The Travelfootprint.org website was awarded the Most Innovative Transport Project Award at the prestigious London Transport Awards in London last night, for its unique online tools which enable non-experts to compare the environmental impacts of the main methods of passenger travel in the UK.
Robyn Davies, Principal Transport Planner at the London Borough of Camden and Manager of the Clear Zone Partnership who own the Travelfootprint website said: "We think it is a great tool to help people change their travel behaviour and we're very pleased that this special environmental cradle-to-grave tool and its usability has been recognised by the judges. We're also very grateful to Transport for London for funding the site and the background research."
Councillor Chris Knight, Executive Member for Environment at Camden, said: "Air quality in Camden is directly related to emissions from transportation. By reducing these emissions, the Council can improve air quality and also help to tackle climate change. Travelfootprint is just one of the Council's innovative projects to work towards this important goal."
Hosted by radio and television presenter Jeremy Vine, the awards saw 600 transport professionals gather at the ceremony at the Novotel, West London. Other winners included Hackney Council who picked up the top award of the night for Transport Borough of the Year, the award for Public Transport Operator of the Year went to London Underground, and the Most Improved Transport Borough Award went to Brent Council.
London Underground was presented with the award for Public Transport Operator of the Year. London Underground now carries more passengers than ever before and, through new timetabling, has cut delays on the Northern Line. It has replaced 28 kilometres of track and refurbished 36 stations, including a complete refurbishment of the entire District Line fleet and now has 55 stations that are step-free, with plans to increase this to 69.
Transport borough of the year Hackney Council now has over 70 schools with a travel plan and has seen a 75% increase in the number of council staff walking to work, cycling or using public transport – taking the percentage of car use to below 25%. Hackney also met its 2010 accident reduction targets by 2007 and has adopted a 20mph policy for all its roads.
Most improved transport borough Brent Council was recognised for cutting the number of people killed or seriously injured on Brent's roads by three-fifths, with child casualties down by three-quarters. Dependency on cars has been cut, with 300 new cycle parking stands installed and walking routes upgraded. There are now 31 car clubs in Brent and 170 locations now have travel plans.
Councillor Colin Hall, Deputy Leader of London Borough of Sutton was presented with the award for Outstanding Contribution to Local Transport in London recognising his distinguished service and commitment to developing a sustainable suburb in London. The Smarter Travel Sutton project has touched the lives of thousands of people in Sutton including every school and significantly increased bus and bike use, whilst encouraging people out of their cars.
The London Transport Awards, in association with Transport Times magazine, were judged by Transport Times publisher Professor David Begg; Professor David Begg, Chair of the Judging panel and publisher of Transport Times; Janet Cooke, Chief Executive, London Travel Watch; Nick Lester, Director of Transport, Environment and Planning, London Councils and Elsie Owusu OBE, Principal of Elsie Owusu architects and partner of Fielden & Mawson.
Peter Hendy OBE, Transport Commissioner, Transport for London said: "Every day, TfL staff, our contractors, London's boroughs and our other partners are working hard to meet the challenges. I strongly support these Awards and their role in marking the many achievements and the ongoing commitment of the transport industry to keeping this great city moving."
The full list of award winners is as follows:
Special Award for Services to Transport in London – Tim O'Toole
Road Safety, Traffic Management & Enforcement Award, Sponsored by First Group – City of London Corporation
Travel Information and Marketing Award – London Borough of Sutton
Improvements to Bus Services Award – London Borough of Hounslow
Cycling Improvements Award, Sponsored by Transport for London – Docklands Light Railway
Walking & the Public Realm Award, Sponsored by Transport for London – London Borough of Southwark & the Project Centre
Technology Award, Sponsored by Transport Times – Transport for London
Transport Partnership Project of the Year Award – Tube Lines, London Underground and Alstom
Rail Station of the Year Award – Southern, Network Rail and London Borough of Merton
Most Innovative Transport Project Award, Sponsored by Mouchel – The Clear Zone Partnership: www.travelfootprint.org
Transport Team/Partnership of the Year Award, Sponsored by Transport Times – Heathrow Area Transport Forum
Most Improved Transport Borough Award – Brent Council
Road Streetworks Contractor of the Year, Sponsored by Transport for London – Clancy Docwra Limited
LUL Customer Service Team of the Year, Sponsored by Transport for London – North Harrow station
Journalist of the Year, Sponsored by Tube Lines – Dan Milmo, The Guardian
Outstanding Contribution to Local Transport in London – Colin Hall, Deputy Leader, London Borough of Sutton
Outstanding Contribution to Transport across London, Sponsored by Serco – Mike Brown, London Underground
Frontline Employee of the Year Award, Sponsored by Serco – Adrian Hewitt, First Capital Connect
Public Transport Operator of the Year Award – London Underground
Transport Borough of the Year Award, Sponsored by Transport for London – Hackney Council
Source: Transport Times
