The Department for Transport (DfT) has confirmed new burdens funding to help local authorities move to the Digital Traffic Regulation Order (D-TRO) service. The update was shared at DfT’s latest D-TRO technical webinar on 24 September 2026.

Every highway authority in England will receive a one-year payment of £37,000, around £5.9m across the sector. The amount is the same for every authority, regardless of size or whether it already has D-TRO software in place. Payments outside London are expected from mid-October, with London boroughs to follow.
The funding can be used flexibly. Authorities can put it towards new software, additional modules or project work with their existing supplier.

Dan Hubert, Founder and CEO of AppyWay, said:

“We’ve been campaigning for the digitisation of traffic orders for more than a decade, so this is very welcome news, especially now that funding has been confirmed. Local authorities can finally leave the dark ages behind. Instead of managing regulation through paper-based processes, they can start focusing on achieving their targets.”

For traffic order teams, this is significant new money arriving mid-year. It also sends a clear signal that D-TRO is happening. The funding will be paid to the authority, so teams responsible for D-TRO should start the conversation with their head of service or budget holder now, before payments arrive.

Mike Potter, Head of Commercial at AppyWay, said:

“I’ve lost count of the conversations I’ve had with traffic order teams who know what needs to be done but have never had the budget to do it. That’s why this matters. £37,000 is a real chance to get ahead of D-TRO. My advice is: don’t assume the money will find its way to you. Talk to your head of service now, before it arrives. D-TRO is a statutory requirement for every English Highway Authority, and the teams delivering
it should have first call on this funding.”

(Picture: Yay Images)