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Chapter 3 Making the Best Use of the Network
Making the best use of the Agency's roads and tackling congestion
Indicator
To achieve a saving of x estimated vehicle hours from the network communications and economy local network management schemes (LNMSs) completed in the year
Target
250,000 vehicle hours
Performance
628,071
Trial of 'ramp metering' on the M27
The Agency is committed to improving the service to its customers through making the best use of the existing network. This will be achieved through actively managing the traffic using the network, influencing demand by encouraging integration with other forms of transport, providing all road users with better information to enable them to make an informed choice about their journey and improving the network where necessary.
In combination, these measures helped to improve the reliability of journey times across the network during 2000/01, with the Agency saving 628,071 vehicle hours, exceeding its target of 250,000 hours.
The Agency has an extensive programme of local network management schemes (LNMS). These are smaller schemes, costing less than £5 million, which target local problems on the network and deliver improvements quickly. The Agency also made significant progress with its programme of 51 early action schemes aimed at tackling congestion, completing seven schemes in 2000/01. This three-year programme is due to be completed by 31 March 2003.
The Agency has an extensive research programme to develop new and innovative techniques to improve the maintenance and performance of the network and help road users. This research is vital to providing the Agency with the technology needed to enable it to actively manage traffic on its network. In 2000/01 the Agency spent £14 million on researching ways to use new technology.
The Agency is using the latest advances in communication technology to help it to take a proactive approach to the management of traffic on its network. In 2000/01 the Agency added further to its extensive network of variable message signs (VMS) and CCTV cameras. These assist the police to respond more quickly to incidents on the network - a major cause of congestion - and to warn drivers of problems ahead.
In combination, these measures helped to improve the reliability of journey times across the network during 2000/01, with the Agency saving 628,071 vehicle hours, exceeding its target of 250,000 hours.
The Agency has an extensive programme of local network management schemes (LNMS). These are smaller schemes, costing less than £5 million, which target local problems on the network and deliver improvements quickly. The Agency also made significant progress with its programme of 51 early action schemes aimed at tackling congestion, completing seven schemes in 2000/01. This three-year programme is due to be completed by 31 March 2003.
The Agency has an extensive research programme to develop new and innovative techniques to improve the maintenance and performance of the network and help road users. This research is vital to providing the Agency with the technology needed to enable it to actively manage traffic on its network. In 2000/01 the Agency spent £14 million on researching ways to use new technology.
The Agency is using the latest advances in communication technology to help it to take a proactive approach to the management of traffic on its network. In 2000/01 the Agency added further to its extensive network of variable message signs (VMS) and CCTV cameras. These assist the police to respond more quickly to incidents on the network - a major cause of congestion - and to warn drivers of problems ahead.
To help keep traffic flowing on the motorway, the Agency is using 'ramp metering' at six sites on the M3 and M27 motorways near Southampton.
This is a traffic management technique which controls the amount of vehicles allowed to join the motorway at peak periods. The system, which uses part-time traffic signals triggered when sensors indicate a heavy volume of traffic, already operates successfully in the United States, France and Holland. If successful, this system will be extended to other parts of the Agency's network.
Bottlenecks are a major cause of congestion and driver frustration and increase the risk of accidents. Controlling and smoothing traffic flow on the network helps to avoid these bottlenecks forming. In order to help achieve this, the Agency has been operating a controlled motorway scheme on the M25, between junctions 11 and 15. This automatically sets a lower speed limit when normal traffic flow is interrupted, helping to keep traffic moving smoothly. Following its success, this scheme is due to be extended to other parts of the M25.
Another technique used by the Agency is the stationing of emergency response vehicles on 24-hour standby on the M6 in Cheshire. These can arrive at the scene of an accident or spillage within minutes to clear the carriageway quickly and help keep traffic moving (see case study).
Better information for drivers is at the heart of the Agency's network operator role and a key outcome in the 10 Year Plan. By being better informed, road users are more able to plan their journey in advance to avoid congestion. To help deliver better information, the Agency let a £160 million public-private partnership contract in March 2001 for its new Traffic Control Centre. When fully operational by March 2004, this will provide a state-of-the-art facility for providing up-to-the-minute information on traffic conditions on the network direct to the public, media and private sector organisations, as well as helping to manage traffic on the road.
To encourage an integrated approach towards travel, the Agency has continued to contribute to the Government Offices' multi-modal studies on key transport corridors, and is working closely with regional development agencies to develop regional transport strategies, as well as managing a programme of road-based studies to find solutions to particular problems. This regionally-focused and integrated approach to solving transport problems will see real benefits as the studies progress.
Case study: M6 Emergency support vehicles
Even minor incidents on motorways can quickly create unsafe situations and cause serious delays. A trial fleet of emergency support vehicles on the M6 in Cheshire has been highly successful in cutting response times to incidents on the busy motorway from 57 minutes to just 15.
With two-man crews and distinctive livery, the vehicles are on call 24-hours a day to support the emergency services.
They are equipped to divert traffic around incidents and deal with debris and spillages on carriageways. They also carry out regular patrols of the motorway, to clear the road and assist drivers if required.
Emergency response vehicles assist the emergency services 24-hours a day on the M6
