Northamptonshire Strategic Transport Model

The Customer is issuing this Invitation to Tender as a Further Competition under Lot 5 - Highways, Traffic and Transport of ESPO Framework 664_21.

The current Northamptonshire Strategic Transport Model (NSTM) last had a major update in 2015 using Mobile Network Data (MND), Automatic Traffic Counts (ATCs), Manual Classified Counts (MCCs) and public transport information throughout Northamptonshire. Since then, the NSTM baseline has not been significantly updated; however, mobility patterns and associated modelling approaches have changed. As such this model is now at the end of its current validity, both practically and according to TAG guidance, and the Customer is looking to appoint a Service Provider to undertake this work.

The NSTM has provided a single platform capable of assessing changes in travel demand in response to changes in highway infrastructure, public transport provision, population and employment or retail facilities across the County of Northamptonshire. An update/rebuild will ensure that the new NSTM remains a useful, robust and TAG-compliant strategic tool for developing the evidence base for spatial strategies, transport improvements, policy changes and business case support.

The proposal on approach and recommendations of a model update should be based on TAG guidelines, and should allow for current 2023 travel demand patterns and transport infrastructure, also taking into consideration technological advancements that could add value to model forecasts.

As well as developing a new 2023 base model, this opportunity includes the subsequent development of a forecast Core Scenario for 2031 and 2041, undertaking a variety of future year tasks. Service Providers are also invited to set out proposals for data acquisition and storage, model updates and maintenance, and usage of the model by the two councils independently.