Nominations open for Transport Planning Society People’s Award

The Transport Planning Society (TPS) has opened nominations for its People’s Award to mark the official launch of Transport Planning Day 2019.

The TPS People’s Award looks for the UK’s best community-focused transport initiatives that have made a real difference to people’s access to services, quality of life and wellbeing. It forms part of the Transport Planning Day campaign, which showcases the role of transport planners in improving everyday life across the UK.

TPS aims to have communities tell professionals about the transport projects that have made a significant difference and improved their day-to-day lives. Individuals, community groups, campaigners, parish councils and town councils are invited to nominate transport initiatives for the award. Local authorities and transport professionals can nominate initiatives that have engaged local communities.

Nominations are open via the society’s website until 2 August 2019. Nominated initiatives must have been in operation for at least one year. Entries must be able to show how the outcomes have made a positive contribution to the principles of transport planning. The society is also working with the Transport for New Homes project to develop new awards focusing on the importance of sustainable transport for housing developments.

Stephen Bennett, chair of the Transport Planning Society, said: “Transport Planners should always engage with communities from the beginning of the planning process, listening carefully to communities and finding solutions that balance everyone’s needs. The People’s Award is where we ask communities to showcase what they think successful transport planning looks like.

“It’s there to highlight the projects that have made a genuine contribution to improving quality of life and wellbeing from a community perspective. We’re inviting people from all over the country to nominate projects that have excelled.”

Victoria Hills, chief executive of Royal Town Planning Institute and a former chair of TPS, said: “We’re delighted to support the return of Transport Planning Day in 2019. We have long campaigned for the better integration of transport with land use. Any initiative to highlight the importance of integrating transport and land-use planning to help shape better places and enable people to make sustainable transport choice is welcome.”

The Transport Planning Society will announce the People’s Award finalists in the autumn, before an awards ceremony on Transport Planning Day 2019 on 20 November at the Institution of Civil Engineers in London.

Click here for full details of the award and how to enter.