.9 Other Key Issues 100
5.4 Discussion 101
5.5 Conclusion 102
References 103
6 Actor Perspectives 104
6.1 Introduction 104
6.2 Research Method 105
6.3 Results 110
6.3.1 Industry Involvement with Travel Plans for New Residential Developments 110
6.3.2 Perceived Benefits of Travel Plans for New Residential Developments 111
6.3.3 Potential Shortcomings of Travel Plans for New Residential Developments 112
6.3.4 Interactions Between OrganisationsActors 113
6.3.5 Challenges Associated with Implementation 114
6.3.6 Potential Responses to Implementation Challenges 115
6.3.7 Future Expectations of Travel Plans for New Residential Developments 116
6.3.8 Synthesis of Interview Findings 116
6.4 Discussion 118
6.5 Conclusion 120
References 120
7 Travel Plan Quality 122
7.1 Introduction 122
7.2 Research Context 124
7.3 Research Method 128
7.3.1 Development of Assessment Framework 128
7.3.2 Sourcing of Travel Plans 131
7.3.3 Review of Travel Plan Content 133
7.3.4 Application of the Assessment Framework 133
7.4 Results 133
7.4.1 Content Summary 133
7.4.1.1 Authorship and Document Length 133
7.4.1.2 Land Use Type and Location 133
7.4.1.3 Travel Plan Measures 135
7.4.2 Assessment Results 137
7.4.2.1 Overview 137
7.4.2.2 Key Strengths 139
7.4.2.3 Key Areas for Improvement 139
7.4.2.4 Distribution of Scores 139
7.4.2.5 Scores by Travel Plan Authorship 140
7.4.2.6 Scores by Travel Plan Document Length 140
7.4.2.7 Consistency in Applying the Assessment Framework 142
7.5 Discussion 142
7.6 Conclusion 144
References 144
8 Travel Plan Impacts 146
8.1 Introduction 146
8.2 Literature Review of Residential Self-selection 148
8.3 Research Methods 149
8.3.1 Description of Case and Control Sites 150
8.3.2 Data Collection and Analysis 151
8.3.2.1 Multi-modal person trip counts 151
8.3.2.2 Car and Bicycle Parking Utilisation Surveys 155
8.3.2.3 Resident Travel Survey 156
8.4 Results 161
8.4.1 Vehicle Trip Generation Rates 161
8.4.2 Transport Mode Shares 163
8.4.3 Car and Bicycle Parking Utilisation 165
8.4.4 Awareness and Use of Travel Plan Measures 166
8.4.5 Residential Self-selection 167
8.5 Discussion 173
8.6 Conclusion 175
References 176
9 Opportunities to Enhance Impacts 178
9.1 Introduction 178
9.2 Application of Implementation Theory 180
9.2.1 Application of the Top-down Approach to Implementation 180
9.2.2 Application of the Bottom-up Approach to Implementation 182
9.2.3 Opportunities to Enhance the Impacts of Travel Plans for New Residential Developments 183
9.2.3.1 Ensuring Planning Requirements are Sound and Supported by Relevant Planning Policies 183
9.2.3.2 Developing a Stronger Industry Focus for Residential Travel Planning 184
9.2.3.3 Facilitating Greater Ownership and Engagement in the Residential Travel Planning Process 184
9.2.3.4 Improving the Quality of Residential Travel Plans 185
9.2.3.5 Developing Guidance Material That is Tailored to New Residential Developments 185
9.2.3.6 Providing Regular Training Opportunities and Forums for Sharing Knowledge 186
9.3 Application of Planning Enforcement Theory 186
9.3.1 Context 186
9.3.2 Application of the Systematic Approach to Planning Enforcement 187
9.3.3 Application of the Facilitative Approach to Planning Enforcement 188
9.3.4 Opportunities to Enhance the Impacts of Travel Plans for New Residential Developments 189
9.3.4.1 Adopting a More Pro-active and Facilitative Style of Enforcement but Retaining the Option to Employ a Systematic Approach if Needed 189
9.3.4.2 Ensuring an Adequate Number of Technically Competent Staff are Available for Enforcement 190
9.3.4.3 Incorporating Best Practice Elements of Enforcement into Training and Guidance Material 190
9.3.4.4 Extending Training Opportunities to Enforcement Officers 190
9.3.4.5 Other Opportunities 190
9.4 Towards an Integrated Theory of Implementation and Enforcement 191
9.5 Conclusion 194
References 196
10 Conclusions 198
10.1 Introduction 198
10.2 Summary of Key Findings and Contributions 198
10.3 Implications for Theory and Practice 204
10.4 Critique 205
10.5 Future Research Directions 206
Appendix ACommon Travel Plan Measures 208
Appendix BSuccess Factors for Travel Plans 212
Appendix CCouncil Survey Questionnaire 215
Appendix DLetter to Property Managers 219
Appendix EPre-Notification Letter 220
Appendix FResident Survey Postcard 221
Appendix GResident Survey Questionnaire 222
References 231