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Atkins supports launch of North West traffic officer service
6 September 2005 marked the
launch of the Highways Agency’s Traffic Officer Service in the North
West by Derek Twigg, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for
Transport. Over the coming months, responsibility for traffic
control on motorways and trunk roads in the region will switch from
the police to the Highways Agency.
To support the change, the Highways Agency has created a bespoke
Regional Control Centre at Newton le Willows and is introducing
traffic patrols to help maintain traffic flows and deal with traffic
incidents.
The changes, which have the full co-operation and support of the
relevant Police forces and other stakeholders in the region, began
today with the introduction of the service in Cheshire. The
remaining four North West police forces will introduce the service
over the next few months, so complete coverage will be achieved by
late spring 2006.
The North West is the
third of seven English regions to introduce the service following
successful launches in the West Midlands and the South East.
Atkins has played an important role in the delivery of the Traffic
Officer Service within the North West region by designing and
managing the delivery of the Regional Traffic Control Centre
building at Newton le Willows. Atkins also provided extensive
technical support in the planning and installation of new and
relocated IT systems to monitor traffic on the region’s motorways.
The new Centre will provide traffic control officers with improved
data about traffic flows on the network, keeping them better
informed and helping them to respond more quickly and effectively in
order to minimise congestion.
The Service has drawn on Atkins’ wide skills base, including project
managers, IT systems specialists, architects, M&E engineers,
structural engineers, quantity surveyors, planning supervisors,
geotechnical engineers, ecologists, planners and staff familiar with
police functions and procedures. Many Atkins people involved in the
delivery of the Service in the North West will continue to assist
the Agency in the delivery of the national Programme in other
regions.
Chris Tooth, Atkins project manager for the North West said:-
“This is an important milestone for all road users in the North
West, promising improved traffic management and control on all
motorways and trunk roads. The Traffic Officer Service represents a
high profile extension of the Highways Agency’s role and is a good
example of the type of multi-disciplinary project in which Atkins
excels; planning, designing and enabling a complex programme in a
one stop solution.”
Paul Featherstone, division manager for Atkins’ Traffic Operations
Consultancy added:- “We are delighted to be inaugurating the
programme in the North West, following the success of the original
launch in the West Midlands. We look forward to supporting the
Highways Agency in its roll-out of the Traffic Officer Service
across the remainder of the country.”
David Stones, NW RCC Delivery Team Leader:- “The Highways
Agency is delighted with this spectacular control centre. It truly
stands out for its innovative design, good working environment and
meeting the all the requirements for the delivery of this important
regional service.” |
Find a wiser way to travel during TravelWise Week
MERSEYSIDERS are being urged
to get active, go green and make a pledge in a bid to boost the
environment. TravelWise Week, being held between 18 and 25
September, takes place in all corners of the Merseyside region and
is being launched by Merseyside TravelWise to promote sustainable
transport and travel. Everyone is being urged to take part, and
doing so could win them a week’s free travel!
Merseyside TravelWise, which is coordinating the weeklong campaign,
brings together all 5 of Merseyside’s local authorities,
Merseytravel and a range of cross sector partners. A week of events,
initiatives and activities will be held for TravelWise Week to
reinforce the importance of reducing traffic congestion and vehicle
emissions, as well as encouraging people to lead more active and
healthier lifestyles.
Councillor Mark Dowd, Chair of Merseytravel, said:-
“TravelWise Week is about encouraging people to think about how they
travel around the region, whether that’s for work, education or
leisure reasons. We want people to join us in celebrating the areas
in which they live, by taking action to reduce traffic congestion,
to protect and improve our environment and to lead healthier, more
active lives. The aim of this campaign is to improve the health and
quality of life for everyone living, working or visiting Merseyside
by helping to reduce traffic congestion and vehicle emissions. It’s
certainly not anti-car, it’s about asking people to consider making
that important step towards seeking alternative methods of
travelling throughout Merseyside. This is about ideas, enjoyment,
encouragement and choice.”
Each day of TravelWise Week will have a theme, with events linked to
them [brief details below]. The themes are: -
• Sunday 18 September – Walking for Fun - National Walking Day
Walking events being held across the region
• Monday 19 September – Cycling
Free cycle maps and people urged to cycle to work and get a free
breakfast
• Tuesday 20 September – TravelWise to School and Study
Promotion of school travel plans
• Wednesday 21 September – Public Transport
Pledge to travel by public transport and in a week’s FREE travel on
Arriva buses
• Thursday 22 September – Car Free Day
Street games, pavement cafés and entertainment at Castle Street in
Liverpool
• Friday 23 September – Walking Works
Launch of Liverpool’s new Carolie Map and a host of walking events
• Saturday 24 September – Shop Local, Act Global
Calling on people to shop locally or travel buy public transport
• Sunday 25 September – Healthy Travel
Big Heart Festival being held at Sefton Park in Liverpool
The campaign is being run as schoolchildren return to schools across
the region.
The impact of the ‘school run’ on
traffic congestion is well known. TravelWise Week is calling on
everyone, parents, grandparents, carers and children, to look at
alternatives to help reduce that impact.
Individuals and organisations are also being encouraged to play
their part in the campaign by signing pledges to walk, cycle, use
public transport and to car share during TravelWise Week. The first
200 people signing up to a pledge during TravelWise week will
receive a week’s free travel on Arriva buses across Merseyside.
Everyone else signing up to a pledge will receive a two-for-one deal
on Arriva services.
Full details of the events taking place across the region will be
launched next week. For more information, or to make your own
pledge, visit
www.gotravelwise.com.
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