City Science was commissioned by England’s Economic Heartland (EEH) to help them understand how to develop their analytical capability, including how they can make use of the Common Analytical Framework (CAF). It is one example of the range of transport strategy and planning services we provide to our partners.
Background
EEH has a large and diverse investment pipeline, with a growing focus on non-road interventions including public transport and non-traditional transport schemes. They required an assessment of the most cost-effective ways to develop the analytical capabilities necessary to support this investment pipeline.
Transport for the North has pioneered CAF, which has made open key analytical components and processes expected to support analysis and strategic transport modelling. The goal is to provide sub-national transport bodies like EEH with a shared framework that they can adopt and adapt for their region.
City Science Response
We reviewed EEH’s likely analytical requirements based on its current investment pipeline, and assessed current modelling assets in the region based on a review of existing transport models.
We then reviewed the concept of CAF, including the key ideas, principles and aspirations and their expected benefits. This was done through a combination of desktop research and engagement with developers at Transport for the North and Midlands Connect. We also assessed the implementation of the framework through a detailed review of published modules, and mapped these modules to a traditional four-stage transport model.
This enabled us to identify the options available to EEH and provide an appraisal of these options, including their costs and benefits.
Outcome
City Science presented EEH with five options to develop their analytical capability. These ranged from a minimal scope with internal or external delivery, to a full CAF adoption with additional development, to a hybrid or intelligent client option. We recommended an option which provided a deliverable plan, enabled business cases to be progressed, and avoided supplier lock-in by ensuring transferability and ownership of tools.
