EVIDENCE Expert Panel Discussion on SUMP Appraisal

The EVIDENCE Project is examining the quality of the evidence on the effects of Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans (SUMP) measures, to identify ‘what works’.

SUMP measure appraisals (ex ante) can demonstrate very favourable ratios of benefits to costs when subject to the analysis techniques applied to major transport infrastructure schemes. However, evaluation (ex post) of what are often relatively small and incremental interventions can mean those forecast effects are hard to observe in practice. Small scale often means thatbehavioural responses can only be detected over the long-run, but the policy process may demand feedback more quickly. In this situation there is a risk that other transport investments emphasising major infrastructures are preferred, because their impacts are clearer to evaluate, even if those impacts may not promote the more sustainable forms of mobility.

The session will begin with brief opening statements from the panel members, followed by responses to questions. Recommendations made will be summarised in a statement of principles to enhance the future assessment of SUMP measures.

Expert Participants:
The panel comprises leading international experts with many decades’ experience in examining and questioning the relevance of transport appraisal and evaluation.

• Panel Chair: Prof. Graham Parkhurst; Professor of Sustainable Mobility, University of the West of England
• Prof. Phil Goodwin; Emeritus Professor, UWE Bristol, and University College London
• Eric N. Schreffler; Specialist TDM Consultant, ESTC, San Diego, USA
• Prof. John Whitelegg; Managing Director, Eco-Logica, and Visiting Professor, Liverpool John Moores University

Register to attend (no charge but places limited) or to receive details of the web stream:
https://uwe.formstack.com/forms/evidence_project_discussion_cts

EVIDENCE project website

Author: EVIDENCE project

Back to Events