GeoPlace working with the Department of Transport to Keep Britain Moving

Everyone wants the roads to be open at the right time, closed for the right reasons and to be a safe and reliable way to get from A to B.

Councils use Traffic Regulation Orders (TROs) to implement changes on the road network. They are used for a range of diverse activities such as changing features on the road such as signs and speed limits, implementing parking restrictions and limiting the movements of HGVs in residential areas, allowing temporary closures for street parties, roadworks, and experimental change.

The Department for Transport supported by GeoPlace, the British Parking Association and Ordnance Survey are conducting a discovery into the process by which Traffic Regulation Order (TRS) are made, and how TRO data is made available and used across the country.

Abbas Lokat, Senior Consultant at GeoPlace said: "Better visibility of traffic regulations and access to additional information and services can help improve the citizen experience and increase innovation around traffic control. We want to understand if there is a growing demand for open, machine-readable traffic regulation orders from users and developers looking to improve parking information for citizens to freight companies needing to route their fleets more effectively."

The discovery will gather real world evidence to see how the TRO process is working, helping to identify how to deliver the most from the current system and how to support the transport network of the future.

Using the evidence gathered from the discovery, a free guide will be produced to help local authorities understand how they can work within the limits of current legislation based on best practice. A further output will be a draft data model for TROs, compatible with both Connected and Automated Vehicles and the international TRO landscape, supporting the move towards TROs being easily accessible to the public whether using apps of driving connected vehicles.

Watch the introductory video and participate in the survey at www.geoplace.co.uk/TROdiscovery.

Notes

Images to support this statement are available at:

• Street party https://www.geoplace.co.uk/documents/10181/110496/Street+party/aeeed476-b530-4ee1-8123-3dcc7ed2a301?t=1544441627976

• Parking Restrictions https://www.geoplace.co.uk/documents/10181/110496/Parking+restrictions/10b3d833-6d49-4fb9-980b-5c511b686817?t=1544441742511

• Speed sign https://www.geoplace.co.uk/documents/10181/110496/Speed+limit/04721f82-1ca3-4f7d-93dc-c99c580a53d6?t=1544441850856

The Department for Transport announces Traffic regulation orders: applying for and creating orders plus using data consultation.

Partners

• The Department for Transport aims to create a safe, secure, efficient and reliable transport system that works for the people who depend on it; supporting a strong, productive economy and the jobs and homes people need. The Department is leading on the Future of Mobility Grand Challenge which aims to make the UK the world leader in the movement of goods, people and service. The Department is also committed to make journeys easier, modern and reliable. One way we are doing this is by supporting the delivery of new digital technology to improve journeys.

• GeoPlace LLP is a public sector limited liability partnership between the Local Government Association (LGA) and Ordnance Survey. GeoPlace is a world class expert in address and street information management, working internationally as well as in the UK to help our partners and customers maximise the value of their spatial information for better decision making. GeoPlace maintains a national infrastructure that supports the address and street information needs of the public and private sectors. Its work relies heavily on close working relationships with every local authority in England and Wales. This relationship has been developed over 15 years, to build the National Address Gazetteer infrastructure and National Street Gazetteer. Ordnance Survey develops the range of AddressBase products from the National Address Gazetteer and OS MasterMap Highways Network from the NSG. Both datasets underpin efficient and effective services, bringing direct service delivery benefits to users.

• British Parking Association ( BPA) is a not for profit organisation, representing, promoting and influencing the parking and traffic management profession throughout the UK and Europe. Membership of more than 700 organisations and individuals includes local authorities, car park operators, retail parks, healthcare facilities, universities, railway stations, technology providers, trainers and consultants. This Discovery project evolved from work currently underway in the BPAs international initiative to develop global standards in parking data, the Alliance for Parking Data Standards.

• Ordnance Survey (OS) is the national mapping agency for Great Britain, and a world-leading geospatial data and technology organisation. As a reliable partner to government, business and citizens across Britain and the world, OS helps its customers in virtually all sectors improve quality of life. OS expertise and data supports efficient public services and infrastructure, new technologies in transport and communications, national security and emergency services and exploring the great outdoors. By being at the forefront of geospatial capability for more than 225 years, we've built a reputation as the world's most inspiring and trusted geospatial partner.