ÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜ. Annex I. Network Management Plan

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1 ÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜ II Annex I Network Management Plan

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5 Contents 1.0 Introduction 2.0 Staffordshire s Hierarchy of Network Management 3.0 Key Issues for Holistic Network Management 4.0 Measuring Network Management Performance 5.0 Summary I1

6 1.0 INTRODUCTION The Network Management Plan (NMP) is the summary document of Staffordshire County Council s approach to improving the overall operation of the highway network. Specifically the NMP addresses congestion and its causes in all forms. The introduction of the Traffic Management Act 2004 (TMA) is an indication of the Government s commitment to tackling the problem of congestion. The TMA places a new Network Management Duty (NMD) upon local transport authorities and provides them with new powers to assist in undertaking this Duty. In the TMA, the Network Management Duty states: (1) 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) securing the expeditious movement of traffic on the authority s road network; and, (b) facilitating the expeditious movement of traffic on road networks for which another authority is the traffic authority. (2) The action which the authority may take in performing that duty includes, in particular, any action which they consider will contribute in securing: (a) the more efficient use of their network; or (b) the avoidance, elimination or reduction of road congestion or other disruption to the movement of traffic on their network or a road for which another authority is the traffic authority. In the Staffordshire context, with County s diverse mixture of rural and urban areas, the application of the TMA and NMD must be tailored to achieve targeted outcomes. The NMP lays out the framework under which actions will be carried out. I2

7 2.0 STAFFORDSHIRE S HIERARCHY OF NETWORK MANAGEMENT This Network Management Plan (NMP) lays out Staffordshire County Council s policies, strategies, and actions to deliver holistic network management. The principal aim is to optimise the use of the limited highway asset available through better management on all levels, and employing techniques and technologies that assist in this aim. Figure NMP 2.1 demonstrates the principles that the NMP must deliver upon and their context in relation to the underpinning aims of the wider Local Transport Plan (LTP). Fig. NMP 2.1 : Principles of the Network Management Plan OPTIMISED NETWORK USE Asset Management Network Management Enforcement Inventory Data Development Maintenance Improvement ITS Co-ordination of Activities Control of Activities, FPNs Parking Speed Moving Traffic Offences Environment Safety Congestion Accessibility Traffic Manager Staffordshire County Council has recently undergone organisational changes to accommodate the principles of the TMA. A specific post has been created within the organisation for the Traffic Manager; the organisational set-up is highlighted in Figure NMP 2.2a and Figure NMP 2.2b. I3

8 The organisational structure now established, and implemented since September 2005, embodies the principles of parity and independence within the Traffic Manager s remit, as required by the TMA. The key functions of the Traffic Manager s Business Unit (the Network Management Unit) are: the delivery of a co-ordinated, planned, and effective response to the TMA and NMD across the whole of the organisation providing a focal point for the authority championing optimised use of the highway network influencing internal and external highway stakeholders ensuring implementation of all actions in a timely manner to deliver compliance with the NMD Figure NMP 2.2a : Staffordshire County Council Development Services Directorate Organisational Chart Corporate Director of Development Services Deputy Corporate Director Deputy Corporate Director Planning and Regulation Service Area Transport Planning LTP County Planning Development Control Waste Management Environmental Unit Regeneration Countryside Research Tourism Traffic Manager Congestion and Network Management Decriminalised Parking Moving Traffic Offences Staffordshire Highways Service Area Highway Maintenance - Routine Maintenance - Structural Maintenance - Cyclic Maintenance - Winter Maintenance Highway Improvement - Integrated Transport - Improvement Projects - Bridges - Safety & Community Accord (maintenance contractor) Wrekin (construction contractor) Highways Policy Programming and Planning Road Safety Education and Training I4

9 Figure NMP 2.2b : Structure of the Network Management Unit Traffic Manager Parking Manager Highway Network Manager Assistant Network Manager (TRO) TRO review, DPE, Moving Traffic Offences etc Asst. Network Manager (Development) LTP co-ordination, internal and external stakeholder liaison, congestion management, contingency planning, passenger transport etc. Asst. Network Manager (Co-ordination) Co-ordination, control and enforcement of all activities on the highway network, permit schemes etc Traffic Regulation Assistants Business Development Officer Area North Network Co-ordinator Area West Network Co-ordinator Area East Network Co-ordinator Network Inspectors Network Inspectors Network Inspectors Joint Administrative Resource At the time writing, the Traffic Manager for Staffordshire is: Mr David Wilson Deputy Corporate Director (Staffordshire Highways) Telephone: Fax: david.wilson@staffordshire.gov.uk I5

10 3.0 KEY ISSUES FOR HOLISTIC NETWORK MANAGEMENT The key policies in the NMP are encapsulated in Figure NMP3.1. Figure NMP 3.1 : Network Management Polices NETWORK MANAGEMENT POLICIES NMP3 Manage all network information and its interface with highway stakeholders NMP1 Measure, monitor, report and continually improve the actions taken to manage the network Network Management NMP2 Analyse, identify and target the causes of congestion Balance the actions in managing congestion against safety, accessibility and environmental considerations NMP4 Policy NMP1 Measure, monitor, report and continually improve the actions taken to manage the highway network Section 3.1 to 3.3 of this NMP details the actions to be taken to implement network management in line with the TMA, and in particular the NMD. Section 4.0 details the measurement, monitoring, and reporting of actions. I6

11 Policy NMP2 Analyse, identify and target the causes of congestion Section 3.1 of this NMP details the actions to be taken to implement network management in line with the TMA, and in particular the NMD. Policy NMP3 To manage all network information and its interface with highway stakeholders Sections 3.2 and 3.3 of this NMP focus on information management and stakeholder involvement. Policy NMP4 To balance the actions in managing congestion against safety, accessibility and environmental considerations Throughout the NMP the ethos of balance in the application of the actions against network management is instilled. It is a priority for Staffordshire County Council to address the key issues but not at the expense of other aims and objectives. Whilst the focus of this NMP is to address congestion, it must be noted that in Staffordshire congestion is not the priority focus of the LTP. However, it is acknowledged that congestion occurring now, and predicted to occur in the future, is an issue that cannot be overlooked. There are many actions that can be undertaken to control congestion alongside the other aims of the LTP. Congestion does currently occur in pockets of Staffordshire s highway network but perceptions of the acuteness of this are subjective. Whilst Staffordshire as whole does not suffer from congestion in relative terms compared to that of metropolitan areas, there are issues of local concern that are emotive to the people of Staffordshire. It is the aim of the NMP to promote actions that will address these local issues. Network management in its broadest sense will address all of the needs of the road user. It is important to re-iterate, that the NMD applies not only to vehicular traffic, but the needs of pedestrians and cyclists also. The following sections highlight the actions that Staffordshire County Council will undertake, influence, and facilitate over the course of the LTP. I7

12 3.1 Addressing the Key Issues Actions National research has been undertaken into the causes of congestion and found that it could be broadly attributed as follows: 24% results from incidents that occur on the highway network 10% is caused by planned activities such as road works or streetworks 66% results from volume based congestion Staffordshire County Council s actions are broken down below against these specific areas which assists in targeting actions against each. Unplanned event/incident management Situation: Unplanned or unforeseen events such as traffic accidents, terrorism, serious fires or abnormally severe weather conditions can occur anywhere and at any time. Because it is impossible to predict the timing, the location or the severity of such incidents, it is extremely difficult to make finite plans to deal with them. Actions: o The Council will, in consultation with the emergency services, Highways Agency and neighbouring highway authorities, investigate and put in place a series of contingency options and diversion routes. The Council will ensure that, wherever possible, these plans do not exacerbate the current situation in urban areas for an unduly long period of time. Ongoing during LTP o The Council will work with Staffordshire Police to set up a Local Traffic Control Centre. This will join together the information gathering capabilities and facilitate effective actions by both parties in a timely manner. o Options for the improvement of information dissemination to the public and other highway stakeholders will be considered and implemented, this could include additional and reciprocal use of VMS facilities and better and more accurate links with the media. During LTP period During LTP period o Emergency response capabilities will be considered. During LTP period Planned Activities Situation: When works by the Highway Authority, Statutory Undertakers or others are to I8

13 be undertaken on the highway, there is usually the opportunity to plan these works in advance in order that the impact on the travelling public is minimised. Timescales for planning works vary, ranging from major works with long lead-in periods to minor reactive works with days or even hours notice. Some works are genuine emergencies and would be treated in the same way as unplanned incidents. Delays from works activities purportedly account for 10% of delays to the travelling public and the TMA focuses highway authorities on addressing the causes of congestion from planned works. Controls on Statutory Undertakers have existed under the New Roads and Street Works Act since 1991, but the TMA introduces the need for highway authority works to comply with the same regime as other undertakers for notifications and booking of road space to undertake their activities. Staffordshire County Council has embodied the principle of parity within its organisational structure and an independent Network Management Unit has been established (as discussed in Section 2) to holistically control all activities on the highway network in Staffordshire and interface with all other stakeholders. Associated highway activities in the form of skips, scaffolds, hoardings, access crossings, planned events, etc. will also be included within the processes managed by the Network Management Unit. Staffordshire County Council already has a good reputation regionally for operating robust planning and co-ordination activities, and we are looking to build on this through improving external partnership working with undertakers and internal linkages with our Staffordshire Highways Area Teams and a new Joint Planning Unit which has been instigated under a recent re-structure to plan and programme all works and undertake TMA compliant noticing. A number of key actions are required by Staffordshire County Council over the LTP period. Actions: o o o Staffordshire Highways (Staffordshire County Council s highway delivery partnership) to comply with the full TMA compliant Notification regime (to achieve parity with utilities) Staffordshire County Council to undertake detailed process mapping and business case analysis for all highway control processes, and introduce robust procedures to ensure compliance, control, and viability Network Management Unit to build capabilities in proactive coordination of planned activities through: Improved quarterly co-ordination Partnership working with undertakers of works to improve April 2007 April 2007 During LTP period I9

14 o o o o forward and construction planning Improved day to day co-ordination of minor and reactive activities Robust inspection regimes with dedicated Network Inspectors with main aim of tackling the causes of congestion Introducing enforcement techniques provided by the TMA (FPNs / over-run charging regimes, etc.) Considering the need for and implementation of a Staffordshirewide or regional Permit Scheme Improved information management Linkages with planning authorities to improve integration with developer promoted land-use Encouraging innovative working practices and methods of construction that do not result in highway occupation Promoting and improving cross-boundary linkages with neighbouring authorities and sharing information Working with all other highway stakeholders (District / Borough Councils, Emergency Services, Highways Agency, National and Regional Control Centres, etc) to improve joint adherence to the NMD Improved dissemination of information on planned activities to the public Introducing and refining performance management regimes to measure the impact of actions on Staffordshire s highway network During LTP period During LTP period Volume based congestion management Situation: The nature and severity of congestion will depend on a variety of factors including duration, geographical spread, and source. As a result, the measures to tackle congestion will vary significantly. Below are a number of the direct measures that the Network Management Unit will introduce, and following is a synopsis of other actions to be undertaken by Staffordshire County Council in pursuit of the broader aims of the LTP. I10

15 Actions: Staffordshire County Council will work to reduce the impact of congestion by: o Implementing Decriminalised Parking Enforcement (DPE) in Staffordshire; focusing on parking enforcement on main roads and key junctions. During LTP period o Analysing and encouraging the undertaking of physical measures to relieve the network of congestion hotspots. o o o Utilising and extending the use of technology (area wide linked signal control systems (UTMC), information systems and intelligent transport systems (ITS)). Regularly maintaining and reviewing traffic management infrastructure (signs, loops and signal timings). Carrying out a review of the road hierarchy by level of use and function (both current and intended), and continuing to monitor and review on a regular basis. Influencing demand Situation: A high proportion of the population travel to work by car even though some of their journeys are short. Statistics show that 66% of journeys to work are less than 5 km and 53% are less than 2 km. There is significant scope for many of these journeys to be made by more sustainable alternatives such as public transport, walking or cycling. Actions: Staffordshire County Council will- o Provide better facilities for pedestrians and cyclists. o Promote the use of public transport through the development of Public Transport Partnerships, by improving publicity, ticketing etc; During LTP period o Provide better facilities for bus operators, which would help to improve bus reliability, such as bus only lanes. o Develop a Park and Ride facility for the West Midlands. o Promote car sharing and other TravelWise initiatives. I11

16 o Encourage more travel by rail. Integrating land use and Transport Planning Situation: The location of employment sites and other key services has a dramatic impact on travel patterns and consequently congestion. The location of services influences need, mode, and time of travel. Actions: o Staffordshire County Council will work with District and Borough Councils to utilise land-use planning as a tool for ensuring that developments, which generate traffic movements, are situated in appropriate and sustainable locations. During LTP period Parking Situation: The management of on-street and off-street car parking can make a significant contribution to tackling urban congestion, especially as the Police are currently only able to provide a limited level of enforcement. Restricting the number of parking spaces, the availability of long-term parking, and the price of parking can have a positive effect on traffic volumes if it is accompanied by adequate alternative provision. In Staffordshire, the District and Borough Councils are generally responsible for car parking provision. Actions: Staffordshire County Council will: o Work closely with the District Councils in consideration of car parking provision as a method of urban traffic management. o Make application to Department for Transport to commence DPE in selected areas. o Develop and manage a parking strategy (quantity, availability, and price). o Consider charging policies having monitored the schemes in London and Durham (congestion charging, workplace parking levy). From August 07 From 06 May During LTP period During LTP period I12

17 o Carry out a review of all parking prohibition Traffic Regulation Orders throughout the County. This will be carried out prior to the implementation of DPE. Feb 06-Aug 07 Moving Traffic offences Situation: Congestion is frequently caused by the contravention of Traffic Regulation Orders. The powers of enforcement of these Orders rest at present with the Police. It is not possible for the Police to adequately monitor every location where such Orders exist. Actions: Staffordshire County Council will: o Apply to carry out enforcement of selected moving traffic offences after successful application for DPE. o Develop a programme of targeted enforcement campaigns in partnership with Staffordshire Police and District and Borough Councils. The enforcement will be of certain moving traffic offences - such as infringement of yellow box junctions, the illegal use of bus only lanes, and parking on zig-zag lines on pedestrian crossing approaches. Nov 06 During LTP period Speed Management Situation: Influencing the thoughts and values of drivers is an essential element of Staffordshire County Council s Road Safety Strategy - Creating Safer Roads. Actions: Staffordshire County Council will:- o Continue to provide targeted driver training courses such as Speed Awareness and National Driver Improvement Courses which are offered as an alternative to prosecution. These are designed to improve drivers observational and hazard perception skills. Ongoing in LTP period I13

18 o Tackle excessive and inappropriate speed using a raft of measures, delivered in partnership with key stakeholders, including the deployment of both static and mobile safety cameras. o Support Staffordshire Police in the enforcement of road traffic laws, especially those relating to speeding, drink/drug driving, and the wearing of seat belts. o Support schemes such as Community Speed Watch. Many of these initiatives are co-ordinated through County s various districtwide Community and Road Safety Task Groups. o Carry out a speed limit review on all A and B Class roads in the County to ensure that speed limits and road designs are appropriate for local conditions. o Develop a Speed Management Policy, which will be linked to the review of the road hierarchy. The Speed Management Policy will set out in more detail what Staffordshire County Council (together with Staffordshire Police and others) will do to manage vehicle speeds. It is likely that the Policy will include measures to: ensure the best use of available resources by adopting an intelligence-led approach to identify and address accidents hotspots. promote and implement lower speed limits where there is a potential to reduce the number and severity of road accidents. encourage and support local communities to introduce community-funded speed management initiatives, such as Community Speed Watch. identify potential, and implement agreed fixed and mobile speed camera sites, particularly at areas prone to speeding. identify and implement new locations for traffic calming schemes. participate in national campaigns aimed at conveying the message that speed kills. arrange and promote local activities and events to raise awareness of the dangers of speed. I14

19 3.2 Over-arching Network Management Issues In order to undertake a number of the actions listed above, Staffordshire County Council has to set principles for how the network data will be managed to facilitate the efficient operations for planning and controlling the network. The fundamental start point is an accurate inventory of the highway network which is required to be referenced and disseminated in the National Street Gazetteer (NSG) format. Staffordshire s highway network and all attributed data is currently under review with the aim of having a complete and up-to-date highway inventory by summer Processes are also being put in place to maintain this inventory data This information will be the foundation on which all other highway information and processes will be built. The review is currently underway and will provide attributes about every road on the highway network as follows: road type/classification indicative traffic flow indicative proportion of HCVs/HGVs traffic/cycle/pedestrian category traffic sensitivity maintenance category route used by emergency services bus route abnormal load route local issues, e.g. rat-run, school locations, motorway or trunk road diversionary routes, traffic calming, seasonal routes, major or minor event locations, etc. TRO information Additional Street Data (ASD) as defined under NRSWA This information will also be disseminated via Staffordshire County Council s website in order that any interested highway stakeholder can access the data as necessary. In addition, the data will be the basis for displaying operational information e.g. current or planned road or street works, all locations where temporary traffic controls are in use, locations of skips/scaffold/ hoardings etc. Information about incidents and their affect on the network will also be available once the Local Traffic Control Centre is in place with the police, and linked with Regional and National Traffic Control Centres to ensure comprehensive and accurate information is available. Initiatives such as EMPReSS (which is an internet site for displaying crossboundary information of highway works of local authorities) may be utilised to ensure a consistent approach to information dissemination. This will help to promote regional and national consistency in practices. It is recognised that I15

20 information and access to it, is an essential tool in supporting transport choice. This may be in the form of choice of mode, or which route to best undertake a journey. Wider dissemination of information about the operation of the network will need to be considered. Staffordshire County Council will draw up a dissemination strategy by 2008 which will consider all options and outline recommended actions for the publicity and dissemination of network operation and management information in all forms Working with key stakeholders In order to fulfil the NMD, Staffordshire County Council will need to work closely with a series of key partners, both within and beyond the County boundary. The Council s partners will include: All internal Staffordshire County Council Directorates Staffordshire Police Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service Staffordshire Ambulance Service National and Regional Traffic Control Centres Highways Agency. Neighbouring County or Unitary Councils Borough and District Councils Passenger Transport Operators Casualty Reduction Partnership members Utility Companies Other Undertakers, e.g. developers, etc. The Public Stakeholder forums will be set up in 2006/07 with the above to: Initially raise awareness to the requirements of the TMA Inform stakeholders of the actions Staffordshire County Council have taken to date Define roles that stakeholders have to play Consider network management options To set actions to implement the TMA and NMD To set priorities and an implementation programme To set metrics against the achievement of actions To monitor and report on successes / failures To promote continuous improvement in fulfilling the duties of the Act Work has already been undertaken in 2005 on awareness raising and promoting the actions of Development Services Directorate. This initial work needs to be expanded further into the wider organisation of Staffordshire County Council and other stakeholder organisations. ) ) ) ) ) ) Mid 2007 ) ) ) ) Other forums exist with a number of the key stakeholders that can be I16

21 expanded further: Internal Stakeholders Within Staffordshire County Council the Transport Planning and Strategy Unit has a key role to play in addressing future congestion issues and the Traffic Manager s team will be influencing the work of the Unit in line with the policy objectives of this NMP. Staffordshire s three Highway Maintenance Area Teams (North, East and West) are required to operate as an undertaker and access the highway under the same terms as a utility company, including notifying of all highway occupation. This is being enabled through business process re-engineering which has been on-going since The Network Management Unit will work closely in monthly forums and through day-to-day contact with the Joint Planning Unit of Staffordshire Highways, who programme all works and will be responsible for the submission of Notices to the NMU. Emergency Services Liaison Meetings with West Mercia Police and other emergency services, working arrangements in place with Staffordshire Police Traffic Group, Community Forums, West Midlands Traffic Operations Regional Group (WM TORG) National Traffic Control Centre Detailed Local Operating Agreement (DLOA) in place with Traffic information Systems to provide reciprocal information about networks, WM TORG Highways Agency Liaison Meetings with Highways Agency and their agents, Quarterly Co-ordination Meetings, WM TORG Neighbouring Authorities Various cross-boundary working and regional groups, specifically including Midlands Service Improvement Group, WM TORG, West Midlands Highway Authorities and Utilities Committee (WM Highway Authority and Utility Committee) and: West Midlands (Shires and Unitaries) Traffic Managers Group [WM (S&U) Traffic Management Group]: This group is made up of Traffic Managers representing the following authorities working together to share information and work together to ensure that the broader aspects of the Network Management Duty are met: City of Stoke-on-Trent Council Herefordshire Council Shropshire County Council Staffordshire County Council Telford and Wrekin Council. Warwickshire County Council Worcestershire County Council The WM (S&U) TMG has agreed the following statement: I17

22 We have agreed to operate together with an initial Mission Statement: To improve the West Midlands regional approach to fulfilling the Network Management Duty To do this, we have already identified the initial areas which we will act on or improve; Assist in guiding and shaping the role of the West Midlands Traffic Operations Group. Share best practice, and performance information, across the members of the group to improve the approach to implementing the Traffic Management Act To provide regional consistency and develop agreed frameworks to ensure the fulfilment of the Network Management Duty. To share information on the causes of congestion, and the proposed solutions, and the setting of network hierarchies in each authority. To guide authority s approaches to network resilience. To share the information provided to the public through the individual authority s web site by providing hyperlinks. To share information on how each authority is developing its organisation, the role of Traffic Manager, to meet the new demands of the Network Management Duty. District/Borough Councils Community Forums, Joint Member Boards, etc. Passenger Transport Operators frequent liaison meetings with PTO s senior management Casualty Reduction Partnership Safety Camera Partnership Board Utility Companies West Midlands Highway Authorities and Utilities Committee, quarterly co-ordination meetings, ad-hoc planning meetings It is essential to work with other authorities / agencies in the undertaking of the NMD to achieve the complementary objective of ensuring expeditious movement of traffic on other networks as well as ours. Neighbouring authority working groups will be set-up to address how reciprocal arrangements can be put in place to ensure that cross-boundary co-ordination exists in an effective manner. Staffordshire has twelve neighbouring authorities / agencies that we will be forging close links with, as follows: Highways Agency - running throughout Staffordshire with core motorway and I18

23 Trunk Road including M6, M54, A38, A50, A500, A5 City of Stoke-on-Trent Council - surrounded by Staffordshire with a major urban interface between Newcastle-under-Lyme Shropshire County Council Telford and Wrekin Council Worcestershire County Council Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council Wolverhampton City Council Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council Warwickshire County Council Leicestershire County Council Derbyshire County Council West Midlands Region East Midlands Region Mid-2007 Cheshire County Council - North West Region I19

24 4.0 MEASURING NETWORK MANAGEMENT PERFORMANCE In order that the performance of Staffordshire County Council s actions to optimise the highway network can be monitored, it is necessary to determine measures by which to judge successes or failures. For clarity in the context of this NMP, performance is to be set against the three causes of congestion introduced in Section 3.1. Unplanned Event/Incident Management This is potentially the most difficult aspect of network performance to set metrics against. At present highway authorities have not acted as network operators in the sense that the NMD now prescribes and have consequently been lacking the essential information upon which a performance indicator could be based. With the introduction of a Local Traffic Control Centre, in the future the benefits of working closely with the Police will allow greater access to key information on network performance to instigate plans and measures that will assist in incident clear-up and improved timely and accurate information dissemination. Possible Performance Indicators: (In UTC areas) Time taken for routine traffic plan to be restored after the occurrence of a Category A incident. Measured in hours not possible to predict a baseline target. [Category A incident defined as one within the parameters that would allow direct comparison e.g. motorway or trunk road closure] Percentage of incidents where information is passed on to local radio within 30 minutes. Measured as percentage possible target in post LTCC scenario would be 90% Percentage of strategic routes covered by Network Contingency Plans Measured as a percentage possible target by end of LTP period 100% The above are indicative indicators only at this stage. Further consideration of measures would be developed as contingency frameworks and national practices emerge in line with this new agenda. Planned Activities From the emerging secondary legislation of the TMA, there is the expanded requirement for local traffic authorities to maintain detailed network registers of all activities. Indications have been given by DfT that a basket of performance indicators will be used nationally to monitor authorities performance. The network register with its mapping interface will be a key tool in achieving coherent co-ordination of activities on the highway network and will be a vital source of information pertaining to performance. I20

25 Possible Performance Indicators: Average duration of works on Traffic Sensitive (TS) routes. Measured in days/km of TS routes. [Measure of authority s ability to minimise works on TS routes] Numbers of Fixed Penalty Notices issued by authorities. Measured in Numbers / length of network [Measure of an authority s network enforcement and control] Number of early starts allowed by authorities. Measure in Numbers / length of network [Measure of an authority s flexibility in planning and co-ordinating works] Number of over-runs on Traffic Sensitive routes. Measure in days / km of TS routes. [Measure of an authority s network enforcement and control] Percentage of works commencing on planned date. Measure in %. [Measure success of advanced planning and co-ordination] The above indicators could be automated indicators from authorities network registers. Performance indicators, such as those above, would also be broken down for analysis by undertakers such that patterns of poor performance could be identified and rectified, with the aim of a partnership approach with each undertaker with a targeted action plan for each to optimise performance. It would also be necessary to compare undertakers of streetworks against the performance of the works by Staffordshire County Council s own contractors. This would provide a direct means of comparison and supports the principles of parity required by the TMA. It is the intention of Staffordshire County Council to operate a performance culture with its own contractors where the performance indicators, under the TMA, would be Operational Performance Indicators (OPI s) linked to extensions within the contract to provide significant motivation for the Council s contractors to set an example for all other undertakers to aspire to. The above are suggested indicators only; Staffordshire County Council is keen to develop the most useful set of indicators possible to assist in targeting our actions for the benefit of Staffordshire s road users. Volume Based Congestion In general terms, the performance and success of the Staffordshire County Council s Network Management Unit will be measured best by the general public in terms of journey time reliability. In other words, if a journey to work, the shops, the local pub or along any regularly travelled route normally takes twenty minutes, a longer journey time would be most likely to give the impression that congestion was the cause. Staffordshire County Council has invested in ITIS data (GPS tracked vehicle data) to provide statistical means by which journey time information can be used to provide year-on-year comparisons (or hopefully more frequent as the volume and quality of data improves). A schedule of congestion black-spots has been targeted for the undertaking of journey time reliability surveys. This will also set baselines for expectation for the public. On certain routes they will be able to anticipate how long their journey should reasonably take at certain times of day. This will give the benchmark against which comparisons can be made to judge I21

26 Staffordshire County Council s successes on these corridors as a representation of the overall success of the balanced measures being undertaken against all of the LTP s priorities. ITIS information may also be a source of incident related congestion in the future. There are currently no nationally recognised performance indicators against which to measure congestion. Whilst there is a mandatory congestion indicator within the LTPs of major urban centres in the UK, this does not apply to Staffordshire. Therefore, Staffordshire County Council will await the emergence of a national policy but in the meantime provide indicators that are meaningful and valid to the people of Staffordshire. In addition to the above, Staffordshire County Council will develop local indicators that support the higher level national indicators that emerge. It is the Council s intention to have a full set of performance indicators in place by the end of 2007/08. Interim indicators will exist as information management capabilities and national best practice allow. Staffordshire County Council will report annually on its performance against network management and will instil a culture of continuous improvement. I22

27 SUMMARY This NMP outlines the key issues for Staffordshire County Council, and provides a framework and many clear actions that are necessary to deliver an optimised and well managed highway network. Staffordshire County Council is focused on making the most of the opportunities available under the TMA to achieve its aims. In October 2005, DfT outlined the draft key elements of the Act that local authorities are to be measured against in relation to the intervention criteria that would precede a Traffic Director where an authority is seen to be failing to meet its responsibilities under the Act. For ease of reference, these key criteria are summarised below with references to the sections of the NMP that satisfy the criteria outlined. I23

28 Draft Key Intervention Criteria Criteria 1. Setting objectives, local indicators and monitoring NMP Reference Objectives Section 2.0 P-4 Section 3.0 P-7,8 Local Indicators and Monitoring Section 4.0 P-21,22,23 2. Setting up an appropriate management structure Section 2.0 P-4,5 3. Having a permanent Traffic Manager appointed Section 2.0 P-4,5,6 4. Co-ordinating and planning works and known events Section 3.1 P-10,11 5. Ensuring parity with utility companies Section 2.0 P-4 Section 3.1 P-10 Section 4.0 P Contingency Planning for unknown events Section 3.1 P-9 Section 4.0 P Working with all Stakeholders Internal and External Section 3.3 P-17,18,19,20 8. Tackling congestion in step with national policy Section 3.1 P9,10,11,12,13,14,15 9. Minimising disruption on different networks Section 3.2 P-16,17 Section 3.3 P-18,19, Providing information needs Section 3.2 P-16,17 I24