Like many transport planners, I am always on the lookout for ‘the good, the bad and the ugly’ when it comes to transport schemes. Given the nature of our profession, we can never truly get away from our work and I’ve found it’s impossible to be simply a user of any highway or public realm scheme. I’m sure you’re familiar with your holidays always turning into a ‘busman’s holiday’; admiring or balking at a scheme as your loved ones try to shuffle you on to the next ’proper’ tourist attraction.
In my 30 years as a transport planner, I have learned that it takes care, diligence and forward planning to create schemes that can be considered good, and even more to be considered great. One wrong decision can quickly shift a well designed scheme to a poorly executed one. It is a thin line that must be tread between the good, the bad and the ugly, and I’m pleased to be part of the 2016 Urban Transport Design Award (UTDA) committee, which seeks to recognise transport and public realm schemes that have not only achieved the creation of a Place or Link that is ’good’, but one that is useful, functional and accessible as well.
The UTDA committee would love to see a wide selection of nominations from across the UK, and we need your help to identify those transport and public realm schemes that are innovative, interesting, effective and attractive. We have extended the nomination deadline to Friday, 29 April to give you extra time to identify and submit your favourite schemes. It’s a quick and simple nomination process, and in the first instance, you need only submit a brief text description outlining your scheme, along with supporting evidence (before and after drawings/photos). Further information can be found on the PTRC website.
The Urban Transport Design Award will be presented at the Transport Practitioners’ Meeting (TPM) Awards Dinner on Wednesday, 29 June 2016 in Nottingham.
I look forward to receiving your submission!
Michelle Wood
PTRC, Head of Technical Development