It is important to develop a strong business case to help your authority positively consider funding a sustainable travel package. There is strong and growing evidence that sustainable travel initiatives represent excellent value for money. Good tips include:

• Sustainable travel initiatives can contribute to a range of non-transport objectives such as health and carbon reduction and these benefits should be captured in the business case. 
• Identify the evidence that will best persuade the decision makers involved in securing funding.
• Draw on the latest and best evidence, links below, to undertake proportionate analysis using evidence based assumptions.
• Anticipate information that might be useful for public engagement later on in the process.  Use terms and measures that are easy to understand and where the results are tangible to the public.
• Tool kit to support local authorities in securing funding has been developed which may help.

Begin joint work with partners early to ensure you capture their added value from the very start.

• Factor in the cost of carbon. It will make your business case stronger. The cost of emissions is likely to rise with time. This favours projects that reduce emissions in the long-term.

Keys to successful delivery

Successful delivery requires certain key elements, including:

• Senior management champion - This person has a belief in success and can help argue for sustainable transport proposals in the decision-making process.
• Clear strategic direction - with a vision of success, strong priorities, defined deliverables and a realistic implementation plan.
• Political leadership. A single councillor or council leader, committed to the approach and a keen advocate, can be key to getting and keeping support for a project.
• Strong team leadership - a strong team leader who can motivate teams.
• Strong team management to ensure the project is adequately resourced and keep the project on track.
• Good stakeholder management - both internal to the council and externally, from the outset.
• Demonstrate how sustainable travel initiatives can help meet your National Indicators.

Further information 

Information to help with preparing a business case:

• How to deal with funding
• Evaluation of outcomes
• Partnership working
• National Indicator table
• National Indicators