Nottingham City is delivering a comprehensive sustainable transport strategy as set out in the Nottingham City Local Transport Strategy 2011- 2026 which was adopted in April 2011 (LTP3). The LTP3 Strategy forms the blueprint for shaping the future of transport provision and infrastructure over the next 15 years and was widely consulted on with business, key stakeholders and citizens as part of its preparation.

Our vision for transport in Nottingham by 2026 is to achieve a culture change amongst Nottingham’s citizens and visitors, where walking, cycling and public transport becomes the logical first choice. We aim to tackle congestion, support local economic development and promote greater accessibility and equality of opportunity which will contribute to a safer and healthier environment whilst also reducing emissions and carbon consumption. The heart of the plan is the integration of transport options through investment in major transport projects including Nottingham Express Transit Phase 2 (tram lines 2 and 3) and the Nottingham Station Hub combined with smaller scale improvements in local neighbourhoods to improve the overall quality of life for our citizens.

This vision will be achieved through five strategic objectives:
• Delivering a world class sustainable transport system which supports a thriving economy and enables growth
• Creating a low carbon transport system and a resilient transport network
• Improving access to key services, employment and training including creation of local employment and training opportunities
• Improving the quality of citizens’ lives and transporting neighbourhoods
• Supporting citizens to live safe, independent and active healthy lifestyles

The strategy is being delivered using a hierarchical approach which prioritises:
• Asset management to manage and maintain existing assets and services, then
• Demand management to better integrate land use and transport to reduce the need to travel combined with promotion of sustainable travel options and using parking policies and fiscal measures to reduce the demand for car travel, then
• Promotion of sustainable travel alternatives by improving walking, cycling and public transport networks and infrastructure and promoting interchange through shared facilities and ticketing options to support flexible and multi-modal journeys, then
• Efficiency improvements to make the best use of existing transport networks by prioritising road space for sustainable travel modes, use of smart technology to make efficient use of road space and promoting take up of low carbon transport options, and finally only
• Delivering capacity improvements through construction of new highway infrastructure as a last resort.

The delivery of our strategy is being supported by the implementation of the UK’s first Workplace Parking Levy (WPL) which requires businesses with over 10 parking spaces within the City of Nottingham to pay an annual levy which is being used to support the delivery of improved public transport services by contributing to the funding of NET Phase 2 (extension of the tram network) and supporting the local link bus network to complement the commercial bus service offer.

Nottingham, in partnership with Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire County Councils, Sustrans, NHS Nottingham City and the business community through the Greater Nottingham Transport Partnership, successfully worked together to secure an additional £15million funding for the Nottingham urban area from the Department for Transport through the Local Sustainable Transport Fund (LSTF) for 2011/12 – 2014/15. This 4 year programme is on track to help establish Nottingham as an exemplar city region for sustainable travel in the UK and Europe by through 4 complementary workstrands:
• Development of the smartcard ticketing offer including integration of travel options (eg bus and bike) to promote flexible journeys supported by personalised journey planning solutions and travel support for low income groups;
• A network of 5 Community Smarter Travel Hubs has been set up lead community engagement on sustainable travel and support travel behaviour change. A programme of 20mph limits and safer routes improvement is helping to create an environment to support sustainable travel options;
• A business support package for employers along with development of a low carbon transport network through investment in low carbon buses, cycle corridors, electric vehicle charging and a city car club;
• Providing a comprehensive community wide active travel programme to promote walking and cycling through schools, colleges, universities and community settings including a high profile annual sustainable travel event calendar..

Nottingham’s LSTF programme is widely supported by business and community stakeholders and is being delivered in partnership with a range of partners and third sector organisations.
The City Council Transport Strategy Team has developed social media accounts (Twitter, Facebook) under Transport Nottingham. These accounts are used to promote transport and travel related information across the City with specific information surrounding the major transport projects that are currently underway such as the Station redevelopments, the Ring Road Improvements and the Nottingham Express Transit (NET Tram) extension. Alongside this information the accounts aim to inform residents and visitors to Nottingham of the sustainable transport alternatives and events/ activities that are taking place within their areas promoting behaviour change and modal shift to greener more sustainable modes.
The accounts are underpinned by an overarching social media communications and engagement plan which is fed into by all of the transport service areas and Local Sustainable Transport Project (LSTF) leads such as the community smarter travel hubs. Information to be posted out is managed within a social media calendar which holds all of the event information for the forthcoming months to ensure aligned and appropriate communications are undertaken.

The annual sustainable travel event calendar celebrates the sustainable travel offer through 3 high profile events each year:
• Light Night in February
• Cycle Live in summer linked to National Bike Week
• European Mobility Week in September

Participation in other national events such as Catch a Bus Week (28th April – 4th May) and Walk to Work Week (12th – 16th May) are promoted through our websites and through social media.

The City Council in partnership with GNTP, Sustrans, and TravelRight also offer a range of local events and campaigns to get people to try out new travel options including an annual Workplace Challenge with businesses. 2014 saw the introduction of a Community Challenge, the Green Explorer family promotion and Car Free Sundays at Victoria Embankment.
The Workplace Challenge saw individuals and groups compete against each other to see who could save the most CO2 by switching car journeys for cycling and walking journeys for 2 month. The Big Wheel, who provide sustainable transport information for Greater Nottingham, partnered with Sustrans, to deliver the challenge, which was funded through Nottingham City Council's Local Sustainable Transport Fund (LSTF). Over 1,000 people registered, with 37 businesses taking part more than the previous year. In total, 96,680 miles were travelled and 10,932kg of CO2 was saved.

The Green Explorer family promotion encourages families to travel to 15 venues around Nottingham by walking, cycling, trams, trains or buses in return for stamps and prizes through the month of August.
Car Free Sundays close an area of the city alongside the River Trent to vehicular access and encourages activities such as roller-skating, walking, jogging or running as well as cycling.
Activities on offer for public include:
• FREE Led rides
• FREE Dr Bike Cycle maintenance
• FREE Citycard cycle hire will be available for those who wish to partake in the led rides but do not own a bike
• FREE Lifecycle cycle training for young children new to cycling or looking to refresh their knowledge

Public realm improvements to reduce car dominance include:
• Expanding and improving the cycle network and improving junction priorities in favour of cyclists and pedestrians.
• The recently completed remodelling of Trinity Square to better suit the needs of citizens
• Redesigning Sneinton Market to be more pedestrian friendly and a more pleasant open space
• Developing Heathcote Street along the lines of the previous Broad Street development in Hockley to bring the carriageway level with the footways to allow outdoor dining areas during the summer months and ‘reclaim’ the road for pedestrians.