As part of the development and operational support programme for the rollout and installation of the West Midlands Urban Traffic Control (UTC) Major Transport Scheme, TRL has been appointed to undertake monitoring and evaluation of the process and to provide decision support tools.
The Scheme will link together a number of UTCs which are being upgraded (or plan to be) for 7 unitary authorities in the West Midlands and a Centre of Excellence co-located with the Highways Agency’s Regional Control Centre at Quinton. The Scheme is looking at non-motorway roads, but will involve working closely with the Highway Agency (HA) where these roads interface with HA managed motorways.
In undertaking the work, TRL will draw upon its expertise in microsimulation, traffic management control systems, decision support tools and support to Regional Control Centre operations for the efficient operation of controlled motorways.
4 key lines of development have been determined:
* Validation of the existing business case
* Provision of microsimulation(s) of UTC areas and a wide area model
* Provision of online decision support tools
* Evaluation of the benefits of the Scheme when operational
Throughout the process, TRL will engage with the appointed programme managers who are acting on behalf of both the Department for Transport and the West Midlands local authorities and, importantly, the end users and their stakeholders to aid a coherent understanding of aims, objectives and targets.
The contract has been awarded by Wolverhampton City Council on behalf of the unitary authorities involved.