Highways Agency

Regional Traffic Control Centres (RTCCs)

The RTCC Initiative

The RTCC Initiative aims to provide for the strategic management of England's trunk road network into the next century. It would combine the best new technologies and skills available from the public and private sectors - and create a new opportunity for providing the following core services:

• traffic-monitoring and strategic traffic control;
• driver information;
• emergency roadside telephone call-handling;
• network performance-monitoring.

Traffic-monitoring and strategic traffic control

This would involve providing driver information and re-routing advice on VMS and other information services across several PCO areas. The RTCC would have the flexibility to adopt new functions and systems as they become applicable and available.

Providing this service would involve:

• assembling 'static' network information, for example on roadworks and planned events affecting road capacity;
• helping to co-ordinate PCOs within the RTCC region, in partnership with the police and other authorities;
• monitoring - on a continual basis - current traffic conditions as they change across the network;
• developing a real-time computer model of the trunk road network;
• developing network management strategies based on current and predicted traffic conditions;
• developing VMS messages to implement the best traffic-management strategy for current or predicted conditions;
• ensuring that driver information service-providers are aware of the strategy by providing consistent, effective and reliable data to them;
• adding to the existing number of VMSs and sensors on the network;
• measuring the strategy's performance, in terms of its effect on driver behaviour;
• using this feedback to modify strategies for future use.

Data for the motorway network would come primarily from existing systems installed in PCOs. Data for the rest of the trunk road network would come from a dedicated network of sensors and from external traffic reports - including those from the private sector - to identify trouble-spots and areas where spare capacity exists.

As a minimum, monitoring will be required on every link of the network and at every junction. Approximately 2,000 sites are required to cover the English trunk road network. Not all of these are currently equipped and so the provision and installation of extra sensors would form part of the RTCC operator's function.

The RTCC would collate all traffic data into a knowledge base, which would provide a coherent picture of conditions over the whole network.

Provision of driver information - the traffic information highway (TIH)

Motorists must receive consistent driver information and advice - whichever information source they use - in order to minimise the wider impact of incidents, roadworks and recurrent congestion. To achieve this, RTCCs would make information available via a traffic information highway, from which all driver information service-providers would be able to access the data.

The TIH would use 'open' standards for communications and a standard 'language' for describing road conditions. This is currently being developed through the European Union's DRIVE research programme.

Initially, the TIH would be used to give driver information service-providers access to omprehensive real-time data for the trunk road network. Eventually the facility could expand to include information from other - non-Highways Agency - road authorities and travel modes. This would stimulate the provision of new services and, by the introduction of a charging mechanism, initiate a market for traffic data.

RTCCs would also support the Highways Agency Information Line, which gives advice to motorists on current traffic conditions, incidents and roadworks on the trunk road network.

Emergency roadside telephone call-handling

Emergency roadside call-handling is currently carried out by the various PCOs. Under these proposals, the calls might instead be received by RTCCs. The operator would identify emergency calls and immediately pass them to the police for action. This would ensure a continued rapid response by the police to accidents. All non-emergency calls, such as straightforward vehicle breakdowns, would be handled by the RTCCs directly, relieving police resources for more important work. Roadside call-handling, and related information about conditions on the network, would be brought closer to the RTCC strategic traffic managers.

Network performance-monitoring

RTCCs would provide important management information on:

• the real-time status of traffic conditions on the trunk road network;
• traffic statistics related to the operational characteristics of the network;
• performance indicators that measure Road User's Charter objectives;
• information for developing and updating traffic models of the network.

The RTCC structure

At present we envisage having three RTCCs based on three broad geographical regions: the North; Midlands and West; and South and East of England. This would minimise the need to interface between traffic areas and would allow the rapid prediction of traffic conditions on the network. We would, however, be prepared to consider other options - for example, one single national control centre - if the consultation process can prove that this offers additional benefits. We would also consider implementing one RTCC as a pilot scheme - perhaps within a reduced operational area - in order to fine-tune our requirements.

View larger image

We have proposed an RTCC structure based on regional centres and this is shown on the above diagram. In doing so, we have built on the findings of relevant European Union research projects, particularly the PLEIADES project - which demonstrated a wide variety of road-traffic information services in Kent. The experience we gained through the Midlands Driver Information System has also proved valuable in this respect. In addition, the Automobile Association has given us useful advice on the needs of road users and information service providers.

The diagram shows how the RTCC would be a free-standing facility which would bring together all the necessary elements for providing the four core services. RTCCs would also need to link to a number of existing services and systems. It may be possible to convert existing facilities by adding additional equipment and personnel - or alternatively an entirely new facility could be developed.

The RTCC structure must be flexible to allow for progress, both in terms of technology and expansion. Ideally, RTCCs would eventually develop links with: urban and rural road authorities; similar traffic information centres in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland; and other transport operators. The driver information which RTCCs produced would be compatible with services and equipment being developed in Europe.

Institutional arrangements

One of the most important issues to address is the respective roles and responsibilities of the police, the Highways Agency and any potential RTCC operator in managing traffic on the trunk road network. Although the police currently perform tactical traffic-control and traffic-regulation enforcement duties on England's motorways, their resources are limited and they have other pressures to consider. There is a need to redefine this partnership. The RTCC Initiative gives the police, the Highways Agency and the private sector the opportunity to work together to perform their respective responsibilities and provide the best possible service to the road user.

The Highways Agency has opened discussions with the Association of Chief Police Officers to clarify these issues and the outcome will have an impact on future network-control strategy. It will also be necessary to reach agreement with other highway authorities on the effect of strategic traffic control on their roads.

Key issues for consultation

• What are your views on the overall concept of strategic traffic management and the RTCC?
• What further core systems and services could add value to the RTCC?
• What effect would RTCCs have on other businesses, organisations and institutions involved in managing and operating services on the trunk road network?
• What arrangements are needed to maintain a rapid response to emergency calls?
• How important is compatibility between RTCC operators - both within the UK and Europe - and how can this be achieved?
• What are your views on the proposed traffic information highway (TIH)?
• What problems will arise from the technical and institutional boundaries between tactical control, strategic control and existing road operations?
• Would the availability of traffic information help to generate more driver information services?
• What organisations should be involved in managing and operating RTCCs?
• What are your views on the desirability of extending RTCC coverage to the non-trunk road network or other transport modes?

Summary

RTCCs would:

• help make the best use of the existing trunk road network;
• give a better quality of service to motorists, saving time and fuel - and helping to reduce frustration, accidents and environmental pollution;
• minimise overall costs by centralizing resources;
• provide information and quality of service indicators to support Road User's Charter initiatives;
• provide a platform for developing new driver information systems and services, creating new opportunities for private sector investment.