Evaluation of the DWP Growth Fund

The objective of the DWP Growth Fund was to raise levels of access to affordable credit by building the capacity of third sector lenders to serve financially excluded households. In doing so, the Growth Fund aimed to disrupt the role of high cost credit in the lives of borrowers. Using both qualitative and quantitative research methods, our evaluation of the Growth Fund examined both impact and process in order to establish the wider implications of the initiative on: Financially excluded individuals. Third sector lending institutions (Credit Unions / Community Development Finance Institutions). Other organisations delivering services to the financially excluded

PPPs for Transit Oriented Development – 4 Options

A look at potential project structures for use in integrated land use and mass transit projects. Four potential structures are put forward – each with different profiles of public sector involvement. The dedicated pursuit of Transit Oriented Development involves significant policy challenges, implications and opportunities. Over the past decade and more, many countries and regions have moved toward the mainstreaming of PPPs. The British approach to PPPs has been adopted in other contexts such as in state-level government in Australia. While the concept emerged as a “new approach” to infrastructure implementation, official policies on acceptable PPP approaches and structures quickly developed a rigid outlook. Some basic PPP assumptions on the nature of partnerships, and on topics such as the allocation of risk, may need fundamental re-assessment. Transit Oriented Development (TOD) tends to involve significant input from the public sector and the private. The most effective approach to combining the strengths of each sector in major projects has long been debated, though few firm policy options have been put forward. Options for project structure are generally unclear and uncertain. The stakes are high because these projects involve long-term land use and transport changes, and the creation of new and significant living and working environments. Large financial commitments are involved. Perhaps by clarifying the options for TOD project structure we can deliver more certainty and workability and assist the progress of these projects. The paper presents four potential models for TOD projects, all of which might be regarded as PPPs (depending on the acceptable definition). The focus is on clarity in financial arrangements and management structures for effective project delivery

Power, Position and Autonomy: Student Conflict in a Communicative Language Classroom

Foreign language educators dedicated to facilitating a communicative classroom often express their satisfaction when their learners actively engage the target language with minimal teacher interference. However, with the nearly ubiquitous implementation of pair- and group- work activities in the language classroom, it is virtually impossible for even the most perceptive teachers to be cognizant of the dynamics of every conversation. Even in what may appear to be cooperative, equal participation in the completion of the task, conflicts, domination and marginalization of participants can emerge. In this study, a semi-autonomous learning environment in which students were placed in pairs to complete a learning task without the teacher present to mediate the student interaction was examined using Conversation Analysis (CA). It was found that the participants each attempted to be in control of the task and their partner by competing for the position of “the dominant knower,” resulting in a prolonged power struggle. The fact that the teacher was called in to settle their disagreements even inadvertently reinforced one student’s claim to the dominant position

Station Access on Four Continents

Significant attention is invariably focused on the line-haul aspects of mass transit networks, but the question of how passengers get to a station tends to be under-resourced and under-researched. With station access comprising a substantial component of the overall journey involving transit, improvements to access infrastructure and amenity should flow through into increased ridership, or improved travel experiences. Station access, to state the obvious, is invariably by walking, cycling, feeder transit - or by car-based means. The facilitation of more robust access by feeder transit would demand strong design, station configuration, and network planning approaches. The delivery of better conditions for walking and cycling also demands a particular set of design, planning and infrastructure treatments. Some networks are actively prioritising the more sustainable of these modes in actual infrastructure and design decisions, while others mainly emphasise sustainable access rhetorically - in planning documentation perhaps. In this paper, we analyse and compare station access figures in a selection of major transit networks from the USA, Europe, Asia and Australia. The analysis provides clear figures to contextualise an intuitive understanding – namely, that different urban rail networks depend on different access modes overall, and on specific modes in greater and lesser degrees at particular locations. Empirical analysis of observed station access patterns across the case study networks forms the primary research method, but these observed outcomes are cross-referenced to planning documentation and context of local transit stakeholders. The paper charts the conditions, methods and measures that might support increasing levels of access by the more sustainable, more cost-effective modes of station access into the future

Mass Transit Project Financing - new and alternative approaches

In major cities around the world, the appetite for better mass transit systems is strong – with many locations needing to enhance both capacity and coverage to address population growth and increased transport movement. Available resources from traditional government sources are limited, however. In this paper, several potential ‘alternative’ project financing structures will be reviewed – mainly focusing on PPPs – but also briefly taking-in ‘Joint Powers’ and other arrangements operating under a ‘blended’ financing model. The paper seeks to analyse and clarify the attributes, pitfalls, and potential benefits of these different arrangements, drawing on the documentation and stated aims of several recent and current worldwide exemplars. A literature review and summary case study approach is adopted - with reference to mainstream sources on mass transit capital financing and planning. Cross-comparison of the different approaches adopted in various exemplars is engaged. The paper then draws interpretation of the wider applicability of these project options for future mass transit delivery efforts – and touches on the conditions, criteria, and policy settings under which they might be positioned to deliver effectively. The paper addresses substantive, current and emerging issues around the ability of transit stakeholders in growing cities to surpass the limitations of prevailing project financing cultures and constraints

Making the most of transit oriented development opportunities

Transit Oriented Development (TOD) offers a strategy to build population density and transit patronage. Key contributing success factors for TOD that are identifiable through a review of best practice international research include; innovative and supportive planning policies, high quality urban design, 21st century transport infrastructure and improved co-ordination between stakeholders. TOD provides opportunities for transport providers and operators, local governments, private business and communities. Quality TOD offers major opportunities to leverage private development and public open space in close proximity to the people-moving capacity provided by existing and planned transit infrastructure. As such, quality TOD offers the opportunity to make the most of transport infrastructure dollars. With a co-ordinated approach, transit ridership might also be boosted through TOD, and this should offer benefits for transport efficiency and transport authority revenues. Challenges and complicating factors for TOD include; identifying workable approaches that can assist with putting extensive existing knowledge and research on TOD into practice in building a network of TOD projects. Innovative means to overcome various barriers are also required. The coming challenge in TOD might be characterised as a need to turn opportunity into reality through a co-ordination of project management and long-term transport planning

A Step-by-Step Approach to Transit Oriented Development Project Delivery

A major challenge in successfully implementing transit-oriented development (TOD) is having a robust process that ensures effective appraisal, initiation and delivery of multi-stakeholder TOD projects. A step-by step project development process can assist in the methodic design, evaluation, and initiation of TOD projects. Successful TOD requires attention to transit, mixed-use development and public space. Brisbane, Australia provides a case-study where recent planning policies and infrastructure documents have laid a foundation for TOD, but where barriers lie in precinct level planning and project implementation. In this context and perhaps in others, the research effort needs to shift toward identification of appropriate project processes and strategies. This paper presents the outcomes of research conducted to date. Drawing on the mainstream approach to project development and financial evaluation for property projects, key steps for potential use in successful delivery of TOD projects have been identified, including: establish the framework; location selection; precinct context review; preliminary precinct design; the initial financial viability study; the decision stage; establishment of project structure; land acquisition; development application; and project delivery. The appropriateness of this mainstream development and appraisal process will be tested through stakeholder research, and the proposed process will then be refined for adoption in TOD projects. It is suggested that the criteria for successful TOD should be broadened beyond financial concerns in order to deliver public sector support for project initiation