Below is the content (rubric and questions) of the 2007/2008 exam paper. In advance of the examination you may prepare as much as you like, but you will not be allowed to take any notes or other material into the examination, except as permitted in the rubric. Advance publication of the exam paper is done to give you the opportunity to undertake specific, relevant research, and to develop innovative ideas, to contribute to your answers. You are expected to produce answers with content that goes beyond both what has been said/shown in classes and what is provided on the module web-site.
Time allowed TWO hours
Answer TWO questions
This module has no coursework assessment
All questions carry marks as indicated in brackets
Only silent, self contained calculators with a single-line display or dual-line display are permitted in this examination.
Dictionaries are not allowed with one exception. Those whose first language is not English may use a dictionary to translate between that language and English provided that neither language is the subject of this examination. Subject specific translation dictionaries are not permitted. No electronic devices capable of storing and retrieving text, including electronic dictionaries, may be used.
Arguably, the development of forward-looking UK national transport policy is largely a contest between two approaches: use charging to restrain the demand to travel, or significantly expand capacity (particularly road capacity). In late 2006, two high-profile, transport-related reports commissioned by the UK Government were published, namely “The Stern Review: the Economics of Climate Change,” and “The Eddington Transport Study” into links between transport and the economy. In response to these two major publications, on 30 October 2007, the UK Government’s Department for Transport published a UK transport policy review document entitled “Towards a Sustainable Transport System: Supporting Economic Growth in a Low Carbon World,” to initiate debate about the future direction of UK transport policy; the Government Minister responsible for Transport, Ms Ruth Kelly, reportedly told the BBC that the UK may perhaps have to choose between widespread road user charging and building five times as many roads! “The latter doesn’t seem very realistic, but I think there are intermediate options that we need to consider,” she said. Present your vision of what a sustainable UK national transport policy for the next decade, ie. the years 2010-2020, should be, particularly relating to road, rail and airport capacity developments, and the use of road user charging (including implementation issues), and considering both urban and inter-urban travel. [50]
The UK Government is currently encouraging local authorities and private developers to initiate the planning and development of some small new zero-carbon ‘eco-towns,’ which “are intended to exploit the potential to create a complete new settlement to achieve zero-carbon development and more sustainable living using the best new design.” Zero-carbon means no net carbon emissions from all energy uses. Suppose that you are a member of a design team that has been commissioned to design one of these proposed new eco-towns, and that your particular responsibility is for the transport aspects of the design, which should be as near to zero-carbon as possible, covering both travel within the eco-town, and travel to and from neighbouring towns and cities. This particular new eco-town is intended to comprise 20,000 homes, plus various ‘normal’ facilities such as schools, shops, business premises, leisure facilities, medical services, green spaces, etc, and the aim is that it should be completely designed and built in 10 years, ie. by the year 2018. With reference particularly to both generating the desired travel behaviour of the eco-town’s residents, and the possible use of technology, present a sustainable transport scheme design for this new eco-town, ie. the transport part of the whole eco-town design, covering all the appropriate modes of transport. [50]
Note: if it is helpful in developing an answer, a location and/or layout for this new eco-town may be invented, and explained appropriately in the answer. A location may be either real or fictitious.
For making trips that are too far for walking or cycling to be a realistic option, in the light of recent technological developments and looking to the long-term future (beyond 2020), are the greatest transport developments for urban and inter-urban travel – that will have the most significant impacts and be most sustainable – going to be car-oriented or public transport-oriented? On the one hand, one might conjecture that, if road congestion increases greatly and global warming causes sufficient concern, there will be a major investment and cultural shift to a 21st Century public transport spectrum represented by the likes of high-tech guided buses, trams, new high-speed rail links between major cities, and trains propelled by magnetic levitation. On the other hand, given the strength of car culture, maybe cars will become much more technologically advanced, characterised by developments such as close-convoy driving (supported by collision avoidance systems) and automated external speed control – effectively to increase road capacity - leading on to the commercial development of flying cars (roadable aircraft) and airborne taxis (like the Avcen Jetpod), controlled by the like of NASA’s “Highway in the Sky.” Having critically evaluated relevant developments and issues, present an answer to this question about the fundamental sustainable direction of long-term future transport modal development. [50]
Regarding travel within existing urban areas, such as commuting to and from work, if we assume that there will not be any easy ‘technical-fix’ solutions to urban transport problems available any time soon, such as significant new modal inventions, then arguably future transport sustainability will depend on how people plan their trips, what travel options they consider, and what travel choices they make. In this context, on 11 October 2007, the UK Government’s Department for Transport published a research report entitled “Making Personal Travel Planning Work.” For quite short trips in urban areas, cycling is regarded by many as particularly sustainable and healthy, yet in places like Nottingham, cycling growth targets are often not met. Therefore, what really are the prospects of achieving widespread travel behavioural change through large-scale implementation of personal travel planning techniques and innovative cycling developments, in order to alleviate urban road traffic congestion, improve people’s health, and reduce the negative environmental impacts of traffic? [50]
Note: whilst researching answers to these examination questions, please do not attempt to consult external organisations such as Nottingham City Council.
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Transport Issues
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