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Measures and Progress
The following measures either have been implemented or are yet to be implemented. Mobility alternatives
* Van pooling. Last year a trial was launched with five carpool vans. These vehicles are classified as scheduled-service busses, allowing them to use the emergency lane and the bus lane on the Flevoland – Amsterdam-Zuidoost route. They have a transmitter on board to open barriers. The police and the Ministry of Transport, among others, set great store on safety. The Vanpool drivers have been given instructions and a handbook. The driver is one of the staff members. They are not allowed to drive the vehicles during office hours. Should problems arise, a stand-by driver, a taxi and a helpdesk are available. The vans are equipped with a microchip, allowing them to be monitored (tracking and tracing). The vanpool should in future be self-supporting, as there is no structural subsidy available.
Vanpool
* Bicycles. Bicycles should be brought more to the fore. Businesses are joining in to come up with innovative concepts.
* Shuttle buses. Shuttle buses have been commissioned by the ABN-Amro and the ING offices to provide pre- and post-transport. The plans are to have the shuttle buses run for other companies as well. Mobility services
* A helpdesk has been created for van pooling. In 2006 the helpdesk is extended to serve other issues as well. And then it will expand to become a travel facility point, as a part of park management.
* Zuidoost Pass. During the 16 weeks that the A9 motorway, the Gaasperdammerweg, is undergoing major repairs, 17,000 workers are allowed to travel with the Zuidoost Pass. These people are not public transport patrons. The passes give their bearer access to existing public transport as well as to any extra, chartered transport capacity. Both the companies and the Ministry of Transport have made funds available for this (€ 59.50 per Pass). To make the pass extra advantageous to use, a special deal has been made with Inland Revenue. The Zuidoost Pass is made available as a supplement to regular transport allowances. Inland Revenue has agreed not to tax the pass, in view of the large scale of the reconstruction and its far-reaching social ramifications. This has no precedent in the Netherlands. 51% of the Zuidoost Passes are actually being used. Aftere ending of the works the pass lost validity. About 5-6% of the pass users structurally switched to public transport. Following the success of the Zuidoost Pass the Minister of Transport said she will expressly bring the public-transport options, such as the public-transport pass and other mobility management measures, to the motorist’s attention whenever large-scale road construction work takes place.
* Accessibility agent. Currently responsible for the Zuidoost Pass and the vanpool.
Mobile device for displaying the campaign Financial incentives
* Zuidoost Pass. See above.
* Municipal subsidy for bicycle schemes. Companies must make schemes themselves.
* Standard parking values. See above.
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Artists impression Accessibility Maps
Accessibility Maps (the link between the zoning plan and the traffic model) have 3 main purposes:
1. Give the planners insight into where accessibility problems could arise due to the building plans (be it office buildings or infrastructure);
2. Feed data of intended mobility management measures into the system and present them according to their impact on accessibility;
3. Use the output in communications with employers to show and predict when accessibility problems in the future will affect their business. We think that by giving this concrete information to the employers it will raise their commitment to take action at an earlier stage than has been the case so far. The accessibility maps for the Zuidas area are now up and running. Using postcode data from companies and traffic flow data, the maps can show traffic flow under different circumstances, e.g. when a new road is being constructed or a new development causes diversions. The idea is that the maps can be shown to companies to demonstrate the benefits of working on mobility management measures to minimise the disruption to them of the redevelopment process. It can also show the impact of, for example, implementing a car share scheme. Part of the challenge of working with the Amsterdam Zuidas project bureau and the businesses choosing to locate to the area is to communicate with them about the benefits of mobility management without scaring them about the possible traffic chaos that may result from the redevelopment. Innovative Aspect and Transnational Relevance
The innovative nature of this local project is evident in three aspects.
1. The deal with Inland Revenue and the financing of the Zuidoost Pass.
2. The personal approach (postal code survey, personal travel advice, helpdesk, approach through companies).
3. Carpool vans using the emergency lane and bus lane.
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