---

Dept for Transport

Answer

Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps have been taken by his Department to support the development of Intelligent Traffic Control systems across the United Kingdom; what financial support has been given to pilot or full projects, including those in (a) Reading, (b) Preston, (c) Stratford-upon-Avon and (d) York; over what timescale the projects have operated; what the expected outcomes of the projects were in each case; what assessment has been made by his Department in each case; and what the outcomes from each project have been, including their impact on congestion. [86113] Mr. Jamieson: There are a wide range of Intelligent Traffic Control systems used by both the Highways Agency and local authorities. The Department, through the Highways Agency, has supported the development of these systems on the motorway and trunk road network. Most of the local authority schemes are funded through Local Transport Plan settlements. Specific initiatives to support this include: ITS Assist--helping and encouraging local authorities to use new information and communication technology, including traffic control, in their plans; Clear Zones--encouraging innovative planning and use of technology, including for traffic management, to minimise the impacts of traffic in towns; Research--into traffic control systems and techniques for networks and isolated signalled junction and pedestrian crossings; and UTMC--The Urban Traffic Management and Control (UTMC) programme was devised by the Department to provide the framework to support efficient and effective network management in towns and cities. This concept is being developed and taken forward primarily through a five-year, £6 million research programme. As part of this, four demonstration projects were started in September 2000 and are due to complete in 2003. These are in Reading, Preston, Stratford-upon-Avon and York. The Department has contributed £1.7 million to these demonstration projects. A structure for evaluation of the projects has been agreed with the local authorities, reflecting their transport and environmental objectives, including impacts on congestion. As the projects are not complete, assessments cannot yet be made, but will be reported when the projects conclude. I have arranged for copies of leaflets describing the above initiatives to be sent to the hon. Member and also placed in the Libraries of the House.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

396 c34W;396 c33-4W; 86113

Session

2002-03

Subjects

Assessments Pilot schemes Reading (Berkshire) Road traffic Roads Road traffic control Preston York Stratford-on-Avon

Contains statistics

Yes

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk