Working with the local authority and transport providers to improve access to the national history museum.
A Travel Plan was first developed for St Fagans National History Museum in 2012. The Travel Plan has remained live and achieved a Bronze Award in 2013, Silver Award in 2014, and Gold Award in 2015 from the Welsh Government Travel Plan Coordinator. The awards recognise best practice and excellence in travel planning demonstrated by organisations in South East Wales.
The Travel Plan was initially developed to support the Heritage Lottery Fund bid for a redevelopment project. Staff have continued to implement the measures outlined in the Plan in order to improve the journey for both staff and visitors. Analysis in the Business Plan reveals just under a third of households in Cardiff do not own a car, and so would find it difficult to access the Museum without public transport.
The Museum has worked with the local authority and local bus providers to ensure regular, accessible public transport provision to the site during and after the redevelopment, when visitor figures are expected to increase.
Transport information, such as maps and timetables, are now available at the museum reception and a bus shelter was secured for the Museum with real-time information display.
In addition, Smart Travel Training has been undertaken with front-of-house reception staff where Sustrans provided a half day training session for public-facing staff on public transport information provision. The Museum’s website has also been improved following advice from Sewta, Sustrans and Cardiff Council. It ranks different ways of travelling and has better travel information. This includes links to the Traveline Cymru journey Planner and Cycle Streets (UK-wide cycle journey planner), while staff changing and showering facilities have been installed on site.