The Department for Transport has written to English Local Authority Chief Executives to inform them that the previous Government’s plan for an Intelligent Traffic Management Fund has been shelved.
The letter, from DfT Deputy Director Anthony Ferguson explains that: “The Government inherited a very difficult financial position [and] in response to this, a public spending savings exercise was undertaken, and following that review, the decision has been taken to cancel the £20m Intelligent Traffic Management Fund (ITMF).”
Mr Ferguson goes on to say that he realises this will be disappointing news. But that “the Department was pleased by the way the sector responded to the opportunity.”
He adds that the DfT will continue to work with the road transport sector to explore ways to harness the opportunities that new technology could offer in terms of network management.
Mr Ferguson concludes by pledging to “continue to monitor closely how the £50m of TSOG and GLF funding is spent and the outcomes it delivers.”
The £20 million ITMF, which was expected to be delivered in packages worth around £2 million each, was part of £70 million funding of improvements to traffic signals announced as part of the previous Government’s Plan for Drivers. It was designed to give authorities the chance to deploy advanced technology for traffic control, using emerging technologies to optimise vehicle flow and balance traffic across city centres.
(Picture – TTF)
