'Own Goal' as ￡20m Traffic Signals Fund Cancelled
Amer Halabi ?
Professor of TRANSPORT PLANNING. We got your back because we care and inspire Excellence.
The Labour government has cancelled a?￡20m fund for highway authorities to deploy advanced technology for traffic control, which councils had already bid for.
The Department for Transport (DfT) has written to English local authority chief executives to inform them that the previous Government’s plan for an Intelligent Traffic Management Fund (ITMF) has been shelved. The DfT deputy director Anthony Ferguson said he realised this will be disappointing news and?the DfT was ‘pleased by the way the sector responded to the opportunity’.
Oh...the sector is pleased is it?
Max Sugarman, chief executive of Intelligent Transport Systems UK, described the move as 'a hugely missed opportunity' and strongly urged ministers to reconsider.
Providing funding to deliver the latest technology onto the network, such as machine learning and artificial intelligence, would help optimise traffic flows, reduce congestion and, ultimately, support more effective, safer and greener roads for the travelling public.
So, this cancellation is not only a blow to the traffic technology sector and ITS UK’s membership, but also an own goal for Government.
We would urge them to now set out a forward plan for how they will work with the sector to support a more effective road network, building upon the positive vision they have for the transport system.
ADEPT, which represents local authority place directors, said it was also disappointed by the decision.
The ITMF is part of ￡70m of government funding for improvements to traffic signals announced in autumn 2023 under three separate challenge processes.
It was intended to provide cash for English highway authorities to deploy advanced technology, including using emerging technologies such as machine learning and artificial intelligence to optimise traffic flow and balance traffic across wider areas.