DfT considering to allow councils to use technologies other than SCANNER to report surface conditions
The Department for Transport (DfT) is planning to allow local highway authorities to use technologies other than the standard SCANNER option for assessing surface conditions. It said that following evidence gathered in its recent review, it will remove the current prescriptions around road condition data and introduce a new data standard. This will mean, local […]
Competition winners to deliver UK’s first hydrogen transport trials in Tees Valley
Hydrogen transport pilots in the Tees Valley area will establish the UK as a leader in the technology and propel us towards our net zero goals, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has said today (17 August 2021), as he unveiled the winners of a £2.5 million R&D competition. The successful trials will lead to supermarkets, emergency services and […]
£15 million allocated to repair and upgrade traffic signals
39 councils in England have been awarded a share of £15 million additional funding to upgrade and repair of traffic signals, which will make traffic in their areas flow better, and therefore reduce air pollution and congestion. The extra money from the Department for Transport is part of this year’s Highway Maintenance settlement for English […]
ITS (UK) helps SMEs take part in ITS World Congress
The UK’s Intelligent Transport Systems Industry Association, ITS (UK), is leading an offer to small and medium enterprises to take a place on the UK’s pavilion at October’s ITS World Congress in Hamburg. The UK will have a significant presence in the exhibition, with a large stand supported by Innovate UK, Visit Britain, the Department […]
UK reaches chargepoint milestone as they get iconic British design
There are now over 25,000 public charging devices across the UK – a major milestone, which means that electric vehicle drivers are never more than 25 miles from a chargepoint on UK roads, according to independently produced statistics from Zap Map. This comes as recent statistics from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) show that over one in […]
DfT starts consultation on giving metro mayors more highway management powers
The Department for Transport (DfT) has started a public consultation on potential proposals to give metro mayors and their combined authorities greater decision-making powers and accountability with regards to the Key Route Network (KRN). The proposals include providing mayors with additional highway management powers as well as giving them sole or concurrent highway powers over […]
More funding and new measures to help further boost cycling and walking across the UK
New requirements for local authorities to ensure that active travel schemes are properly assessed are among a number of new measures announced by the Department for Transport (DfT) as part of a £338 million funding package to further boost cycling and walking across the country. Infrastructure upgrades and changes to The Highway Code are included […]
National strategy launched to boost accessibility for disabled passengers
The Department for Transport (DfT) has announced plans to improve accessibility for disabled travellers in the UK, including new regulations for bus operators. Disabled passengers will have better access to public transport and a bigger say in how they travel, under a new strategy that will boost inclusivity across the entire network. The Department for […]
Consortium to lead project to develop the UK’s first ever study on electrification of the motorway for HGVs
The Department for Transport has awarded funding through Innovate UK to a consortium to lead the UK’s first ever study on the electrification of long range trucks with dynamic charging, using overhead wires on motorways. The study is part of the £20m put aside for zero emission road freight trials under the recently-announced Transport Decarbonisation Plan […]
Legal challenge to RIS2 plans thrown out by judge
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps did not break the law when approving the government’s second Road Investment Strategy (RIS2), a high court judge has ruled. In the High Court, Mr Justice Holgate dismissed Transport Action Network’s (TAN’s) application for a judicial review on environmental grounds. In making his decision he concluded that approval of RIS2 was […]