SMARTER ROADS BETTER JOURNEYS

Transcription

1 Main Roads Western Australia SMARTER ROADS BETTER JOURNEYS Road Network Operations Strategy User Driven reliable, safe and sustainable access

2 WHY ROAD NETWORK OPERATIONS IS IMPORTANT FOR WESTERN AUSTRALIA Main Roads is responsible for the State s $19 billion dollar classified road network including traffic regulation and access for freight vehicles on Local and State roads. Western Australia has one of the largest geographically spread road networks in the world covering some 2.5 million square kilometres, with a matching diversity in climate and road user needs. The focus of Main Roads, as with other road agencies the world over, has been to build, expand and maintain their road networks however, there is a major shift to ensuring the most effective operation of the entire transport network. This transition aims to provide a pro-active focus on services to all of our customers aimed at improving and facilitating the use of the existing road network. Main Roads move to Road Network Operations is driven by the understanding that road users are mainly concerned about the service the road network provides to facilitate their journey rather than the physical make-up of the network itself. Main Roads is becoming more user-driven and is responding to the demands of road users and customers for timely information to enable more informed transportation choices. The organisation will build on its close relationships with its partners and is developing new means of achieving this task. We accept that capital solutions are no longer always the most appropriate course of action. Increasing traffic volumes, limited funding, community concerns and expectations for the environment and access issues are some of the powerful drivers that have focussed Main Roads and its partners in adopting the actions outlined in this Strategy. MAIN ROADS STRATEGIC PLAN 2K7 In late 2003 Main Roads Strategic Plan to 2007 was released. The Plan, known as 2K7, identified a number of imperatives that we have to address if we are to continue to meet the challenges ahead. Six Key Areas of Focus were identified as being critical in achieving our new direction as we move forward. One of these focus areas is Sustaining Network Operations where the strategic objective is to maximise the safety and efficiency of the road network. This complements other core functions of Main Roads such as Asset Management, where the focus is on management of the whole life cycle of the physical asset rather than the operation of the road and traffic system. WHAT IS ROAD NETWORK OPERATIONS? Road Network Operations concerns all activities directly related to the concept of providing services for all users of the network. Main Roads defines Road Network Operations as being: All traffic management and user support activities intended to permit, improve or facilitate use of the road network, whatever its conditions of use. Increasingly, opportunities exist to provide these services to customers through technological innovations arising from Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS). To achieve these outcomes it is vital that we engage with all of our road network partners. In achieving sustainable Road Network Operations it is imperative that the performance of the road network is considered as part of an integrated transport system.

3 STRATEGY FOR ROAD NETWORK OPERATIONS This strategy focuses Main Roads on providing user driven services to deliver reliable, safe and sustainable road access to the community. This will require optimising the safety and efficiency of the road network as a fundamental component of an integrated transport system. Main Roads will achieve these objectives by engaging with our customers and working closely with our transport partners. By implementing this strategy Main Roads will be well positioned to address the challenges ahead and ensure that it is able to provide the services needed by our customers and partners. Six areas of focus have been identified: Relationships Leadership Network Operations Planning Network and Road User Information Safe and Efficient Access Capability and Skills Areas of Focus Relationships Leadership Network Operations Planning Objective Engage with the community, industry and road users to understand the services they require and to ensure optimal use of the network Provide active leadership in ensuring integrated and sustainable transport solutions Develop Network Operations Planning with defined performance requirements ONGOING INITIATIVES There is a suite of related initiatives identified through 2K7 and other Government initiatives that will assist in delivering this Strategy including: Greater community input through Excellence Inroads Customer Service Strategy Minimising the whole of life cost of road assets through the Asset Management Strategy Integration of the Intelligent Transport Systems Strategy Deployment of the The National Road Safety Strategy and Arriving Safely Western Australian Road Safety Strategy Implementation of Statewide Incident Management Promotion and adoption of Travel Demand Strategies Building and Expanding Capability initiatives that will strengthen network operations skills Integration of the State Sustainability Strategy through the implementation of the Main Roads Sustainability Action Plan Local Impacts Committee Final Report, DPI 2005, especially the key recommendations about developing a Congestion Management Strategy Network and Road User Information Safe and Efficient Access Improve the availability and analysis of real time data and information Provide services that optimise the safe, efficient and sustainable use of the network as part of an integrated land transport system Capability and skills Develop, build and expand Network Operations capability and skills

4 Strategic Directions the following shows six areas of focus along with the objectives and some key actions that have to be achieved in order to reach our goal of having a greater focus on network operations and to increase Main Roads ability to adopt new transport systems and technologies. Some Key Actions Responsibility Timeframe Define user driven services by engaging with the wider community, industry and road users Develop and deploy Community Engagement Policy, plans and processes Provide community education to ensure informed travel choices are made Engage with DPI, PTA, Local Government and others to assist in developing and improving network operations strategies and plans, EDCMS Strengthen partnerships with Local Government as co-network operators Strengthen partnerships with other agencies to establish common goals and facilitate effective co-operation and complementary service delivery Develop strategic partnerships with industry and service providers in provision of best practice Network Operations services and application of ITS technologies Communicate and co-ordinate with other transport agencies to deliver complementary services, joint planning and share information, EDCMS, EDTE, EDCMS, EDTE Develop a network operations planning framework including performance requirements Develop tactical and operational plans including levels of service and integrate with Asset Management Planning Process Develop a Congestion Management Strategy for the Perth metropolitan area in consultation with DPI, PTA and Local Government Review strategic function and services provided by the Traffic Operations Centre Obtain funding from Corporate Programs, including the Road Network Operations Management Program to implement the strategy, EDTE, EDTE, EDCMS Budget Committee Dec 2008 Dec 2006 Develop a Network Information Management Plan that defines the information needs of Network Operations Develop and deploy improved traveller information services Develop process and models for provision of estimates of future network demand Provide reliable up-to-date road operating data to other government agencies, industry and academia Develop processes for analysis of network performance of urban and rural roads, EDTE, EDCMS, EDMP EDTE EDTE June 2009 Minimise road factors contributing to trauma and provide improved facilities for vulnerable road users Implement innovative traffic management solutions e.g. Intelligent Transport Systems to improve safety and reliability of travel Develop improved incident management processes and improved coordination with emergency response partners Optimise freight access while maintaining safety and minimising road asset costs e.g. Heavy Vehicle Networks, Intelligent Access Program and Heavy Vehicle Compliance & Enforcement Strategy Develop Travel Demand Initiatives and Bus Priority projects Ensure new projects have appropriate network operations and Intelligent Transport Systems capabilities, EDCMS, EDTE, EDCMS EDMP, EDCMS, Jan 2007 Define a Network Operations area of practice in the Developing Our People project and implement training and development strategies within the Corporate Workforce Planning Framework Create a Centre of Excellence in Network Operations management, EDCMS, EDHR, EDHR

5 Main Roads has adopted the following model to demonstrate the key activities of Road Network Operations. Within the Road Network Operations model the following four key groups of activities have been identified: Foundation Activities Core Activities Outreach Activities Enabling Activities Define the system that is being operated and the information needed to operate it. Activities related to the physical management, operation and responses to the network. Engaging with customers and partners as part of a total approach to management of the whole transport system. Activities that enable and support network operations. THE CHALLENGE Main Roads is changing the way we plan with a greater focus on network operations as we face the challenges of demographic, economic, technological, environmental and social trends and the demand for improved performance. Road users are more informed and becoming increasingly concerned with the accessibility and reliability of travel on the road network as well as their safety. They want realtime information in order to make informed decisions on transportation choices. Some of the challenges include: Rising community and industry expectations that a seamless transport network will provide better accessibility and reliability, greater efficiency and will enhance their quality of life and well being Reducing the incidence of fatal and serious road crashes Increasing congestion and the demand by road users for responsive traffic management and real time information Demographic trends such as an ageing population and changing population growth patterns Growth in road freight task that is expected to continue to increase despite the efforts to grow rail and sea freight as the preferred freight transport modes in some sectors A changing Federal and State funding environment where Main Roads will increasingly be competing against other government priorities Increasing costs, environmental and social constraints on building conventional infrastructure, requiring a greater need to maximise the effectiveness of existing systems, including capitalising on new technologies. We are putting in place policies, strategies and actions to address these challenges and transition to adoption of new transport systems and new transport technologies.

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