Introduction

AECOM has been commissioned by Transport Scotland to conduct a study into options for Travel Demand Management (TDM) schemes to disincentivise private car use in Scotland, and to provide an assessment of the potential impacts on different groups of people, as well as the wider impacts on the environment and the economy.

The headline objective of this study is to support the Scottish Government commitment to reduce car kilometres travelled in Scotland by 20% by 2030, identified as one of the key policy outcomes of the 2020 Update to Climate Change Plan, the approach to delivery of which was set out in the corresponding route map. Importantly, the route map recognises that interventions designed to reduce car use and encourage more sustainable travel must be both realistic and fair, particularly in recognising the constraints on travel choices for disabled people and those living in rural areas. The 20% reduction target is defined relative to 2019 levels and covers all types of car, including zero emission vehicles. The route map sets out various actions including reducing the need to travel, living well locally, switching modes, and combining trips or sharing journeys. However, only by taking a combined approach which includes measures to reduce demand for transport can Scotland’s climate targets be met (Source: Decarbonising the Scottish Transport Sector, Element Energy for Transport Scotland, September 2021).

The conventional aim of demand management is to manage congestion on the road network in order to address the key externalities associated with private car transport, such as journey time delays, air and noise pollution, road danger, physical inactivity, and community severance. While the overriding aim of this study is to employ demand management solely for the achievement of climate change targets by reducing car use in absolute terms, any demand management measure considered is likely to also have further benefits in these areas.

This report will summarise the key finding of this study and present the final recommendations. The report is structured into the following sections:

• Section 2 – Background Evidence Review – Details the key problems, opportunities, and constraints which have emerged from a review of literature around implementing TDM measures in both the UK and internationally.
• Section 3 - Option Generation and Preliminary Appraisal – Summarises the process of option generation, sifting, and preliminary appraisal undertaken in order to produce options for detailed investigation and appraisal.
• Section 4 – Option Development and Packaging – Details the further option development and packaging, and additional sift that has been undertaken, based upon the preliminary appraisal and the results of a stakeholder workshop to identify any further unintended consequences.
• Section 5 – Detailed Appraisal – Summarises the detailed appraisal against the research objective, deliverability criteria, STAG criteria, Policy Alignment, and Sustainable Investment Hierarchy. The appraisal discusses any design considerations which could impact performance against criteria, informing further option development.
• Section 6 – Conclusions and Recommendations – summarises options and discusses considerations for next steps in implementing measures.