TDM measures for Education Precincts – past progress and future prospects

Abstract

Travel Demand Management (TDM) initiatives are widely applied by transport planners to establish and enable appropriate use of critical transport infrastructure. This paper considers the specific case of TDM in an education precinct (university) context drawing on international experience to date, with examples of TDM measures that have been introduced in university settings. The important role of regular surveys of staff and student travel behaviour is highlighted, particularly as part of a Sustainable Travel Plan (STP). A comparison of TDM Measures implemented as part of University STPs is discussed using recent experience from Australia as a case study. An important message of this paper is the need to propose a new focus on Education precinct TDM in the light of the COVID-19 pandemic. The paper thus explores the international evidence on the influence of changing travel and study practices in response to COVID-19 before considering, with reference to Australia, the role of Return to Campus plans which have been developed to encourage COVID-Safe Travel in a university context. The paper concludes with a call to learn more about the emerging and intended commuting patterns of university staff and students “post-pandemic” or under “living with COVID-19” and the requirements of TDM implementation plans in the developing university environment.