Highways Agency

Introduction and Background

This is the Highways Agency's own "Green Travel Plan". It demonstrates our commitment to playing our part in minimising the impact of travel on the environment by reducing the level of unnecessary travel and encouraging those who have to travel to do so in a more environmentally friendly way.

It contains a number of measures which we hope will give staff an opportunity to make more informed choices about how they travel and how they can make a valuable contribution to a sustainable environment.

The Background

Our "Green Travel Plan" follows the direction of Government Transport Policies. These set out to achieve sustainable development by combining environmental, economic and social goals to ensure a decent quality of life for everyone, now and in the future.

Green Travel Plans are recognised as having an important part to play because they can produce real benefits for:

• individuals
  - through improved health, reduced stress and potential cost savings
• the Agency
  - through healthier and more motivated staff, reduced congestion and improved access to sites for employees, visitors and business traffic
• the community
  - by the Agency demonstrating its commitment to the Government's environmental priorities and by setting an example to others
• the environment
  - through improved air quality - with less noise, dirt and fumes, as well as by reducing the impact of other national and global environmental problems such as photochemical smog and global warming

The smallest change in travel habits by a large number of people can have a major impact on the negative effects of transport and so help meet the aims of a sustainable environment.