Suatainable Urban Environment on Monitoring Project - Assignment Example

The Leverhulme Trust Pemberton Row, London, EC4A 3BG, United Kingdom RESEARCH PROJECT GRANT OUTLINE APPLICATION FORM Please consult the instructions on our website at http://www.leverhulme.ac.uk/funding/grant_schemes.cfm, before completing this form. There are no closing dates for Outline Applications, but please note that closing dates for Full Applications are 23rd May 2014. Also, please ensure that you have read the Trust’s statement on the Data Protection Act at the end of this document. For Office Use only ID/ Result: Field No.: Principal Applicant Date of Outline Application 11th May 2014 (1.1) General Details Title Gender First Name (s) Date of birth Surname Honours (Include any university qualifications) (1.2) Contact Details Institution Department Position in Department Address (This should be the institution address) Telephone No (This should be the number for the institution) Fax No (1.3) Other Details How is your post currently funded? My post is currently funded by the Economic and Social Research Council, a funding initiative that offers grants to facilitate education and research. Date appointed to current post Proposal (2.1) General Details Long Title (Not to exceed 80 letters including spaces) The Impacts of the Congestion Charge on the Social, Environmentally and Technical Sustainability of Transport in Central London Short Title (Not to exceed 40 letters including spaces) The Impact of the Congestion Charge in London Field of Study (General field of study and particular discipline(s) of proposed research) Sustainable Urban Environment Start Date March, 2015 Duration 2 Years Total time to be spent on project 2 Years Total Budget £122, 000 (2.2) Abstract (100 words) Transportation is a key economic driver in the world’s major cities. London’s city council identified central London as a traffic congestion zone. Consequently, the Congestion Charge is levied on motorists operating in the area. The levy was initiated to improve transport in the area and ease congestion. The monitoring project proposed below seeks to establish the impacts of the Congestion Charge in Central London’s transport system. The project monitor’s impacts relation to congestion, public transport, environmental effects and social effects of the established levy. The project seeks to determine whether the model is beneficial enough for replication in other areas. (2.3) Why the Leverhulme Trust? (200 words, please explain why you believe the Leverhulme Trust to be best suited for the support of your research proposal, do not simply repeat what is on the Leverhulme website but demonstrate why your project matches the interests of the Leverhulme Trust) Leverhulme Trust is suited in supporting this project due to its extensive influence in research projects. The organization’s backing provides essential authority for the monitoring project. Establishing the impact of the Congestion levy in Central London is essential in improving transportation in the region. The dire importance of this course is a responsibility only an established institution like Leverhulme Trust can effectively handle. The Trust also requires extensive accountability for any projects under its wing. Key in the success of this project is transparency and accountability in spending and meeting targets. Attempts will be made to answer some progress questions, including whether progress is made, which particular processes are not working, and where and what the project needs to change to get it right on the objectives (Jules & Chambers, 2010, 67) The knowledge possessed by this Trust on matters of accountability is essential in the success of this project. In following the plan, and in documentation of evolving facts, the budgets will be monitored, if they are being properly spent, and if the project is on truck (Olive, 2012, 75). This Trust is an essential partner in the project’s success based on their experience in research. Proposal Summary (3.1) Summary (1000 words) should be written in a style suitable for a reader with good knowledge of the subject area. The city setting remains challenged with the key issue of sustainability. Pollution, over-exploitation of resources and over population remain hindrances to the effective operations of cities (Tumlin, 2012, 98). Specifically, the population growth rate in cities escalates annually. Transport, an essential aspect of operating cities, is a major source of environmental pollution (Randall, 2013, 4). It contributes towards air pollution and noise pollution. Statistics indicate the massive adaptation of private car use in the city (Ken worthy, 2010, 43).This project proposes research aimed at monitoring the impact of Congestion Charging in Central London. The project monitors the program’s efficiency in achieving its aims that are linked towards reducing traffic congestion, improving transportation systems and decreasing environmental pollution. The proposal focuses on London’s designated congestion zone in Central London. The monitoring project seeks to establish the impact of Congestion Charging in a bid to determine its benefits when replicated in other cities across Europe. Congestion Charging was introduced in Central London in 2003 from the Office of the Mayor. Through the program, the London City Council seeks to achieve the following objectives (Congestion Charging, 2006, 11) 1. Reducing traffic congestion in the highly populated congestion zone. 2. Improving bus services in the city. 3. Reducing the period of time spent on the road in the region. 4. Increasing efficiency in the distribution of goods and services. The Congestion charges are applicable over the weekdays. No charges are levied during public holidays, weekends and during the Christmas season (Congestion Charging, 2004, 18). Moreover special cars are exempted from paying the levy while operating in the Congestion zone. These include buses and taxis that serve as the key Public Service Vehicles in the region. The monitoring project seeks to analyse the effectiveness of the Congestion Charge project in the following areas: 1. The impact of the programme on environmental pollution. 2. The impact of the Congestion charge on the adaptation of public transport. 3. Traffic patterns in the London metropolis since the program’s implementation. 4. The efficiency of the road system in the distribution of goods and services. 5. The effect of the Congestion Charge on the number of passengers using the Underground railway system. 6. The social effects of the program. Urban sprawl has significantly stretched the use of private cars. Many residents are moving to the cities’ periphery to avoid the congestion and social vagaries of the urban centres (EMTA, 2010, 3). Indeed, there is an increase of 80% of journey increases from the urban centre to the periphery (Beck, 2012, 14). The Congestion Charge was introduced to regulate traffic in areas congested primarily by private cars. The charge aimed at reducing the use of private cars by 30% in the Congestion zone. This monitoring project looks at the success of the Congestion Charge in effectively reducing the number of people using private cars. Passengers arriving in Central London by bus pay no Congestion charge. Therefore, a relationship exists between the changes in public transport access and private car use in the city. The major concern on the environment, associated with road transport, is air pollution. Private cars have higher emissions per capita, compared to public transport. A number of places in Europe are innovating on tackling road congestion like the road pricing in London. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has also observed that exposure to continuous traffic noise is a health hazard. The current trends might lead to increased exposure to traffic noise (UNHCR, 2012, 37). The Congestion Charge seeks to reduce the percentage of emissions produced through the use of cars in the Congestion zone. The area receives heavy traffic flow causing a high level of air and noise pollution in the region. With a decrease in traffic flow, the environmental pollution realized through cars is expected to reduce. The monitoring project seeks to gather statistics on the reduction of pollution as a result of the Congestion charge. The transport system has been identified as one challenge in the EU (Banister, 2013, 73) However, lack of integrated management plans in a number of European countries, except the UK and France, continue to hamper safer, reliable and healthier transport systems in these countries. The result has been increased air pollution, carbon emissions, noise and unhealthy exercising habits, among many environmental hazards (Harris, 2010, 42). Businesses heavily rely on an effective distribution system on the roads. The Congestion Charge seeks to reduce congestion thus facilitating a smooth flow of commerce goods and services. The monitoring projects targets to validate the effectiveness of the charge in reducing the journey time for goods on transit. The project also target to evaluate the social effects of the charge. This deals primarily with the society’s concerns on the charge and their reaction. The monitoring project seeks to establish whether the charge receives support and approval from the public domain. Of key interest are the funds collected through this charge. With a £ 8 charge per day, the authorities collect millions of pounds per annum. The money is employed in improving transport services in the region. The monitoring project seeks to establish the impact of these funds on the improvement of transport. The monitoring project will identify transport projects that are funded by revenue collected through the Congestion Charge scheme. The monitoring project is set to run for a period of two years. With a budget of £ 61,000 per annum, the project is expected to fully establish its objectives. It will involve a series of preliminary research targeted at gathering information from the relevant parties. The end of the monitoring project will establish whether the Congestion charge improves the general traffic in London. The results from the monitoring project will seek to establish whether the same charge is replicable in other cities in the world. Moreover, the results will give rise to recommendations aimed at improving the Congestion Charge levy within London. (3.2) Justification (500 words, policy, current research and need) Sustainability is a key concern towards the long term survival of the current business environment. The massive scale of the city transport industry raises rational concern on the long term effects of pollution on the environment (Dienhel, 2010, 23). Moreover, the limitations of the public industry transport system are further magnified by the authorities’ proper management of this public docket. The project aims to establish the impact of the Congestion Charge, an essential policy that regulates transportation in the Congestion Zone. Moreover, the project is justified by its target to involve the authorities in improving the efficiency of the city’s transportation sector. The data collected through this monitoring project is essential in evaluating and making changes to the Congestion Charge to ensure optimum effectiveness. This information will be essential for reference by the City Council, environmental agencies and researches looking to collect data regarding London’s transport system The success of the project in London is a platform upon which the Congestion Charge can be duplicated in other cities in Europe. The monitoring project will determine whether the levy charge is easy to duplicate in other cities facing the challenges of congestion. Data is scarce on the quality of urban environment and performance across the globe, and even, where data is available like in Europe, it is still not systematic. Less data is available in London, as a city. France and UK are the only EU states with the legal requirement for the formulation of an integrated environmental management system for urban transport. An environmental management system is a set of practices or processes formulated and implemented together, to help reduce negative impact of the environmental hazards. If implemented well, they also have the potential for increasing the efficiency in dealing with eth environmental objectives. Without an integrated approach to the management of the urban environment, isolated efforts risk losing positive impacts on the economy and cultural policies; emergence of other problems as a result of previous solutions; and top level initiatives may be very difficult to implement at the functional units (UNFPA, 2011, 35). The congestion charge will be analyzed as an environmental management system to determine its effectiveness. The use of private cars has significantly increased in the urban centers especially the EU. The traffic congestion is estimated to cost a 0.5% of community GDP (SADC, 2010, 9). Europe has a 300% increase of cars since 3 decades, an average of 3 million additional cars a year (OECD, 2011, 15). Central and Eastern Europe have seen a higher increase in the number of cars. Private car trips, per person per day, have also increased by 10%, while public transport has correspondingly decreased as the length of an average journey in private cars have also increased by as much as 20% (UNFPA, 2010. 27). These statistics indcate an alarming trend in the transport sector. The situation is expected to escalate further in the future. Therefore, the project is jsutified by its concern regarding environemental pollution, congestion and public transport. Delivery (4.1) Potential Partnerships (List partners to be approached, this needs to be as detailed as possible) The project relies on partnerships with influential figures in ensuring the project’s success. These partnerships cover the following parties: 1. The London City Council: The council will be instrumental in providing background information pertaining to the establishment of the Congestion Charge. They will offer essential advice on the city’s existing public transport sector, the attitudes of people towards it and the challenges encountered. 2. The London Police Force: The police department, specifically the Traffic Police, will provide information regarding the operations of the Charge. The police will be instrumental in providing information regarding the changes in traffic patterns since the establishment of the levy. 3. Environmental Groups: The team seeks to establish partnerships with environmentally conscious groups. They will serve as a platform for accessing information regarding traffic and environmental pollution. A major group targeted by this research is the London Universities Environmental Group. The association leads in matters of the environment and sustainability as its members are top professionals from London’s best Universities. 4. The London Transport Museum Library: The monitoring project requires essential information on London’s transport history, challenges and development. The London Transport Museum Library holds essential information on these topics. 5. The media: A partnership with the media is essential in popularizing the topic through broad media coverage in the newspapers. The media serves as a starting point that will introduce the project to the public. The Transport Network is essential in media coverage. Through newsletter, the network will publish and avail to the masses the project’s findings. 4.2 Outline of methods to be used and equipment needs (500 words) The monitoring project seeks to establish the effects of the Congestion Charge in Central London’s Congestion zone. The major need for the project is sufficient labor force to disseminate knowledge to the public. Overseeing the operations of the project is a project manager employed and sustained by the project’s fund. With a team leader in place, the monitoring project takes several approaches in collecting both primary and secondary data. The methods include literature review, collaboration with the authorities and questionnaires. The collaborative efforts between the team and the authorities is geared towards an in-depth understanding of the public transport sector in UK. The authorities targeted by the campaign are the police force and the city council officials. The authorities also provide an advisory team that provides the project with foundational information on the people of London. The city council provides information regarding the formulation of the Congestion Charge policy. On the other hand, the police serve as law enforcers on the roads. They therefore possess special information regarding congestion, accident rates and journey periods since the levy’s establishment. Before the formulation of the campaign leaflets, the team undertakes an intensive literature review of data regarding the subject matter. The literature review is targeted from renowned books, peer reviewed journal articles, newspaper articles and several approved sources. Past projects investigating the Congestion Charge levy offer preliminary information of the project’s impact in previous years. In performing these activities, the team needs access to a well-equipped and updated library in London that provides both hardcopy materials and electronic journals and books. The monitoring project seeks to gather primary information from the public. The social impact of the Congestion Charge is primarily established from data gathered from respondents that pay the charge, Moreover, part of the research will collect data from bus users. This is key in determining whether the charge affects the extensive use of bus transport in the area. The monitoring project will also collect primary data from the bus drivers constantly operating within Central London. Respondents will serve to provide information through a series of questionnaires designed to collect data through closed questions. A major agenda of the monitoring project is establishing the levy’s impact on environmental pollution. The project seeks to collaborate with environmental agencies within Central London. With their expertise, the team will gather essential data needed in establishing the rates of air and noise pollution caused by traffic. These values will be compared with pollution values before the levy’s initiation in Central London. The monitoring project will employ the media in constant public awareness forums. The media, especially the printing press, will serve to write several articles relating to the project’s findings. The project also seeks to use social media to effectively reach a wider audience online. Moreover, the project officials will establish a website that provides essential details regarding the project. The combination of both the online platform and the physical campaign is the major method employed in this proposed project. 4.3 Project outcomes (Bullet points of project benefits) The project seeks to have the following outcomes: Understand the social effects the congestion charge has on the people of Central London. To determine the effectiveness of the levy in congestion reduction in the area. To analyze the levy’s impact on the extensive use of public transport. To monitor the project’s realization of the Mayor’s vision for transport in London. Appeal to the authorities to improve the service quality in the public transport sector in London. Create a partnership with environmental programs towards the long term sustainability of transport in London. 4.4 Dissemination (Bullet points of mean to communicate the project, identify specific means eg conferences or journals to be targeted, engagement with stakeholders etc) The project is communicated to the public through the following ways: The major way through which the project’s findings will be disseminated is through a report compiled detailing the findings. The team targets to get the report published in the Journal of Transport Economics and Policy of the London School of Economics. The journal is appropriate due to its focus and authority in the transport sector. The team will seek to present the findings in conferences on transport and sustainability. The major targeted conferences are: 1. The Carplus Annual Conference 2. The National Sustainable Transport Conference 3. The British Transport Police Federation Annual Conference. These conferences are essential due to their focus on transport sustainability and environmental pollution. The conferences are held in London and therefore focus on the city’s transport system. Other methods of providing information include: The local media serves as an outlet for the results received from the monitoring project. The project’s agenda will be highly publicized through the use of local newspapers. The monitoring project will use social media sites such as Facebook and twitter to avail its findings to the public. The project will create its own online presence through the establishment of a website and a blog. . Cost (Part A) Salaries Year1 Year 2 Year 3 Total Researcher Insert Name Insert Name Scale point Age Insert Age Insert Age Basic salary £ 20, 500 £23,000 £ 44, 000 London allowance £ 2,400 £2,500 £ 4, 900 National insurance £1300 £1300 £2, 600 Superannuation £2000 £2000 £ 4, 000 Total (for each researcher) £ 27, 700 £27, 700 £ 35, 400 £ 24, 600 Other, e.g. replacement teaching costs, fees, etc. (attach full details) £12, 300 £12, 300 (A) Total all salaries £ 39, 500 £ 43, 100 £ 82, 600 The Other costs category is budgeted for £12, 000 per annum. This cost covers for the the preliminary teaching costs given to the team members in regard to executing the tasks of the project. The fund in year two mainly focuses on teaching geared towards the compilation of the final report. The funds also cover costs associated with data analysis and interpretation during the systematic period where data is gathered. In the fund also is a miscellaneous allowance geared towards other expenses that should come up in the course of the monitoring project. Associated Costs (Part B) Associated costs (attach full details) Year1 Year 2 Year 3 Total Clerical/ Secretarial Assistance Included in the salary Included in the salary Technical Assistance Included in the salary Included in the salary Computing expenses (not equipment) £ 2000 Computing expenses cover for the various computer related functions undertaken during the project. These include mass production of questionnaires, attainment of e-resources and the final publication and printing of the report that will be made available in bulk copies for public distribution. £ 2000 £ 4000 Travel/ Subsistence £ 4000 £ 4000 £ 8000 Consumables £ 11, 000 £ 11, 000 £ 22 000 Other £ 4, 000 £ 4, 000 £ 8 000 (B) Total associated costs (maximum 25% of grand total) £ 21, 000 £ 21, 000 £ 42 000 Grand total (A+B) 61, 000 61,000 £ 122, 000 Bibliography BANISTER, D., (2013), The Sustainable Mobility paradigm, Transport Policy, 5(2), pp. 73-80. BECK, A. (2012). Competition for public transport services institutional framework and empirical evidence of bus services in Germany. Heidelberg, Physica-Verlag COHN, S., 2010. Telling Other Stories. CONGESTION CHARGE (2006). Impacts Monitoring. Fourth Annual Report. DIENEL, H., (2011). Public transport and its users: the passengers perspective in Planning and customer care. England. 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Environmental Indicator Framework: A monitoring system for environment-realted activities in refuggee operations. Geneva. UNFPA, 2010. Monitoring and Evaluation Methodologies: The Programme Managers M&E Toolkit. UNFPA, 2011. Monitoring and Evaluation Methodologies: The Programme Managers M&E Toolkit. Read More