Dynamic Routing improves city’s traffic management

Drivers in Coventry can now receive up-to-the-minute information on their mobile phones, about traffic congestion on three key routes in the city. By upgrading traffic management systems, its now possible for drivers using an app to plan their journeys and avoid traffic holdups. This scheme is the first of its kind in the UK.

The system, called Variable Message Systems (iVMS), but better known as Dynamic Routing was funded by the government’s Local Growth Fund through the Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership (CWLEP) to the tune of £2.49m. A further £400,000 was raised to cover the total cost of the project from Coventry City Council, Siemens, HORIBA MIRA, Serious Games International and Coventry University’s Centre for Mobility and Transport and its Centre for Business in Society.

Cllr Jeff Clarke, the portfolio holder for transport and planning with Warwickshire County Council said: ” The Local Grwoth Fund has played a significant part in providing the funding to improve traffic signals and communications equipment and its capability at strategic sites across Coventry thanks to all the partners working together in a cohesive manner.”

£700,00 of the total raised to fund the technology has been invested in developing and installing automatic number plate recognition, Bluetooth Radar and CCTV  to manage transport flows on the three major routes into the city from the M6 along the A46 at Binley Road, the A4600 and Walgrave Road and the A444.

Clarke added: ” The result of this investment is that traffic flows can be monitored much easier, which will lead to economic and social benefits since commuters will reach their places of work on time and it will lead to better air quality at key junctions  since traffic will not be standing still.”

Cllr Jim O’Boyle, cabinet member for jobs and regeneration at Coventry City Council said: ” These are exciting times for the transport sector and building on work generated by Dynamic Routing  will hopefully lead to further research and and design to develop future transport technologies.”

 

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