ADEPT Mobility Hubs

02 November 2020
cityscape image of a bridge.
The ADEPT Live Labs SIMULATE programme is a new kind of innovation programme delivered by Staffordshire County Council (SCC) and Amey, designed to accelerate innovative solutions in air quality and intelligent mobility within local authorities . In addition SCC and Amey have been working closely on innovation through the pioneering deal called Infrastructure +. In 2019, Amey was instructed to conduct a Feasibility Study into the concept of mobility hubs and the application within urban and rural settings. The overarching aim was to align to the SIMULATE programme with a focus on an innovative transport solution in the form of a mobility hub. After the initial study, Amey was then commissioned to complete a second Feasibility Study identifying several locations and modal mix for one or several mobility hubs in Stafford. There is a large base of guidance and research on mobility hubs in the UK. While conducting the feasibility study Amey identified a gap in real word practical application of a data led methodology for identifying mobility hub locations. The feasibility studies provided the insight into the optimal location requirements from a demand, user and solution perspective to support modal shift.

Feasibility study One and Two set out to explore key insights into mobility hubs through the lens of a rural location. Understanding the opportunities mobility hubs present, the challenges faced with their development and implementation. We developed a practical approach to begin to select the types of services a mobility hub may want to offer and in which location.
Data is at the centre of the Amey mobility hub methodology. Key data sets are:

  • People movement data
  • Infrastructure
  • Mosaic data
  • Utilisation of new transport

 

Through our analysis and understanding of the requirements for mobility hubs we have developed a unique toolkit that can be applied by those interested in exploring mobility hubs in their area.
The key outcomes from the feasibility studies for SCC and SIMULATE were;

  • Understanding of the requirements for infrastructure at and near the mobility hub location
  • Understanding of the user types of a mobility hub
  • Understanding of the transport demand required for a successful mobility hub
  • Generation of a modal mix to drive modal shift
  •  Creation of a mobility hub toolkit

Benefits

The feasibility studies provided several benefits to the ADEPT programme and the wider development of mobility hubs which are as follows:

  • Developing insights into key learnings, challenges and objectives of mobility hubs
  • Assessment tool developed used to understand different types of mobility hubs, key services and core requirements within each hub
  • Stakeholder consultation within the county was conducted to gather feedback and understand the needs of a broad demographic of transport users
  • Development of a methodology and location selection framework which can be utilised
  • Toolkit developed based on critical success factors for mobility hub location selection