Highways Agency - Safe roads, Reliable journeys, Informed travellers

Introduction

Modernising Government White Paper - March 1999

"We will use new technology to meet the needs of citizens and business, and not trail behind technological developments"

Information technology is changing our lives: the way we work, the way we do business, the way we communicate with each other, how we spend our time. New technology offers opportunities and choice. It can give us access to services 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It will make our lives easier. Government intends to be at the forefront of these developments, using them to give effect to the vision in the Modernising Government White Paper.

Introduction

The Highways Agency has a key role in the delivery of the Government's Ten Year Plan for Transport. About 7% of the Strategic Road Network currently suffers traffic congestion and with future sustained growth in the economy, demand for travel on our network is expected to grow by 29% over the next ten years. Against the trend, we are charged with helping to reduce congestion and improving the reliability and safety of travel. Last autumn we published the Agency's strategic document Strategic Roads 2010 which sets out the Agency's response to the Government's Ten Year Plan.

The Agency's strategy for achieving the Ten Year Plan objectives places particular emphasis on harnessing new technology to improve the monitoring of road network conditions and to increase the availability of information to travellers.

The Agency has already made significant investment in systems to warn drivers of hazards. The TCC Project will build upon these activities to develop the technology that allows for more effective management of traffic on the strategic road network. Through the TCC Project, the Agency is seeking to extend the benefits of information technology investment to help improve the reliability of long-distance journeys.

This brochure marks the satisfactory conclusion of the procurement phase for TCC and launches the implementation of the project. Much needs to be done over the next two years so that we can achieve the target of delivering TCC services in 2003. During implementation, the successful TCC Company faces a stiff challenge to establish the infrastructure and systems for this national facility. In parallel with this construction activity, the Agency intends to forge effective partnerships with the police, local highway authorities and the private sector interests. By working together the Agency and its partners take full advantage of potential benefits offered by the TCC Project.

What We Do

The Highways Agency, part of the Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions maintains, operates and improves England's trunk road and motorway network (the strategic road network). This brochure is one of a series outlining the Agency's strategic plans, which paves the way for the developing of network operations and the delivery of the 10-year plan. Others brochures are available from the address in the Further Information Section at the end of this brochure.