Sowton TMA

Sowton Transport Transport Management Association (TMA)

Sowton TMA Bus

The nature of business has been changing for several years now with technology helping to make us more adaptable and more mobile. The introduction of flexible working, home working and video conferencing are becoming more common place resulting in a reduced need for commuting. These changes go hand in hand with the government's remit to limit greenhouse gas emissions, ease congestion, improve accessibility and protect the environment.

The Sowton Transport Management Association (TMA) has been established under the umbrella of the Sowton Forum which is the main forum representing business needs on the east of the City.  The overarching vision of the TMA is to promote the sustainable transport agenda through partnership working within the business community.

Key objectives are to:

• help introduce travel plans across the area for existing businesses;
• provide a mechanism to promote existing car share schemes through Car Share Devon and the Met Office/EDF car share programme;
• encourage companies to adopt innovative work practices to alleviate peak hour congestion, and
• identify congestion 'hot spots' and relevant issues that could be mitigated through partnership working and lobbying the appropriate bodies or authorities.

The Sowton TMA is unique because we believe ourselves to be the ONLY business-led transport management association in the UK and it aims to become a blueprint for similar initiatives not only in Exeter but also around the country.

The successful foundation of the TMA builds on existing actions already undertaken plus exciting new initiatives to establish comprehensive transport management plans for the future.  By identifying that the businesses are part of the problem the Sowton Forum recognised that they could also be part of the solution - and so the Sowton TMA was formed.

Sowton TMA see the opportunities for businesses themselves to drive these exciting initiatives forward as a key means of planning not only for current traffic management needs but also to create a blueprint ready for the major developments which are scheduled to take place just east of the City over the next few years.

Further details can be obtained from Adele Fulner at adele@fulner.co.uk or telephone 07792 628166.

Launch of the Sowton TMA 28th April 2006 at the Met Office:

Images courtesy of Sowton TMA.