Analysing the accessibility and social aspects of transport.
Accessibility planning has become an important part of transport planning. It is used to consider the social aspects of transport, including poverty, low income, unemployment, poor health and other issues.
We focus on promoting social inclusion by tackling the accessibility problems experienced by disadvantaged groups and areas. ‘What goes where’ is a perpetual question in any planning process, whether it is the location of a new school, redefining a bus network or ensuring policies do not socially exclude people or groups. Accessibility planning is central in helping answer this question by creating the join between the location of key services, and facilities, and their interaction with transport networks.
Halcrow is at the forefront of accessibility appraisal and has expertise in developing and using a number of accessibility analysis tools, including ACCESSION, ACCMAP and other GIS or modelling-based methods. Members of our accessibility planning staff helped define and develop the ACCESSION modelling tool. We have investigated accessibility issues under a range of different contexts:
- Investigating the effect of transport service improvements on accessibility
- Incorporating accessibility into land-use planning
- Undertaking multi-modal accessibility assessments of existing and proposed transport projects and developments
- Developing accessibility strategies for Local Transport Plans
Our accessibility planning specialists work with many different types of organisations such as local and regional transport authorities, Passenger Transport Executives, health providers and private developers. Studies range from strategic assessments to more detailed local consideration. Central to each study is the delivering of solutions based upon our core aim of sustaining and improving the quality of people's lives.