VivaCity, the transport technology scaleup transforming cities into smarter, safer and more sustainable places to live and work, has been selected as the top supplier on the North East Combined Authority (NECA) framework titled Intelligent Detection and Automated Turning Counts Specification. This framework, led by Newcastle City Council, enables local authorities in the region to boost sustainable and safer transport, utilising solutions such as VivaCity’s Smart Signal Control and Smart Traffic Monitoring solutions.
Newcastle City Council is the lead authority for real-time traffic management across the Tyne and Wear highway network, helping to deliver key regional policy objectives: supporting a carbon-neutral North East, promoting economic growth and social equity, improving public health, enabling more appealing and sustainable transport choices, and ensuring a safe and secure transport network.
The selection of VivaCity was driven by a number of factors, including their ability to detect and classify all road users to a high level of accuracy, the option to add additional camera views to each sensor, and data security, with software and security updates sent to sensors over the air.
Two initial projects are already underway in Newcastle. Both focus on dynamically adjusting traffic signal timings based on real-time pedestrian and cyclist detection. These pilots aim to enhance junction operation by more effectively balancing the needs of different road users, improving efficiency, and supporting the council’s broader objectives to make sustainable travel a more attractive and viable choice. These projects represent a significant step in the North East’s goal of developing a carbon-neutral, safe, and accessible transport network.
Ray King, Tyne and Wear UTMC Specialist, Newcastle City Council, commented:
“We’re very pleased to be able to access VivaCity’s innovative technology through this framework, making procurement both quick and straightforward. Tools like Smart Signal Control will enable our UTMC team to better manage the road network in real time, supporting our goals to improve efficiency, prioritise and encourage sustainable travel, and ultimately provide a better experience for all road users.”
Mark Nicholson, CEO and Co-Founder at VivaCity, added:
“Supporting the North East Combined Authority with our Smart Signal Control technology is a powerful step toward more efficient, responsive, and sustainable transport networks. By using real-time, high-precision data, we can optimise signal timings, reduce congestion and emissions, and significantly improve road safety for all users. We look forward to offering a streamlined procurement route via the NECA framework, making VivaCity’s technology more accessible to local authorities across the region.”
(Pic: VivaCity)
