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Traffic Management Act 2004 / New Roads & Street Work Act 1991. Coordination & Regulation Update February 2008 (Coordinators). Agenda. Part 1: TMA Background Part 2. Executing our TMA & NRSWA duties. Part 3. Permits. Part 4. Summary. Part 1: TMA Background. Summary of TMA.
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Traffic Management Act 2004 / New Roads & Street Work Act 1991 Coordination & Regulation Update February 2008 (Coordinators)
Agenda Part 1: TMA Background Part 2. Executing our TMA & NRSWA duties. Part 3. Permits. Part 4. Summary.
Summary of TMA • To minimise, as far as possible, the impact of traffic congestion. • The Act Covers • Pt 1. Traffic officers (Highways Agency) • Pt 2. Network management duty (Traff Managers) • Pt 3. Permit schemes • Pt 4. Street works (amendments to NRSWA 1991) • Pt 5. Road enforcement (amendments to HA 1980) • Pt 6. Traffic Offences
Intervention Triggers • A complaint about congestion. • A report to Dft. • If, from either of these sources, the Secretary of State suspects that an Authority MAY be failing, then the intervention process could be initiated.
Intervention Assessment + Cost • Assessed whether the Highway Authority has; • Coordinated works • Ensured parity • Taken regulatory action (where appropriate). • Adopted performance measurements • Met targets. • Costs; • Replacement of TM by Traffic Director from Dft. • Pay Dft costs up to £250,000/year. • Lose “Excellent” status.
The Traffic Manager • Peter Bayless • Final decision on Traffic issues. • Traffic Manager Board – Meets quarterly. • Street works manager, passenger transport, area directors, transport policy, police, highways agency, emergency planning, corporate communications. • Discusses & sets policy • Operational group discusses performance.
Parity “Parity is an important principle in exercising the duty. Authorities must lead by example, applying the same standards and approaches to their own activities as to those of others”. Para 68 – Network Management Duty Guidance document.
Parity in Coordination • HCC works promoters to amend their processes / procedures / contracts. • THC contains TMA clause including penalties. • Performance measured using indicators. • Coordinators must be ‘neutral’.
Coordination Pt 1(Being Proactive) Duty to coordinate – S59 NRSWA. Duty to keep traffic moving – S16 TMA. • Does the scheme warrant a T.M. Plan ? • Does the scheme warrant any pre-meetings ? • Are there any existing restrictions, eg TS streets, S58, S.E.D’s, SSSI’s, etc ? • Will it affect other networks / div routes (including internal borders) ?
Coordination Pt 2(Being Proactive) • Will it affect emergency services / buses ? • Does a road require a standard TM plan for all activities ? • Plans for A27, A32, A3024 already being written. • Is consultation with ‘stakeholders’ required. • Does the Traff Manager need to know ? All considerations and decisions need to be documented.
Coordination Groups • Regional coordination group • One coordinator from each area. • Discusses cross border activities. • Reviews and disseminate new legislation. • Assess performance of coord on past activities. • Traff Manager Board / Op Group • Local Coordination meetings • Individual coordinators
Registerable Works(What needs a notice) Works / activities need a notice if they; • Involve the breaking up or RS of any street. • Involve opening the c’way or cycleway of a traffic sensitive street at traffic sensitive times. • Require any form of temporary traffic control. • Reduce the lanes available on a c’way of 3+ lanes. • Require a temporary traffic regulation order or notice, or the suspension of pedestrian facilities. • Require the reduction in the width of existing c’way of a traffic sensitive street at a traffic sensitive time. HCC has a legal duty to register (notify) using the same categories.
Non - Registerable Works(What DOES NOT need a notice) • Road markings • Pole testing • OM / RM works (HCC works only) Unless conditions 2 – 6 in the previous slide apply. (Work in TS time, TC or TTRO needed) Pole testing requires registration 10 days after completion.
Initial Notices • New ‘notice type’. • Not mandatory. • Served at initial design stage. • Only general details required. • Not used to book road space. • Used to ID potential clashes and allow other works promoters to plan their works.
Coord Notice – Some Key Points • Notices must be served in a timely manner. • Durations must be realistic. • Locations must be accurate. • 8 digit Grid refs (000000.00) are mandatory and must be realistic. • Polygons for works area required from 2009. • TM info is mandatory. • One works / street. • Notified works must be started or notice abandoned. • Notices have validity periods.
S74 Overruns and Durations • DfT have not yet revised the S74 rules, although a draft has been consulted on. • Valid reasons for the required extension must be clearly stated. • Any extension must be agreed with the local coordinator BEFORE the revised S74 notice is submitted. • Strict time limits for responses by from works promoters AND coordinators.
Agreements The Code introduces agreements • Works promoters must get permission from the local coordinator / Traffic (HQ) for; • Working during a Restriction. • Early start • Extension • Use of a provisional street • Notice error correction • Placing apparatus in a protected street.
Noticing IT Systems • Exor, Street Works Manager is the Register and coordination tool for local coordinators. • Elgin is a supplementary tool used by both coordinators and works promoters. • Elgin also designed to be a ‘quick and dirty’ noticing tool provided to HCC works promoters. • Both are (will be !) compliant with the TMA regs.
Elgin • Fulfils HCC requirement to publish all works on a map on the web. (e-gov requirement). • Fulfils map based requirement for TMA. • GIS copy of what’s in or Street Works Register. • Allows cross border ID of works. • Used by emergency services to plan routes. Totally reliant on data accuracy.
Regulation (Reactive Coordination) • S74 – Duration challenges. • S56 – Direction of timings. • Can now be used during works. • S56A – Directions for location of NEW apparatus. • S66 – Undue delay / obstruction. • Applies to HCC works via parity / PI’s. • Need to document decisions.
Monitoring Works for Compliance • Noticing and regulation monitored by Traffic (HQ). • Site inspections will confirm timing and location accuracy. • No ‘extra’ inspections (yet). • Extra ‘checks’ at Cat A stage. • Non compliances need to be reported to Traffic (HQ) for possible FPN.
Fixed Penalty Notices • Comes into force May 12th 2008. • Served for noticing non compliance. • Dates, times, location etc. • NOT SLG or overruns. • If SU disputes, then we MUST go to court. • Evidence for non-compliances must be supplied as per a court case. • £120 / £80 fine per ‘offence’.
Performance Measurement • PI’s reported to Traffic Manager / DfT. • Utility Co’s may face fines / penalties / FPN’s. • HCC Works Promoters will need to explain poor results. • PI’s include; • Compliance with notice rules. • Compliance with S74 / S56 / S66 directions. • Number of overruns • Notice accuracy • Issuing of directions / documenting decisions
Licensed Activities • NRSWA 1991, S.50 – Private apparatus; • Licence needs reviewing for TMA. • Legal requirement to hold records on Register (SWM). • All TMA & NRSWA applies to licence holder. • HA 1980, Skips / Scaffold etc; • No new requirements in latest Code. • ‘Should’ be recorded on Register for coord.
Temp Traffic Control • Not covered specifically by TMA, but are a source of congestion. • SEHAUC form. • Notice of 2 way. • Permission required for multiway. • Need to consider existing permanent controls. • Stop / Go boards must be available on site. • MANUAL CONTROL during TS times on TS streets.
Coordinating Non Works Activities • Works promoters should advise of • Diversion routes & road closures. • Events need to be considered. • Managed through DC’s licensing. • Traffic (HQ) advice for significant events. • Central event database developed. • DC activities • Street sweeping, bus shelters etc. • NM Duty states we should liaise to ensure that they apply similar rules.
NRSWA S58 • It is NOT a coordination notice. • Up to 5 years protection. • Exceptions; • Emergency works (obviously !) and customer supply • ‘Substantial’ c’way & f’way schemes in excess of 30Lm can be protected. (SD not included). • Protection can be imposed following major SU work. (S58A). • Restrictions also apply to HCC works.
NRSWA S58 – Revised Procedure • 3 Months prior to works start; • Promoter sends details to Traffic HQ via notice. • Details recorded on Register (via notice) • Traffic HQ then sends to all interested parties. • Traffic HQ publishes details on website. • Promoter raises details at coordination meeting. • 20 days to reveal any planned works. • Works must start within 6 months of notified date • Works promoter sends final S58 on completion of work.
Gazetteer - Special Designations • Significant aid to works planning. • TS, SED, Protected Street. Mandated by legislation. • Other info, eg special surfaces, SSSI’s. • HU’s responsible for deciding what info to add as they have to enforce restrictions. • Data comes from a number of sources and owners are responsible for accuracy.
Permits • Permission required to work on the highway. • Heavy restrictions will apply… to ALL. • Probably only apply to strategic network. • Working group set up to investigate. • Kent CC have already applied to SoS to start permit scheme later in 2008. • SU’s will have to pay up to £240 for each permit. • Permit approval will need to come from the coordinators.
In Summary • TMA is not just about ‘notices’. • Proactive coordination needed at all stages. • Decisions need to be documented. • Will require a change of procedures. • More contact with works promoters • Need to take on board parity. • Need to adopt performance measures.
