Traffic systems engineers from across the Yorkshire and Humber region have come together to revive a regional forum designed to encourage collaboration, knowledge sharing and professional development.
Initiated by Joel Dodsworth, UTMC Manager at Leeds City Council, with support from the Transport Technology Forum, the inaugural meeting of the newly re-established Yorkshire Signals Group brought together engineers from local authorities across the region to discuss common challenges, exchange experiences and learn more about the work being undertaken by their peers.
The group is intended to create a regular platform where both experienced practitioners and newer entrants to the profession can benefit from shared knowledge and expertise, discussing challenges, opportunities for innovation and development.
“There were some really good conversations around procurement and who is buying what,” explained TTF Manager Darren Capes. “It was a very useful way of engendering collaboration and knowledge sharing across the region.”
The meeting highlighted the value of bringing together professionals at different stages of their careers, with long-serving engineers able to pass on their experience while helping develop the next generation of traffic signal specialists. Representatives from Barnsley, Bradford, Doncaster, Hull, Kirklees, Leeds, North Yorkshire, Rotherham, Sheffield, York and Wakefield attended.
The initiative also marks the return of a regional forum that had previously existed many years ago.
“There was a Yorkshire Signals Group in the past,” Mr Dodsworth added. “This is really about restarting something that hasn’t happened for a long time and rebuilding that collaboration between traffic signals engineers.
“My hope is that this forum will ultimately help to accelerate some of the development work around digitalisation of traffic signals asset and preparation for connected vehicles because we have the opportunity to learn from each other. We also intend to have a focused section on maintenance at future sessions because there are certainly some challenges there.”
The Transport Technology Forum supported the launch of the group and is keen to see whether the model could be replicated elsewhere if it proves successful.
The longer-term ambition is to develop a blueprint that could be adopted in other parts of the country, helping regional groups share knowledge and tackle common challenges together.
The TTF will be adding a section to its website at www.ttf.uk.net to share knowledge and ideas. “As the group gains momentum over future meetings, it could become a template for strengthening professional networks among traffic signal engineers nationwide,” explained Kerry Winstanley, Managing Director of the Local Council Roads Innovation Group, LCRIG, which supports the TTF’s operations. “At a time when the sector is focused on attracting and retaining new talent while preserving valuable experience, new signals groups could prove to be a vital way to maximise their technology’s value.”
(Picture – TTF)
