Ambition needs innovation and the West of England is recognised nationally and internationally as a region that leads and drives innovation both within traditional sectors, such as aerospace, and across a diverse range of creative and digital sectors.
The West of England Combined Authority incorporates the three geographical areas of Bath & North East Somerset, Bristol and South Gloucestershire. It also supports the Local Enterprise Partnership, which is business-led, and covers the four West of England councils, including North Somerset Council. As the regional transport authority, WECA is responsible for transport strategies from walking, cycling and electric scooters through to public transport, cars and freight. It also works with neighbouring authorities on regional schemes. With ambitious plans to transform the region’s transport system, applying that centuries old tradition of innovation will be essential.
At TRANSPORT Smart Class, South West England 2022, we were delighted to welcome Oliver Coltman – Programme Manager for WECA’s Future Transport Zone – as our opening keynote speaker. Oliver outlined the FTZ customer vision and West of England’s vision for MaaS, and introduced a selection of solutions and services that are being trialled in the area as part of the national exploration of the Future of Transport, including a Mobility-as-a-Service platform, a Transport Data Hub, Mobility Hubs, Dynamic Demand-Responsive Transport, Urban Freight and E-scooters. His presentation also highlighted the importance of Persona Analysis and Journey Mapping to “an agile, innovative, community-led approach”.
Running until March 2024, the FTZ Programme aims to demonstrate replicable transport innovations in collaboration with constituents councils, and public and private partners. WECA’s is one of 4 FTZs (alongside Transport for West Midlands, Nottingham & Derby and the Solent) and supports DfT’s Future of Mobility Urban Strategy.
If you meet our regular delegate qualification criteria but were unable to join us at M Shed for the live in-person event on April 28th, CLICK HERE and complete the short “Download form” (located at the bottom of the post) to receive a unique link enabling free access to the presentation video recordings and slides (including the film footage and slides from Oliver’s keynote).
Those qualifying to receive the rich presentation content from this event include commissioning, procurement, trialling and partnering leads, senior influencers, strategic decision makers and planners from: local authorities (e.g. city, borough, metropolitan, district and county councils); public and private transport operators; regional transport partnerships, sub-regional transport bodies, combined authorities, integrated transport authorities and passenger transport executives; highways authorities and road operators; government and supporting national transport agencies; fleet operators, vehicle manufacturers, parking operators, prime contractors etc.
