Protecting Telford’s uniqueness

and our community assets

Keith HarrisService Delivery Manager – Transport & Highway Development

CONTENTS

• Introduction• Telford & Wrekin – facts and context• Why do we review road layouts?• Design considerations• Funding and investment• Summary and next steps• Questions

Unique features

• Birth place of Industrial Revolution• New Town and City Forest status• Well connected places,

free-flowing roads• Transformation over last

40 years

CONTEXT

How many roundabouts do we have?

120

How many roundabouts have traffic lights?

4 out of the 120 roundabouts have traffic lights:Hollinswood (2004)Trench Lock (2006)Ketley Brook (2006)Malinslee (2014)

3 more are the responsibility of the Highways Agency:M54 Junction 4M54 Junction 5 (Forge)M54 Junction 6

TELFORD & WREKIN FACTS & FIGURES

MAINTENANCE AND OPERATION

How many Council controlled traffic lights are there in T&W

31 junctions57 pedestrian crossings

Cost of running traffic signals, e.g. energy costs

£350 per junction per annum

Cost of the traffic signal maintenance contract (faults)

£145 per junction per annum

18% of sites have LED bulbs

The following are the costs to operate and maintain traffic signals:

CONTEXT

Shropshire Star

December 2014

Shropshire Star

July 2012

CONTEXT

WHY DO WE REVIEW ROAD LAYOUTS?

Access: jobs, education, visiting family and friends, shopping,

recreation etc

Safety: For pedestrians, cyclists, passengers & vehicle users

Environment & Economy: Keep traffic flowing safely around the network Facilitate healthy, sustainable modes of travel

What factors are in play – predicting future needs:

• Traffic growth – current rate of growth = 9%

• Access to new and improved community facilities

• Land availability

• Sustainability awareness

• Health awareness

• Funding availability

WHY DO WE REVIEW ROAD LAYOUTS?

Investment in Borough facilities:

• Borough Towns, e.g. £10m in Wellington

• £200m Building Schools for the

Future programme

• £250m investment in Southwater

• £200m investment by Telford Shopping Centre

• Business expansion e.g. Stadco, Faccenda, T54

WHY DO WE REVIEW ROAD LAYOUTS?

DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS

Traffic flowWhat will be the volume of traffic, will it be equal on all approaches and will it vary throughout the day

Space How much space is available

CostRelated to the availability of space but also need to consider the costs of maintaining the infrastructure

Pedestrians and cyclists

Where are local facilities located, e.g. schools and shops. How will people get to them safely and without walking or cycling excessive distances

AccidentsCurrent and predicted patterns of accidents, including vulnerable users. Can we design out some accidents?

EnvironmentVehicle emissions and noise are related to volume of traffic and how efficiently it flows

FUNDING AND INVESTMENTHighway improvements are paid for through a variety of ways:

•By developers through planning; construction costs and running costs

•Annual capital grants from central government for highway improvements (£939,000 for 15/16)

Bids for additional capital funding 

•Telford Box Road improvements: From CTAAP Development Plan document £8.4m from Central Government (67%) £1.6m from Developer contributions (13%)

• Future proofing

LAWLEY

• Design Code published in June 2004 by TWC & English Partnerships (now HCA)

• Outline Planning consent granted in October 2004 for 3,300 new homes, school, shops, commercial and leisure

• Detailed Highway Infrastructure works approved in 2007 with funding for 8 traffic signal junctions and a separate pedestrian crossing paid for by developers

• Section 278 agreement – developers are paying for traffic signal maintenance

• Section 106 agreement – developers are paying for the introduction of Urban Traffic Control

NEXT STEPS

Managing traffic signals:

• Fixed Timing Plans

• Vehicle Activated

• Computerised control (UTC)

• Part-time operation

• Low Energy

SUMMARY

• Roundabouts remain the preferred choice

• We take into account traffic volumes, access needs, availability of space and funding when deciding appropriate junction controls

• Traffic lights may therefore be needed to maintain traffic flows where roundabouts cannot cope

• We are introducing new technology and looking into part-time operation to further improve traffic flows

QUESTIONS