ways2work > Who does it > Cobalt Park
Cobalt Park
Organisational challenge/context
The introduction of travel planning was deemed necessary at Cobalt to:
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Establish with new occupiers that Cobalt Park is accessible to their workforce;
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Improve staff retention as existing occupiers had cited transport as a key reason for staff leaving;
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Mitigate a foreseen potential problem with increasing congestion as Cobalt develops.
The transport strategy adopted by Cobalt is designed to:
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Reduce unnecessary car travel to and from Cobalt;
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Discourage rat running traffic through Cobalt; and
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Address residual congestion issues.
Sustainable travel intervention(s)
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A comprehensive Travel Pack describing travel options and related information is offered by an on-site Travel Centre
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Travel Co-ordinators provide travel advice, offer personalised journey plans and sell a wide range of travel tickets; liaise with occupiers, other businesses and business organisations locally; regularly hold travel “roadshows” and operate an induction programme for new employees
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Cobalt is also a partner in a 4-year "Getting Moving North Tyneside" project which aims to provide and encourage people to walk and cycle more by delivering lead activities, volunteer training and raising awareness of Sustainable Travel
To achieve the transport strategy, Cobalt are already:
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Encouraging all employing organisations on Cobalt to endorse the Travel Plan and the measures within, and to adopt their own “Action Plan” in support
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Working with bus operators and Nexus to develop a comprehensive network of direct bus services to and from Cobalt
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Actively promoting walking and cycling as viable travel options for those living close enough
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Actively promoting car sharing
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Restricting through traffic on the internal road network to buses only
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Working with the local authority to secure infrastructure improvements that benefit bus operation on the local road network
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Working with the local authority to identify and resolve shortcomings in facilities in the local area for pedestrians and cyclists
Results/benefits
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Staff travel to work surveys since 2005 suggest that the number of employees travelling alone by car to Cobalt has decreased 7%
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Improved transport provided at the Park is now considered a major factor in securing new occupiers to the Park and reducing staff turnover within employing organisations
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Informal feedback from occupiers suggests that the improvements to transport at Cobalt has reduced absenteeism, increased staff wellbeing and improved recruitment and retention.