The “people first” transport innovation company Citisense has set up a dedicated support structure for local authorities working to implement a lane rental scheme in their areas.
Lane rental allows a highway authority to charge up to £2,500 per day for works on the busiest roads at the busiest times, in order to minimise disruption caused by roadworks. There are currently four such schemes in operation, in London, Kent, Surrey and West Sussex, and applications are now open for a further roll-out.
Citisense is a consultancy which supports local authorities with their wide range of highways and transport services including traffic regulation orders through technology, data and services, providing expertise across policy, engagement, urban design and real-time data monitoring solutions.
The next lane rental applications deadline is on 1 October this year, so the company is offering authorities the chance to work with experienced consultants to develop the scheme.
“Authorities only have a set timeframe to take advantage of the opportunity to apply to the Secretary of State for permission to run a Lane Rental Scheme,” commented Technical Director Nick Ruxton-Boyle. “We at Citisense are currently assisting clients with their scheme application process and have a team of experts ready to assist other authorities by discussing their own requirements and supporting them through the various stages in preparing a successful application for Tranche 2 and beyond.”
The company has experts in engagement with DfT and other key stakeholders, research and benchmarking, and scheme and network design.
“There are only a few lane rental schemes already in operation, and we have already analysed the lessons learned from these to ensure that future applications benefit from the experiences,” Mr Ruxton-Boyle added. “We can help everything from Cost Benefit Analysis, consultation to draft documentation and final submission. This is a complex and evolving process to navigate, so we’re here to assist in helping you get your scheme approved.”
(Picture – Yay Images)
