Highways Agency

Executive Summary

The prime objective of operating the TCC is to reduce the effects of congestion on England's Core Network caused by incidents and planned events by informing the travelling public about network conditions.A new national Traffic Control Centre is being constructed to provide extensive traffic information services, including advice on wide-area diversions for Core Network traffic.

In the pursuit of a seamless collaborative delivery of services to the travelling public, TiS will need to work in close partnership with organisations involved in the management of the non-Core Network as well as for the Core Network. This includes LHAs, the police, other highway authorities, other network operators, information service providers and many others. The development of this NGF provides the foundation for future cooperation and coordination between TiS and those LHAs where a mutual interest exists for network management purposes.

TiS operations will not directly impact on local traffic management, which will still be managed by LHAs. Any diversion of traffic by TiS will be restricted to Core Network routes and will not take place on the local road network except in exceptional circumstances and by mutual agreement with the relevant LHA(s).

TiS can provide assistance to an LHA by providing timely and accurate, information on traffic conditions and planned events on the Core Network. This includes dissemination of early, accurate information to LHAs that will enhance confidence in network management decision making processes, help to reduce adverse customer comment and engender widespread appreciation of the services provided.

Information available from TiS will give local traffic managers the ability to plan ahead and anticipate the development of unplanned events resulting in environmental and financial benefits with congestion and delay minimised.

Further help will be available to LHAs, including:

• Use of TiS dissemination media
• Use of the Core Network to assist in managing specific local events
• Information on planned events affecting the Core Network
• Potential to display information on Variable Message Signs (VMS)
• Data for LHA planning
• Contact information related to the Core Network

The development and delivery of these services will require assistance from many organisations, including LHAs. In this context, it is recommended that LHAs take this opportunity to influence and contribute to this process in order to derive the maximum operational benefit.

TiS will deliver the project objectives to the overarching policy set by the Agency. Development of operational partnerships between TiS and other organisations - including LHAs in England, the police, the Scottish Executive and the National Assembly for Wales - is crucial to the success of this project.

The objective is to develop positive, day-to-day close relationships with LHAs and others to provide a seamless service to the mutual customer, the travelling public.

To help achieve the objectives, TiS requests from LHAs the provision of planned and unplanned event information on those parts of the LHA network likely to affect the Core Network.

This NGF has had active involvement of LHA bodies throughout its development. It provides a foundation for the working relationships to be established and maintained between TiS and those LHAs where a mutual interest exists for network management purposes. Detailed Local Operating Agreements (DLOAs) will be made with each of these LHAs to confirm working arrangements. These will be reviewed with these LHAs at least annually.

This NGF establishes the principles of the operational partnership required between TiS and these LHAs. It reflects the principles that the TOCC Executive recommends for adoption by individual LHAs and covers issues of national significance and policy related to the operation of the TCC.