Event Management

The success of major special events can hinge on how easily spectators and others can reach the venue - Faber Maunsell provide the specialist expertise to develop and manage plans for all aspects of transport for one-off and regular events.

Faber Maunsell's contributions to successful major spectator events can be demonstrated by its development of the transport strategies supporting many high profile projects. These include one-off special events such as the 2002 Commonwealth Games, and facilities for regular events such as Premier League football, Edinburgh's Hogmanay Street Party, or other sporting and cultural events.

Special Events

The company is only too aware of the prestige and economic benefit for a country, region and city that can be derived from hosting major and special events. We are also aware of the commercial pressures on organisers and stakeholders running such events. It is imperative therefore that the operational aspects run smoothly and do not tarnish image of a city or organisation when it is in the prime public focus. The ethos of our special events teams is one of "Making Things Work".

The success of major events is measured by the enjoyment of the spectators and the commercial outcomes for the organisers and stakeholders. Crucial to this is the safe movement and control of large numbers of people, which requires diligent planning of all aspects to predict and cater for all eventualities. At the same time it is important that essential local traffic associated with businesses and residences are not unduly inconvenienced, and that emergency services are not impaired.

To project manage a transport strategy, Faber Maunsell can bring valuable experience from a wide range of events and locations, covering:

• Forecasting of spectator demands and associated vehicle and pedestrian flows and parking demands
• Traffic management
• Public transport strategies
• Parking and park & ride strategies
• Signing
• Funding mechanisms for transport services
• Planning, design and implementation of bus stations, car parks and traffic management measures
• Consultation and publicity

An effective transport strategy requires commitment and enthusiasm from many organisations directly and indirectly involved in the special events. Faber Maunsell have an exceptional reputation for bringing the various stakeholders (transport operators, event organisers, passenger transport and highway authorities, police, emergency services, land owners, etc) into partnerships to coordinate their activities to produce safe, secure and smooth operations, and to ensure delivery of the transport services and facilities.

A key objective for a transport strategy for special events in urban areas will be to move as many people as possible by public transport and to provide the necessary service improvements, linkages and bus priorities to cater for the additional demands. In other areas, there will usually be greater dependence on the use of private car, with associated large car parking demands. Whatever the circumstances, there will undoubtedly be a requirement for extensive traffic management to ensure that everyone - spectators, participants, VIPs, press & media, get where they need to on time. The traffic management in itself will require careful design and testing. To assist, Faber Maunsell can call upon their vast array of forecasting, modelling and assessment software to test the operational performance under different conditions, to determine for example, the length of traffic queues and extent of traffic delays.

At entry and exit points, and at other key locations such as bus or rail stations, high pedestrian flows will need careful management and control for safety and comfort reasons. Again, Faber Maunsell can call upon its modelling and assessment tools to test pedestrian control measures and assist the design of layouts. We can for example test the effects of a failure of entry barriers at peak time, or the extent of queues at key locations.

Transport Plans for Regular Events

Regular events such as football matches also produce significant traffic impacts which need careful planning and management, but by their nature as frequent occurrences, have different requirements. These are often brought into sharp focus by new developments at a stadium requiring planning approvals. Local authorities will often grasp the opportunity to apply pressure to improve the management of travel demands, and insist upon stringent Transport Plans.

A successful Transport Plan will include a wide range of measures to minimise car traffic, and manage that traffic which does occur to avoid undue congestion and delays. For certain clients we have developed innovative measures to link event ticket purchase with use of public transport, and designed extensive publicity campaigns. Other measures we have designed include re-organisation of car parks, park and ride, event bus services, shuttle buses from rail stations, additional public transport services, traffic management schemes, highway improvements and signing.

Faber Maunsell's approach to the development of Transport Plans of this nature, is to work closely with the event organisers, the highway authorities and transport providers, to develop solutions acceptable to all.

For more information on our experience and capabilities please contact John Colgan.