Traffic Management Act & NRSWA Impact on

New Roads and Street Works Act 1991

Ellen Duffy

Head of Street Works Branch

Department for Transport

Ellen Duffy

Head of Street Works Branch

Department for Transport

• 50% increase in traffic on urban roads forecast from 1996 to 2031

• Impact on road users:

• slow-moving traffic with journey time inconsistent.

• pollution - noise and air quality

• Businesses unable to provide reliable deliveries.

• Public transport unable to operate to timetable, and unreliable for those who need them and dis-incentive for others to switch.

• 50% increase in traffic on urban roads forecast from 1996 to 2031

• Impact on road users:

• slow-moving traffic with journey time inconsistent.

• pollution - noise and air quality

• Businesses unable to provide reliable deliveries.

• Public transport unable to operate to timetable, and unreliable for those who need them and dis-incentive for others to switch.

Pressures on the Road Network

Impact of utility companies

• Planned 20% increase in capital maintenance by water companies between 2005 and 2010

• Gas ongoing major mains replacement programme - >100,000km over 30 years

• Continued expansion in telecommunications network

• Electricity mains replacement – a possibility

• Planned 20% increase in capital maintenance by water companies between 2005 and 2010

• Gas ongoing major mains replacement programme - >100,000km over 30 years

• Continued expansion in telecommunications network

• Electricity mains replacement – a possibility

DfT’s role

• Government sets the regulatory framework – and the minimum standards – currently being enacted via TMA

• DfT works with HAUC on safety codes, codes of practice, etc

• DfT helps publicise good practice – and focuses on helping utilities and local authorities work well together.

• Government sets the regulatory framework – and the minimum standards – currently being enacted via TMA

• DfT works with HAUC on safety codes, codes of practice, etc

• DfT helps publicise good practice – and focuses on helping utilities and local authorities work well together.

Traffic Management Act 2004 (TMA)

• Part 1: Traffic Officers on the trunk road network

• Part 2: Network Management Duty

• Part 3: Permit schemes – a new system for street works management

• Part 4: Street works – updating the current system

• Part 5: Highways and Roads (London, records, safety etc)

• Part 6: Civil Enforcement of Traffic Contraventions

• Part 1: Traffic Officers on the trunk road network

• Part 2: Network Management Duty

• Part 3: Permit schemes – a new system for street works management

• Part 4: Street works – updating the current system

• Part 5: Highways and Roads (London, records, safety etc)

• Part 6: Civil Enforcement of Traffic Contraventions

                       

Traffic Management Act 2004

Network Management Duty

• National and Regional Traffic Managers Forums set up and working well – coordination; HA involvement; formal link to DfT

• Guidance on Intervention Criteria (March 2007) for authorities to use to avoid intervention

• Evaluation of Traffic Management Act 2004 - contract underway

• National and Regional Traffic Managers Forums set up and working well – coordination; HA involvement; formal link to DfT

• Guidance on Intervention Criteria (March 2007) for authorities to use to avoid intervention

• Evaluation of Traffic Management Act 2004 - contract underway

Street works: Noticing, Directions, Registers

What does TMA provide:

• Directions on when works may be carried out and where apparatus may be placed;

• Restrictions following major street works;

• Validity period for s54 notices; and a notice required if works not going ahead.

What does TMA provide:

• Directions on when works may be carried out and where apparatus may be placed;

• Restrictions following major street works;

• Validity period for s54 notices; and a notice required if works not going ahead.

Street works: Noticing, Directions, and Registers

Other changes in regulations:

• Measures to improve the flow of information

• Measures to make the system simpler

• Measures to improve co-ordination

• Measures to reduce disruption

Other changes in regulations:

• Measures to improve the flow of information

• Measures to make the system simpler

• Measures to improve co-ordination

• Measures to reduce disruption

Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs)

FPNs

• Powers for LA to give FPNs rather than recourse to courts –incentive for good information exchange

• These should be used with thought and care by LA. Not for revenue generation.

FPNs

• Powers for LA to give FPNs rather than recourse to courts –incentive for good information exchange

• These should be used with thought and care by LA. Not for revenue generation.

Updating Section 74 of NRSWA(charges for unreasonable prolonged occupation)

• Higher charges if works overrun – especially for busier streets with lower charges on less busy roads;

• Concept “off-carriageway works” has been dropped.

• Mitigated charge

• Higher charges if works overrun – especially for busier streets with lower charges on less busy roads;

• Concept “off-carriageway works” has been dropped.

• Mitigated charge

Permits

• Permits apply equally to activities carried out by highway authorities and utility companies.

• Conditions can be attached by the Permit authority.

• Permit Fees reflect the cost of the scheme relating to utilities own activities.

• Permit Authorities will have to demonstrate they are operating their scheme in a fair and equitable way – a set of KPIs have been developed.

• Permits apply equally to activities carried out by highway authorities and utility companies.

• Conditions can be attached by the Permit authority.

• Permit Fees reflect the cost of the scheme relating to utilities own activities.

• Permit Authorities will have to demonstrate they are operating their scheme in a fair and equitable way – a set of KPIs have been developed.

What’s Next

• Finalisation of new Regulations on S74 charges

• Inspection

• Training & accreditation consultation

• Specification for reinstatement of highway

• Safety

What’s left

• Records of undertakers’ apparatus

• FPNs for offences under Highway’s Act

• Half width and full width reinstatements

• Finalisation of new Regulations on S74 charges

• Inspection

• Training & accreditation consultation

• Specification for reinstatement of highway

• Safety

What’s left

• Records of undertakers’ apparatus

• FPNs for offences under Highway’s Act

• Half width and full width reinstatements

In conclusion

• Government is committed to delivering the changes introduced in TMA.

• This needs to be done to a realistic timetable.

• Important to ensure that Regulations can work.

• Government is committed to delivering the changes introduced in TMA.

• This needs to be done to a realistic timetable.

• Important to ensure that Regulations can work.

Thank you for listeningThank you for listening