Apps that notify motorists of congestion and free parking spaces,
and real time journey information for visually impaired
passengers, are just some of the projects that will receive a
share of £4 million government technology funding today (21
February 2017).
Nineteen councils across England will receive between £50,000 and
£300,000 each for their ideas to improve journeys through digital
innovation.
The government money will be spent on developing cutting edge
technology such as apps and sensors which can be used to cut
congestion, improve parking in city centres and alert drivers
when electric car charging points become available.
Successful bidders include:
- £234,000 for Blackpool to use Bluetooth technologies to cut
traffic congestion
- £182,000 for Dorset to provide advance congestion warnings
for drivers on the A31 using an app
- £300,000 for Warrington to provide real-time information to
businesses and public through on-street information displays,
social media and phone apps
- £150,000 for Coventry for a real-time bay availability system
across 450 pay and display parking spots
- £204,000 for Westminster, Hounslow, Hammersmith and Fulham to
roll out a new generation of electric vehicle charge points which
will provide real-time data to motorists when they are available
- £50,000 for Peterborough to use digital technology to provide
real time journey information directly to visually impaired
people
Roads Minister , said:
I congratulate today’s winners for coming up with cutting-edge,
innovative ideas that will transform journeys for passengers
and motorists across the country. Technology is rapidly
evolving and this important work shows that if we get it right,
it can cut congestion, speed up journeys, clean up the
environment, and improve accessibility.
is visiting one of the
competition winners, Westminster Council, today where he will see
smart technology in practice including a hands-free parking app
which reduces the time motorists circulate by showing available
space.
Full list of competition winners
|
Local authority
|
Project
|
Funding awarded
|
|
Blackpool
|
Traffic congestion and parking Bluetooth management
technology
|
£234,000
|
|
City of York
|
Connected vehicle data for traffic signalling to improve
congestion
|
£295,200
|
|
Derbyshire
|
Early warning system for congestion enabling drivers to
communicate with one another and avoid traffic
|
£237,500
|
|
Dorset
|
Advanced congestion warnings app
|
£182,100
|
|
Southampton
|
Enabling council to deliver real time travel information to
better manage road network
|
£90,000
|
|
Swindon
|
Alert system for local authority traffic managers to better
disseminate congestion information
|
£235,000
|
|
Warrington
|
Using Bluetooth and Smart technology to manage traffic flow
and provide real-time information to businesses and the
general public
|
£300,000
|
|
Worcestershire
|
Information sharing system so traffic incidents can be
dealt with quickly by highway staff and vehicles
|
£300,000
|
|
Newcastle
|
Connected bus scheme for Arriva Fleet to equip more buses
with vehicle infrastructure technology.
|
£98,200
|
|
Portsmouth
|
Developing platform for Portsmouth’s Traffic Management
Centre, enabling communication exchange between vehicles
infrastructure and other vehicles
|
£285,000
|
|
Reading
|
Improve roadworks warning, parking and traffic information
|
£250,000
|
|
Coventry
|
Real time information on parking bay availability to
improve parking services
|
£150,000
|
|
Somerset
|
Provide advanced traffic signal phase and timing
information for traffic on the M5 - Junction 24, through
Bridgewater, to Hinkley Point
|
£290,000
|
|
West Midlands
|
Real time information for HVG drivers to avoid
unnecessary stops at traffic signals via hands free
smartphone app
|
£285,000
|
|
Hounslow, Hammersmith, Fulham and Westminster
|
Sharing information about electric charge points by
deploying parking sensors in electric vehicle bays
|
£204,000
|
|
Luton
|
To collect live car park availability data and give
straight to drivers to reduce congestion by reducing time
looking for spaces
|
£73,500
|
|
Milton Keynes
|
Provision of real time information with cameras/sensors and
7 laser sensors at key junctions in Central Milton Keynes
enabling monitoring of all available parking
|
£175,000
|
|
Oxfordshire
|
Real-time parking information for Blue Badge, Pay and
Display and electric vehicle charge points with a
particular focus on vulnerable road users
|
£239,000
|
|
Peterborough
|
Real time journey information for the visually impaired
with a focus on visitors being able to access the new Royal
National Institute for the Blind head offices in
Peterborough
|
£50,000
|
