UK Network Management Board Minutes of meeting held on 11 th March, 2010 at the Chartered Institution of Highways & Transportation Present: Derek Turner (DT) (Chair) Alan Bristow Mark Kemp (MK) Roy Brannen Ian Davies Ray Gercans (RG) Roy Gordon Yim Kong (YK) Spencer Palmer (SP) Andrew Winstanley (AW) Richard Workman (RW) Justin Ward (JW) In attendance: (For item 5) Dave Johnson (for items 1-4) Nick Illsley Highways Agency TfL Cambridgeshire County Council, NTMF Transport Scotland Welsh Assembly Government DfT Traffic Management Roads Service Northern Ireland Essex CC, ADEPT DfT Traffic Management Highways Agency CSS Wales Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation (Secretariat) TfL Transport Direct 1. Apologies Mike Ashworth (MA) Martin Low (ML) Dean Memory Derbyshire CC, ADEPT Westminster CC, TAG ACPO Liaison 1. Welcome, introductions and apologies Derek Turner welcomed everyone to the meeting and the UK Network Management Board (UKNMB) welcomed Alan Bristow from TfL who is new to the Board. Apologies were noted as listed above. 2. Note of last meeting and matters arising Derek Turner asked the Board to check the note of the meeting and they agreed it was an accurate record of the meeting. Under matters arising, Yim Kong noted that Paul Coathup would replace Graeme Fitton for the representation from CSS (now ADEPT). Derek noted that he had completed his action and that Alan Bristow was now representing TfL on the UKNMB and that he had also written to the DfT in regards to SatNav and HGV routing issues.
The Board had a general discussion on research and following this, agreed that a high-level discussion on the co-ordination of funding was required. Action: Derek Turner to raise the issued of facilitating better co-ordination and prioritisation of research with John Dowie. The Board noted the only outstanding action was in regards to an action on Dean Memory and that this required follow-up. Action: Justin Ward to contact Dean Memory to follow up on the action on the TRL review of safety at level crossings. 3. Feedback from UKRLG meeting The Board noted the minutes from the UKRLG meeting 4. Business Plan The Board made comments on the plan and agreed that once the changes had been agreed, the plan should be published on the website. Action: Justin Ward to make changes on the UKNMB Business Plan as recorded in the meeting and circulate the plan for final comment. Following this, the plan will be published on the UKRLG website. 5. Transport Direct HGV SatNav routing issues Nick Illsley provided an overview of Transport Direct noting that you can journey plan by any mode across England, Scotland and Wales. Nick noted the issue of SatNav routing and stated that the freight sector was currently using generic SatNav systems which are designed for car users. Nick also noted that research suggested SatNav is treated more as a commodity than a service and that there is a low level of interest in downloading new map sets. Nick explained that a SatNav routing system for the freight industry was a good idea, and that Transport Direct are now funding an initiative to take this forward. The project will plot the national network (the strategic road network) and exclude any routes where there are HGV exclusions or where other routes might apply. Transport Direct are also working with the Southwest Regional Partnership on a trial basis and they are going to provide an additional layer of information on the network in the Southwest region. Transport Direct are also reviewing options with Local Authorities to gain data. The longer term plan would be scale up to provide coverage for England, Scotland and Wales. The Board agreed that this was an excellent piece of work and agreed that this project provided a good start to addressing the current issues of a lack of SatNav routing information for HGV vehicles. The Board asked for clarification over a number of issues and Nick explained that the once the data was created it could be used in the Transport Direct Journey Planner
but could also be provided to SatNav companies and by other planners. Nick confirmed that it was appropriate for the future as it was Inspire Compliant. Action: The Board agreed that they would be the parent to the HGV SatNav project and Nick Illsley would provide an update on the work at the next UK Network Management Board meeting. Ray Gercans talked through a paper on understanding the principal influences for modal shift. Ray explained that there was a lot of research out there and that he had picked out four key documents: Delivering Sustainable Low Carbon Travel Making Smarter Choices Smarter Choices Stern Review The Board agreed that the paper was useful and agreed to the recommendation from Ray that the UKNMB website is updated with the details from the paper. Action: Ray Gercans/Justin Ward to update the UKNMB website with the details of the paper Understanding the principal influences for modal shift and publish after sign-off from Derek Turner. 6. Traffic Order Procedures Dave Johnson provided a brief overview of the current problems with Traffic Orders whereby every order requires an advert to be place in a local newspaper, circulate in the local area where the work is due to take place. The Board agreed that this was a significant issue due to the potentially high costs involved with advertising and that it therefore requires further attention. Action: Justin Ward/Dave Johnson to develop a pro-forma for Local Authorities to fill in to assess the costs involved with the current Traffic Orders Procedures. This would be circulated by a letter from Derek Turner as Chairman of the UKNMB. 7. Code of Practice The Board noted there interest in the new draft code: Well Maintained Electronic Traffic Equipment and agreed it would be useful to get sight of this before it is finalised. Action: Justin Ward to contact Atkins regarding the above code to highlight the importance of this to the UKNMB and that the Board would like to have the opportunity to provide any comment prior to publication. 8. National Traffic Managers Forum Mark Kemp noted that a lot of discussion at the recent meeting was on event management. Andrew Winstanley noted that the Highways Agency (HA) have
developed a model to assess the scale of all events and then apply the appropriate mitigation plan Action: Andrew Winstanley to talk to Mark Kemp regarding the HA approach to event management. 9. Traffic Management Act Spence Palmer provided a verbal update on the Traffic Management Act noting highlights such as the London and Kent permit schemes (and guidance that has been published for other authorities who might look to implement permit schemes), the current consultation on street works which has proposals to increase the maximum level of over-run charges imposed by highway authorities from 2,500 to 25,000, a consultation for street works inspections and proposals for lane rental schemes. 10. Traffic Signs Policy Review Spencer Palmer provided an update on the various work streams involved with the review, including: Variable Message Signs, International Comparison, Cycling, Local Authority Performance, Enforcement, Future Technology and Controlled Parking Zones. 11. Research Yim Kong presented an ADEPT research proposal that required some additional funding. Andrew Winstanley noted that the Highways Agency might be able to provide some assistance. Action: Andrew Winstanley to explore options with the Highway Agency for providing support to the ADEPT research proposal. Action: Research proposals to be passed to the UK Roads Liaison Group meeting on the 20 th of April. 12. Communication Ray Gercans noted that there the UKNMB website contained a draft TRL report on Traffic Management. Justin Ward noted that the Board owned the content of the website. Action: All provide any feedback/comments/suggestions on the UKNMB website to Justin Ward. 13. AOB ITS Directive Ray Gercans noted that a new European framework directive concerning the interoperability of ITS systems across borders was likely to impact future specifications. The Board noted that it would be important to get the UK view across as initiatives such as UTMC are rated very highly both in the UK and by European practitioners and stated that any future EU Directive should take account of existing good practice.
Ray also informed the Board that he was retiring. The Board stated that they would like to record their thanks for Ray s contribution to the work of the NMB but also for his work over a number of years on network management issues. TfL Countdown system Alan Bristow noted that the first trial site for the TfL countdown system will be in place by early summer 2010. 14. Date of next meeting 6 th July 2010
Summary of Actions: Action: Derek Turner to raise the issued of facilitating better co-ordination and prioritisation of research with John Dowie. Action: Justin Ward to contact Dean Memory to follow up on the action on the TRL review of safety at level crossings. Action: Justin Ward to make changes on the UKNMB Business Plan as recorded in the meeting and circulate the plan for final comment. Following this, the plan will be published on the UKRLG website. Action: The Board agreed that they would be the parent to the HGV SatNav project and Nick Illsley would provide an update on the work at the next UK Network Management Board meeting. Action: Ray Gercans/Justin Ward to update the UKNMB website with the details of the paper Understanding the principal influences for modal shift and publish after sign-off from Derek Turner. Action: Justin Ward/Dave Johnson to develop a pro-forma for Local Authorities to fill in to assess the costs involved with the current Traffic Orders Procedures. This would be circulated by a letter from Derek Turner as Chairman of the UKNMB. Action: Justin Ward to contact Atkins regarding the above code to highlight the importance of this to the UKNMB and that the Board would like to have the opportunity to provide any comment prior to publication. Action: Andrew Winstanley to talk to Mark Kemp regarding the HA approach to event management. Action: Andrew Winstanley to explore options with the Highway Agency for providing support to the ADEPT research proposal. Action: Research proposals to be passed to the UK Roads Liaison Group meeting on the 20 th of April. Action: All provide any feedback/comments/suggestions on the UKNMB website to Justin Ward.