Transport planning for public events
Creators: name: Ravindran, Sinnappoo Subramaniyam
Publisher: name: Monash University
Year: 2017
Subjects: Uncategorized

description: Public events differ mainly in size and nature including duration and location. The transport issues arising during public events are provision of traveller information, parking and public transport, management of traffic and reduction of community impact. The stakeholders concerned with public events have an important role to play in the transport planning process. The aim of this study is to develop a framework for planning public events for organisers and local councils in relation to the transport issues. The output will be in the form of checklists for promoters, local councils, transport operators, traffic managers and the Police Department. This study involved a review of available literature on transport aspects of public events and examined events at both ends of the spectrum of event sizes, namely small scale and large scale events. Small scale events are dependent on the existing supply of transport services in which the major mode of transport is private transport. On the other hand, large scale events are greatly dependent on the existing and additional supply of transport in which the major mode of transport is still private transport, but public transport plays an important role. Administrative procedures for public events vary from local council to local council. Implementation of uniform local law pertaining to public events is currently under preparation in some local councils. However, it does not adequately address the transport issues. In the case of small scale events, organisers must submit their application to the relevant local council, prior to the event, preferably four weeks before the event. The local council consults with the Police, local residents and local businesses and approves the public event. On the other hand, the administrative procedures for large scale public events are similar to small scale events except planning span, appointment of event co-ordinator and the need to organise additional supply of public transport services. A municipal survey of the administrative procedures used to manage small scale public events, a vehicle occupancy survey during a cricket match and travel survey during a cricket and a football match were conducted and the results were analysed. The municipal survey has highlighted the extent to which municipalities follow a regulated procedure in the process of approving small scale public events. Within the time scale of this project, it has not been possible to explore in depth, the effectiveness of the various procedures. It is acknowledged that most detailed and involved administrative procedures may not always produce the best results. Clearly, there is likely to be merit in a system which retains some flexibility to respond to the unique characteristics of a particular event. Unquestionably, there is scope for further work in this area. The travel survey revealed that transport planning for large scale public events should focus on supply of additional public transport services, parking restrictions and effective traveller information systems to encourage public transport use. This study recommends that a position of event co-ordinator be created, especially in the case of large scale public events and the provision of statutory standards for traveller information, temporary traffic signs, parking provision, public transport provision, traffic management and community impact reduction for public events.