CONGESTION CONGESTION MANAGEMENTMANAGEMENT

What It Means ForWhat It Means For

BLACKPOOLBLACKPOOL

About This Contents of this About This Contents of this presentation:-presentation:-

• Overview of the Traffic Management Act (TMA) 2004Overview of the Traffic Management Act (TMA) 2004• What practical measures can be used to manage congestion?What practical measures can be used to manage congestion?• Congestion issues in BlackpoolCongestion issues in Blackpool

• How Blackpool has responded so farHow Blackpool has responded so far• What we need to do for the futureWhat we need to do for the future

Provide the basis for improved Provide the basis for improved conditions for all road user through conditions for all road user through proactive management of the road proactive management of the road network.network.

It is “Primary Legislation” with It is “Primary Legislation” with various provisions brought into force various provisions brought into force by “Commencement Orders”by “Commencement Orders”

What is the TMA Trying To Achieve?What is the TMA Trying To Achieve?

The Network Management DutyThe Network Management DutyThe Act places a network management The Act places a network management

duty on LTAs. Section 16 (1) statesduty on LTAs. Section 16 (1) states::

“It is the duty of a local traffic authority to manage their road network with a view to achieving, so far as may be reasonably practicable having regard to their other obligations, policies and objectives, the following objectives-

(a)(a) securing the expeditious movement securing the expeditious movement of traffic on the authority’s road of traffic on the authority’s road network; and,network; and,

(b) facilitating the expeditious (b) facilitating the expeditious movement of traffic on road movement of traffic on road networks for which another networks for which another authority is the traffic authority.”authority is the traffic authority.”

The Network Management DutyThe Network Management Duty

• “Traffic” means all road users Traffic” means all road users Pedestrians, Cyclists, Bus, Taxis, Cars, Pedestrians, Cyclists, Bus, Taxis, Cars, HGV’s.HGV’s.

• ““Expeditious movement of traffic” Expeditious movement of traffic” implies a network that is working implies a network that is working efficiently without unnecessary delay to efficiently without unnecessary delay to those traveling on it. those traveling on it.

• DFT has given specific Good Practice DFT has given specific Good Practice Guidance on techniques and approach Guidance on techniques and approach with the aim of improving network with the aim of improving network performance.performance.

Practical measure for managing congestionPractical measure for managing congestion:-:-– Identifying and managing different road typesIdentifying and managing different road types– Monitoring the networkMonitoring the network– Identifying locations where congestion occursIdentifying locations where congestion occurs– Co-ordination and direction of worksCo-ordination and direction of works– Dealing with planned eventsDealing with planned events– Management of incidentsManagement of incidents– Making the best use of technologyMaking the best use of technology– Managing parking and other traffic regulationsManaging parking and other traffic regulations– Accommodating essential service trafficAccommodating essential service traffic– Regular reviews of the networkRegular reviews of the network– Consultation and engagement with Consultation and engagement with

stakeholdersstakeholders– Provision of travel informationProvision of travel information – Encouraging the use of Sustainable travelEncouraging the use of Sustainable travel

Congestion issues in Blackpool

• A new national Performance indicator (NI 167) focuses on congestion in the AM peak

• This does not reflect our issues with Tourism

• Congestion occurs when we are successful – eg Bank holidays and Illuminations

• Congestion on the Promenade – our “Shop Window”

How has Blackpool Responded to the How has Blackpool Responded to the TMA and congestion management?TMA and congestion management?

• We assessed Blackpool’s strengths and weaknesses in relation to the “ideal” given in the Network Management Good Practice Guidance and also looked at the future provisions of the Act.

• We looked at the Gap between what we did and the ideal and the “Gap Analysis” has been used to inform our responses.

How Has Blackpool Responded?How Has Blackpool Responded?• Appointed a “Traffic Manager” as required Appointed a “Traffic Manager” as required

by the Act to oversee the Network by the Act to oversee the Network Management Duty Management Duty

• Centralised management of the network to Centralised management of the network to have as much as possible delivered by one have as much as possible delivered by one integrated “Network Management” team.integrated “Network Management” team.

• Reviewed the resources required for this Reviewed the resources required for this team to operate effectively and are putting team to operate effectively and are putting these in place.these in place.

• Integrated Transport Policy and those Integrated Transport Policy and those responsible for Network Managementresponsible for Network Management..

How Has How Has BlackpoolBlackpool Responded? Responded?Recognised the need to:-Recognised the need to:-• Be more proactive in our day-to-day Be more proactive in our day-to-day

management of the network. management of the network.

• Classify the network and define a hierarchy Classify the network and define a hierarchy of road users for each street (ongoing)of road users for each street (ongoing)

• Identify congestion issues, including an Identify congestion issues, including an assessment of effect, severity and assessment of effect, severity and prioritise.prioritise.

• Develop proposals to address these issues. Develop proposals to address these issues.

• Improve the use of UTC and other Improve the use of UTC and other technology to actively manage traffic on a technology to actively manage traffic on a day-to-day basisday-to-day basis.

What We Need to Do for the FutureWhat We Need to Do for the Future• Put in place systems to monitor congestion Put in place systems to monitor congestion

to allow us to measure performance to allow us to measure performance against the new National Indicator.against the new National Indicator.

• Identify and prioritise congestion Hot Identify and prioritise congestion Hot SpotsSpots

• Put in place an integrated programme of Put in place an integrated programme of measures to manage congestion and measures to manage congestion and improve our performanceimprove our performance– Engineering measuresEngineering measures– Parking managementParking management– Sustainable travel promotionSustainable travel promotion– Improve facilities for sustainable modesImprove facilities for sustainable modes

What We Need to Do for the Future – What We Need to Do for the Future – Tourism and Regeneration perspectiveTourism and Regeneration perspective

• Develop a Regeneration Transport Develop a Regeneration Transport StrategyStrategy

• Focus on how we manage visitors Focus on how we manage visitors to Blackpool to reduce congestion to Blackpool to reduce congestion and improve their experience.and improve their experience.