Highways Agency

Annexes

1. The Agency's Core Network
2. Process for Agreeing and Reviewing Partnering Agreements
3. Glossary of Terms and Abbreviations
4. Memorandum of Understanding
5. Terms of Reference for the TOCC
6. Responsibilities of the Highways Agency
7. Responsibilities of TCC Company

Annex A - The Agency's Core Network

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Annex B - Process for Agreeing and Reviewing Partnering Agreements

Annex C - Glossary of Terms and Abbreviations

The Agency The Highways Agency.

The Highways Agency is part of the Department of Transport, Local Government and the Regions (DTLR). It maintains, operates and improves England's trunk road and motorway network (the strategic road network) and includes Highways Agency Related Bodies, such as the Agency's Agents, Contractors and Network Operators on the Core Network.

Core Cities Group

The seven English Core Cities (Birmingham, Bristol, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle and Sheffield) have come together to form a vision of the distinctive role that the big cities must play in national and regional life in the future. The Core Cities fulfill this role by:

• helping Government to develop long-term strategies for strengthening cities in order to increase competitive advantage and reduce social exclusion
• helping to integrate policy for Core Cities and national strategy
• helping to explore complex issues in urban management, such as community involvement and leadership through partnership
• helping to shape regional policies which build on the distinctive role of the regional centres
• working together with Government to develop national and regional facilities in a co-ordinated way
• supporting the Government in putting Britain at the heart of Europe by building relationships with the other core cities of Europe.

Core Network

The Agency's motorway and trunk road network to be operated under the TCC Project, as defined in the TCC Agreement.

CSS

CSS was formerly known as The County Surveyors' Society. It has members drawn from Strategic Transportation and Waste Disposal authorities throughout the United Kingdom including Shire Counties and Unitary Authorities in England and Wales and the DOE in Northern Ireland, plus an affiliation with the Scottish Unitary Authorities. Its aims are the representation of members' interests, by responding to European and Central Government initiatives and consultations, by promoting initiatives aimed at influencing government policy and the development and dissemination of best practices.

DLOA Detailed Local Operating Agreement.

The over-arching principles as defined in the LHA NGFs are expected to remain the same nationally, but variations in traffic operations exist from one local area to another. To accommodate this, DLOAs will be drafted with each local organisation, which will outline procedures and practices for effective operations between TiS and an individual LHA.

LHA Local Highway Authority,

otherwise referred to as "Local Transport Authority". A Local Authority in England responsible for local roads under relevant legislation. A "Local Authority" is defined as a county council, a district council, a London borough council, a joint authority established by Part IV of the Local Government Act 1985 or the Common Council of the City of London in its capacity as local authority or any authority that is a successor authority to any of them.

NGF National Guidance Framework.

The principles governing operation of the TCC will be defined by this LHA National Guidance Framework (NGF) agreement, and subsequent updates. The NGF provides guidelines and a starting point for the detailed local agreements needed to define operations between TiS and each LHA.

NRSWA

New Roads and Street Works Act 1991.

OHA

Other Highway Authority. An organisation other than an LHA or OIP with operational responsibility for a section of highway or a highway network and which may have an interest in operational liaison with TiS, or be of operational interest to TiS. This includes, for example, the National Assembly for Wales and the Scottish Executive.

OIP

Other Interested Party. An organisation other than an LHA, OHA or Highways Agency Related Body with an interest in operational liaison with TiS, or of operational interest to TiS. This includes, for example, airport authorities, port authorities, regional shopping centres and statutory undertakers.

TAG

Local Government Technical Advisors Group. TAG generally comprises directors or departmental heads responsible for the provision of technical services within many Local Governments throughout the UK, including architecture, town planning, engineering, environmental health, leisure and housing. TAG's main aim is to provide technical advisory services to local and central government and its agencies and to provide a professional network for the development and dissemination of best practice.

TCC

Traffic Control Centre. The traffic control centre to be established, operated and maintained by TiS under the TCC Agreement.

TCC Co

Traffic Information Services (TiS) Limited. A company owned by Serco which will operate the TCC utilising TiS personnel in partnership with the Agency and under policies set by the Agency.

TfL

Transport for London. TfL is an executive body of the Greater London Authority, reporting to the Mayor of London who is also Chair of TfL's Board. It is responsible for delivering the Mayor's integrated transport strategy, in close working partnership with the London boroughs and the Strategic Rail Authority. It currently includes London Buses, London River Services, Tramlink, Docklands Light Railway, Public Carriage Office (responsible for taxi and private hire vehicle licensing), Street Management and Victoria Coach Station. London Underground will become part of TfL in due course.

TIH

Travel Information Highway. TiS will implement an internet-based TIH to provide a market for traffic information and data and allow open exchange of data on the transport network. Users will form a Travel Information Community, including members from the Police Service, LHAs, public transport operators (e.g. rail, bus), information service providers and the media.

Value-Added Service Providers (VASPs) will be able to obtain data via the TIH and process it ("add value") to make it more accessible to users, with the opportunity to provide additional or enhanced services (e.g. route planning). They will also support a wide range of delivery mechanisms including the world wide web, mobile phones, WAP and Digital Audio Broadcasting.

TiS

The consortium comprising TCC Co, Serco Limited and Serco Limited's sub-contractors.

TOCC

Traffic Operations Coordinating Committee. This committee was formed to bring together representatives from LHAs and OHAs across the country to provide the opportunity to raise issues arising during the implementation and operation of the TCC. The committee is managed by the TOCC Executive (comprising representatives from CSS, Core Cities Group and TAG) and includes representation from the Agency and TiS as well as TfL, the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO), the Scottish Executive, the National Assembly for Wales and others as required.

VIH

Video Information Highway. A Highways Agency project to investigate and develop the potential for using the Agency's broadband network for widespread dissemination of CCTV images.

VMS

Variable Message Sign or signs to be used by TiS for strategic management of traffic on the Core Network.

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Annex D - Memorandum of Understanding

The Highways Agency
Traffic Control Centre Project

Memorandum of Understanding between the Highways Agency, CSS, the Core Cities Group, Technical Advisors Group and TCC Company

Introduction

1. This Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) is made between the Highways Agency for England ("the Agency"), Traffic Information Services (TiS) Limited ("TCC Company") and the Executive members of the Traffic Operations Coordinating Committee (TOCC) (The TOCC seeks to coordinate the views of LHAs and OHAs regarding operational liaison issues with the TCC. This also includes liaison with the Scottish Executive and the National Assembly for Wales), comprising representatives from the Core Cities Group, CSS and the Technical Advisors Group (TAG). It provides a framework for co-operation between the Agency, TCC Company and Local Highway Authorities (LHAs) and Other Highway Authorities (OHAs) in respect of the operation of the Agency's Traffic Control Centre (TCC).

2. For the purpose of this MoU, the terms "Local Highway Authority" and "LHA" refer to a Local Authority in England responsible for local roads under relevant legislation. A "Local Authority" under this definition is considered to be a county council, a district council, a London borough council, a joint authority established by Part IV of the Local Government Act 1985 or the Common Council of the City of London in its capacity as local authority or any authority that is a successor authority to any of them.

3. Where OHAs are not specifically mentioned in this MoU, reference to LHAs also includes OHAs.

4. A TCC will be established and operated by TCC Company working under the direction of the Agency through a ten-year contract.

5. This MoU is made with the purpose of facilitating the strategic management of traffic by TCC on the Agency's strategic road network (the Project Network).

6. This MoU is intended as a precursor to the preparation of a National Guidance Framework (NGF). The NGF will set guidelines for the preparation of Detailed Local Operating Agreements (DLOAs) with individual LHAs.

7. TCC Company is required to establish DLOAs with LHAs individually or in groups as appropriate in accordance with the terms of the TCC contract, reproduced in Annex 3 to this MoU.

8. Requirements for regional or local meetings with LHAs are not specified and will be arranged by TCC Company or the Agency as the need arises, e.g. debriefing following major incidents to improve best practice.

9. The TCC will be responsible for strategic traffic management on the Project Network. The Police Service will remain responsible for incident management on the Project Network, including emergency local diversions.

10. The TOCC comprises representatives of the Highways Agency, TCC Company, Local Highway Authorities in England (LHAs) and other Highway Authorities (OHAs). It provides a forum to establish and monitor a framework for, and to make recommendations on the co-ordination agreements and operational procedures between the TCC, LHAs, and OHAs. The terms of reference for the TOCC are defined in Annex 1 to this MoU. The responsibilities of the Agency with regard to TCC are defined in Annex 2.

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Agreed Principles

11. The TOCC Executive will use its best endeavours, during the life of the TCC contract to co-ordinate responses of LHAs in dialogue with the Agency and TCC Company concerning national policies for operation of the TCC.

12. The TOCC (representing LHAs) and the Agency will jointly use their best endeavours to agree and promote national policies for operation of the TCC.

Data and Information Exchange

13. Operational information will be freely exchanged, at no charge, between TCC and LHAs. However, that information will only be used to inform decision-making and will not be passed on or sold to any Third Party without prior agreement.

14. Information will be transferred via any convenient and available media that is practicable, including telephone, fax, e-mail and remote terminal systems. It is envisaged that, where appropriate, the communication of data and information between the TCC and LHAs may eventually be via an internet-based Travel Information Highway (TIH). To this end, the TOCC Executive, the Agency and TCC Company will use their best endeavours to promote the TIH, encouraging the use of it by LHAs.

15. The Agency and the TOCC have also agreed that the TIH is one of the means of transmitting operational data and information, and to serve the requirements of Value Added Service Providers (VASPs)(Value Added Service Providers are any suppliers of services or products which use or contain traffic data, including any Associate and Contracting Associate of TCC Company).

16. The interface, presentation and format of data from on-line active systems shall be subject to individual agreements between TCC Company and each LHA. These systems may include databases, monitoring equipment, traffic control systems etc.

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Strategic Diversions

17. Where suitable routes are available, LHAs may enter into negotiations with TCC Company to determine if benefits would be derived from the use of non trunk roads for strategic diversions. Where it is agreed that an LHA link may be used, the operational procedures shall be agreed between TCC Company and the relevant LHA(s).

18. Where it is practicable to do so, TCC Company will display agreed messages on its VMS at the request of neighbouring LHAs. Similarly, LHAs that have suitably located VMS will, where practical, display messages at the request of the TCC. The TOCC will work with the Agency, the Police Service and TCC Company to agree a framework of procedures to govern priorities for the shared use of VMS.

Annex E: Terms of Reference for the TOCC

1. A committee consisting of representatives of the Highways Agency, TCC Company and Local Highway Authorities in England (LHAs) has been formed to keep under review co-ordination agreements and operational procedures between the Traffic Control Centre (TCC) and LHAs. The committee is known as the Traffic Operations Coordinating Committee (TOCC).

2. The TOCC will be convened jointly by the Executive Members of the TOCC ("TOCC Executive" - see item 3 below) and the Highways Agency under the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Highways Agency, TCC Company and the TOCC.

3. The TOCC will be constituted as follows:

• One [1] representative from each of the following organisations, constituting the TOCC Executive:
  • CSS
  • Core Cities Group
  • Technical Advisors Group (TAG)
• Up to three [3] representatives of the Highways Agency, nominated by the Agency
• Up to three [3] representatives of TCC Company, nominated by TCC Company
• Up to four [4] representatives from a spectrum of LHAs nominated by the TOCC Executive
• A representative from Transport for London
• A Police observer (If endorsed by ACPO Traffic Committee, a reciprocal Agreement can be agreed whereby an LHA observer would be invited to their committee meetings when discussing matters with the Agency relating to TCC).

4. Members will be invited as required from other bodies with a direct interest in strategic traffic management on the motorway and trunk road network in England, Scotland and Wales including, but not necessarily limited to:

• Highway Network Management in the Office of the Welsh Assembly;
• Road Network Maintenance and Management Division of the Scottish Executive.

5. The secretariat to the TOCC will be provided by TCC Company.

6. Membership of the TOCC may be reviewed jointly by the TOCC Executive, the Agency and TCC Company as required.

7. The TOCC chairman will be elected by the TOCC from one of the TOCC Executive. This election process shall occur as the need arises, but shall take place at least annually.

8. Once the TCC is operational, the TOCC will meet at least annually to consider a report, to be prepared by TCC Company, on the operation of procedures and agreements in place with LHAs (see Annex 3 of the MoU). The format and content of the report will be agreed between TCC Company and the Agency. This report may be disseminated to LHAs at the discretion of the Agency and the TOCC Executive.

9. These terms of reference for the TOCC may be reviewed and altered by joint agreement of the TOCC Executive, TCC Company and the Agency. The secretariat shall maintain up-to-date terms of reference.

10. The TOCC may be suspended or wound up by mutual consent of the Agency and the TOCC Executive.

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Annex f: Responsibilities of the Highways Agency

1. The Agency is charged with performing the duties and responsibilities of the Highway Authority for motorways and all-purpose trunk roads in England, on behalf of the Secretary of State. The Agency retains full responsibility for policy regarding traffic management on this network.

2. The Agency will have due regard to LHAs in setting policy regarding traffic management on this network.

3. The Agency has entered into a contract with TCC Company for the delivery of all TCC services.

4. The Agency undertakes to facilitate local agreements between TCC Company and individual LHAs.

5. In the event of any dispute or failure to reach an agreement between TCC Company and an individual LHA on a matter concerning TCC Company operations, the Agency will use its best endeavours to work with all parties to seek a mutually acceptable resolution.

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Annex G: Responsibilities of TCC Company

1. TCC Company will prepare and agree Detailed Local Operating Agreements (DLOAs) which will define how the TCC will operate with each LHA or group of LHAs. These DLOAs will cover all protocols and procedures for operational, routine and other liaison between TCC Company and LHAs and OHAs and will include the following:

a) the principal contact names and telephone numbers for LHAs, OHAs and TCC Company;

b) the procedures to be followed for communications between TCC Company and the LHA and OHA, and vice-versa;

c) the methods and procedures to be used for the prompt, accurate and reliable exchange of information about planned and unplanned events that may affect the operation of the Project Network; in particular the role of the TIH;

d) the content and format of information exchange between TCC Company and the LHA and OHA;

e) the occasions when TCC Company will obtain LHA and OHA input to the off-line development of strategic responses methods and procedures to be used;

f) the methods and procedures to be used by TCC Company in responding to requests from the LHA and OHA for display of messages on Variable Message Signs (VMS) controlled by TCC Company;

g) the development of local message sign legends for VMS;

h) the circumstances when it will be necessary to co-ordinate TCC and LHA and OHA media briefing and the procedures to be followed;

i) the opportunities, if any, to take advantage of changes in technology, systems and institutional agreements to improve communications and co-ordination between TCC Company and the LHA (for example, the potential for integrating TCC with LHA/OHA and UTMC systems);

j) the procedures for initiating diversion routing onto the Project Network from LHA roads;

k) local knowledge of conditions that may affect the operation of the Project Network, such as routine congestion, locations where there is frequently a poor level of service to road users, local names/reference points, accident black spots, the effects local driving conditions and driver behaviour have on network operations;

l) If acceptable to LHAs, the agreed use of limited non Project Network roads for strategic diversions if suitable routes are available;

m) TCC Company will arrange a meeting of the TOCC at least once a year, in accordance with Annex 1 of this MoU.

2. TCC Company hereby authorises Serco Limited to agree and sign on its behalf with LHAs and OHAs all DLOAs related to this MoU.