Minister’s college visit focuses on travel app

Transport minister Jenny Gilruth visited Dundee and Angus College recently to find out about its unique travel app and new electric vehicle training courses.

By
Mark Dowie
Wednesday, 1st March 2023, 12:00pm
Minister’s college visit focuses on travel app

The app, ‘My D&A Travel’, was developed by regional transport partnership Tactran and Fuse Mobility, alongside the college, and launched in September 2021.

Since then it has helped staff and students to plan sustainable journeys to multiple campuses across Tayside and Angus.

With 60% return users, the app is being used repeatedly, making it an invaluable resource for existing and new students, particularly those not familiar with the area.

Given the typical age range of the students as well as the college's geographical pull of Dundee and Angus College, it is likely that various modes of transport are considered for either regular or infrequent journeys. The tool also highlights the free Under 22 free bus journeys option, which encourages registrations to the Scottish Government scheme.

Ms Gilruth spent time speaking to Amy Monks, Students’ Association President, to highlight how students have benefitted from the app and how it has made a difference to how many get to college.

She said: “By providing more comprehensive travel information, people feel empowered to choose public transport or active travel which all helps reduce carbon emissions and helps meet our aspirations for a healthier and more sustainable Scotland.”

Simon Hewitt, college principal, added that the app is part of the college’s overall environmental strategy.

He said: “Over the last number of years we have been committed to embedding sustainability into all aspects of our day-to-day running and have set out our path to net zero. The My D&A Travel App allows our students and staff to see all of the potential travel options available to them and the most sustainable way they can get to college.

"We were delighted to have the opportunity to share our electric vehicle training courses with the Transport Minister, which are equipping vehicle technicians with the knowledge and skills to work safely on electric vehicles.”

The app can be downloaded in the App Store and Google Play by searching for ‘My D&A Travel’.

It has been developed with Scottish Government funding through its Mobility as a Service (MaaS) Investment Fund, which aims to provide people with better travel information, so that they can decide the best way to undertake their journeys.

Tactran is working with key partners across Tayside and Central Scotland to develop these online journey planning tools as part of their ENABLE Programme. As well as Dundee and Angus College, the organisation is also working with NHS Tayside and Loch Lomond & Trossachs National Park Authority to develop online journey tools.

Councillor Andrew Parrott, Tactran chairperson, said: “I’m delighted to see the ongoing success of the MaaS platforms across Tayside. The college provides further education for a wide rural and urban area and this app is helping students to plan journeys before attending college, informing them of all the options available.”

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