Wednesday 29th September 2010, QEII Conference Centre - London, 08:40 - 16:50

UK Road Strategy 2010

Supporters

BOOK ONLINE TODAY or call Kate Heaton on 0161 211 3030 to secure your place. For further information, please email kate.heaton@govnet.co.uk
Cost to attend:

1 delegate = £199 + VAT
2 delegates = £149 + VAT, per delegate
3 delegates = £99 + VAT, per delegate

Overview

Vehicle traffic has grown by a quarter in just 20 years and road congestion now costs the economy an estimated £7-8bn a year, a figure which is likely to more than double by 2025 unless action is taken.  Britain’s roads are vital to our economic competitiveness and effective network management is crucial if we are to keep businesses and citizens moving.

The Rt. Hon. Phillip Hammond MP, Secretary of State for Transport, has pledged that the Department for Transport will play a major role in the upcoming Spending Review. With central government departments and local authorities facing spending reductions in order to tackle the budget deficit and national debt, efficient methods must be found to ensure essential services, such as the management of the UK’s road network, are effectively delivered.

Two of the most integral parts of the road network are motorways and trunk roads. The Highways Agency has introduced the managed motorways scheme, a proactive way of influencing driver behaviour and enhancing motorway capacity to significantly reduce journey times through efficient traffic flow, as well as offering improved sustainability and road safety.  Alongside this, green and sustainable investment in the UK road network is vital. Not only will this help ensure the UK meet carbon commitments, but also help free up the increasingly busy road network.  Increasing the use of public transport and cycling, for example, helps reduce traffic flow, and investing in sustainable technology can mean less spend in the long term.  For those who drive, the government is keen to promote low carbon and electric vehicles and looks to implement a national network of plug-in points for electric and hybrid vehicles.

One of the key enablers to creating a smarter, safer and greener road network, whilst also delivering value for money, is technology. For example, the Highways Agency uses their National Traffic Control Centre to collect real time information and feed this to the public, using various different mediums such as mobile phones, traffic radio and the internet. Alongside wider policy priorities and in-depth case studies, this timely forum will examine the successful use of technology which can keep Britain moving, and discuss the innovations that will help assist in the delivery of more reliable journeys for business and citizens.

Agenda

Delegates at this conference will have the opportunity to explore the key policy areas in delivering the government’s long term road strategy objectives. They will discuss how an increasing focus on technology, the green agenda and sustainability, will help to reduce traffic flow and improve road maintenance, whilst at the same time focusing on reducing costs.

08:40	Registration and Coffee
09:20	Chair’s Welcome Address Christian Wolmar, Transport Broadcaster and Journalist (Confirmed)
09:25	Managing the Network – Reducing Network Stress, Keeping Britain Moving Ensuring rapid repair and maintenance of road networks through a well equipped and prepared workforce Investing in sustainable technology to cope with the increasing demands posed by an economy which emerges from recession Motorway widening schemes – the solution of moving from 3 to 4 lanes to reduce congestion in busy areas Managed Motorways – using technology and construction procedures to reduce congestion and improve safety Investing in sustainable infrastructure to deal with adverse weather to ensure safety and continuity Future planning – strategic planning for where new roads are built and where others are needed Graham Dalton, Chief Executive, Highways Agency (Confirmed)
09:40	Sponsor Presentation
10:00	Smoothing Traffic Flow – Maximising the Efficiency and Reliability of the Road Network in London Minimising the impact of planned interventions on the network such as major events – planning for the Olympics Responding quickly to accidents and emergencies in real time to minimise disruption and get the road network moving again swiftly Network planning – understanding where new roads and routes are needed in order to reduce congestion and increase local economic benefit Innovations in traffic control systems to help smooth flow of traffic and reduce congestion The London Cycle Network – improving infrastructure and provide secure parking of cycles Garrett Emmerson, Chief Operating Officer of Streets and Traffic, Transport for London (Confirmed)
10:15	Case Study: Intelligent Traffic Management in Greater Manchester Operating Common Data Management Facilities (CDMF) to provide real time car park guidance, VMS control, roadwork and traffic monitoring Easier monitoring of incidents & events in the city centre through CDMF Using VMS to ensure smoother traffic flow in the city centre Building an effective traffic interception and circulation strategy to ensure city centre routes are not used shortcuts through Manchester How an effective road network strategy will assist with boosting Manchester’s economic competitiveness Cllr Keith Whitmore, Chair, Greater Manchester Integrated Transport Authority (Confirmed)
10:30	Taking a new approach to Road Policy in the UK – Tackling Congestion, Driving Growth Reducing the cost of congestion on our economy which currently costs us £8bn every ten years - responding to the needs of UK businesses to cut congestion to improve competiveness School travel planning – more school buses to reduce ‘school run’ traffic Making local authorities more accountable for over running of utilities work that causes congestion Further thinking on road infrastructure and investment Greater use of PFI to deliver road projects on time and to budget Implementing road pricing on all new roads built to pay construction costs Matthew Farrow, Head of Energy, Transport and Planning, Confederation of British Industry (Confirmed)
10:45	21st Century Road Network Management – Meeting the Challenges of Tomorrow, Today £6bn investment in Britain’s motorways to reduce congestion, environmental effects and improve road safety Using advanced signalling and traffic management techniques to add capacity, offer smoother flow and more predictable journeys The role of Traffic Officers to ensure traffic moving quickly after incidents and accidents Effective maintenance of road networks in order to ensure emergency service provision does not face delay Advanced engineering – improving road and junction layout to reduce accidents and congestion Providing real alternatives to road travel – delivering affordable, reliable public transport system and aiming to increase the number of cyclists on the road Mike Mitchell, Director – General of National Networks, Department for Transport (Invited)
11:00	Questions and Answers
11.15	Coffee and Networking
11:45	Seminars (please scroll to the bottom of the page for full content): Seminar A: Affordable Roads for the Future Seminar B: Average speed control - simple, low cost solutions to improve roads and journeys Seminar C: Ensuring road management is effectively embedded into your flexible infrastructure strategy Seminar D: Delivering necessary road maintenance and improvement at a reduced cost – Alternative funding strategies
12:45	Lunch Break and Networking
13:45	Seminars
14:45	Coffee and Networking
15.15	Afternoon Chair’s Welcome Address Professor Stephen Glaister, Director, RAC Foundation (Confirmed)
15:25	Making Road Travel Greener and More Reliable and Better Value for Money Understanding the importance of our roads to the UK’s economic competiveness Decentralisation – empowering local authorities to come up with innovative solutions to local road problems to make travel more sustainable and reliable Boosting investment in technology to reduce congestion and deliver reliable journey Moving forward from national road charging to alternatives to managing congestion Road building – improvements in infrastructure to reduce bottlenecking through improved junctions, new roads and bypasses Establishing the Transport Carbon Reduction Fund to look at how sustainable road travel can be achieved National Recharging Network – boosting greener driving choices and the switch to electric and hybrid cars The Rt Hon Philip Hammond MP, Secretary of State for Transport (Invited)
15.40	Question and answer session with the Secretary of State
15:50	Sponsor presentation
16:05	Case Study: Westminster City Council: Cashless Parking Scheme – ‘Wave and Pay’ Technology Trialling the first contactless payment technology for parking in the UK Pioneering Wave and Pay Technology as the new way to pay for parking in the UK Managing security risk associated with contactless payments – safeguards in place to ensure non-fraudulent use of credit/debit cards The success of other payment schemes such as ‘Pay by Phone’ parking The benefits of contactless payment solutions to eliminate administration, maintenance and theft associated with cash only meters Martin Low, Head of Transport, Westminster City Council (Invited)
16:20	Traffic Technology- Keeping Customers Informed Collecting real time information and feeding it into the public domain through websites, the media, radio, oadside signs and mobile applications The role of technology to help clear up incidents quickly to ensure smoother flow of traffic Investing in iinformation technology - the role of the National Traffic Control Centre to collect, analyse and disseminate information ANPR Cameras – monitoring journey times and making information available to customers Variable Messaging Signs – providing advance information to drivers on congestion and future events National Road Telecommunications Service – maintaining and operating communications systems that link roadside equipment to the Agency's control centre Simon Sheldon-Wilson, Director of Traffic Management, Highways Agency (Confirmed)
16.35	Greener and More Efficient Road Networks  The Carbon Reduction Commitment and encouraging passengers to plan and consider more green travel options Encouraging innovation and technological development in lower carbon transport technologies and strengthening current and future demand in lower carbon vehicles Promoting a more sustainable transport system Urban Traffic Management – improving cycling routes and easing traffic flow to improve bus service reliability Implementing a national network of plug-in points for electric and hybrid vehicles Using innovative and sustainable technology to save costs in the long-run whilst ensuring roads are well maintained Professor Brian Collins, Chief Scientific Advisor, Department for Transport (Invited)
16:50	Questions and Answers
17:05	Chair's Closing Remarks and Close of Conference

*programme subject to change without notice

Seminar Sessions:

• Seminar A: Affordable Roads for the Future (Sponsored by Mott MacDonald)

The seminar will address issues of affordability across the infrastructure lifecycle from funding, … read morethrough design & build and on towards maximising the benefits delivered by the asset. Built around the three themes of economy, efficiency and effectiveness, the speakers will focus on innovation, knowledge sharing and the transfer of best practice to stimulate a debate around achieving added value from constrained infrastructure investment.

Introduction & objectives for the session:

• Economy: Who's going to pay? Topics: Funding options and
  private finance
• Improving design and build efficiency: Topics: Lean processes
  & innovation
• Collaboration to improve effectiveness: Topic: Integrated
  network management
  

• Seminar B: Average speed control - simple, low cost solutions to improve roads and journeys (Sponsored by Speed Check Services)

In the current economic climate that is demanding ‘more for less’, is it time to consider the … read moreimpact and benefits of average speed control? SPECS average speed cameras have been operated around the UK for over 10 years as a casualty reduction tool. However, solutions have delivered much more; in terms of casualty reduction, lower congestion, environmental improvements and public acceptability. Using the latest generation of networked SPECS3 cameras, these benefits can be delivered over a much larger area, allowing for solutions that are far more cost effective than more traditional engineering solutions. These issues and more will be explored in the seminar, sharing data from several schemes and pilots that have been run around the UK.

Confirmed Speaker: Geoff Collins, Sales & Marketing Director, Speed Check Services

• Seminar C: Ensuring road management is effectively embedded into your flexible infrastructure strategy

Successful local authorities have optimised their transport strategies by breaking down traditional silos, pooling the funding sources and emphasising flexibility and adding wider value as the core values in their infrastructure strategy. Learn how a fully integrated transport strategy can cut congestion, drive local growth and maximise the impact of your funding.

Invitation extended to: Simon Warburton , Policy Manager, Greater Manchester Integrated Transport Authority

• Seminar D: Delivering necessary road maintenance and improvement at a reduced cost – Alternative funding strategies

The funding situation for the UK’s road network is becoming ever more challenging. How can you deliver the necessary infrastructure though innovative charging strategies and a wider range of deliver partnerships? Learn how the infrastructure project you have committed to Leeds City Region can be delivered at a reduced cost.

Invitation extended to: A representative from the Leeds City Region

Audience

Delegates will include: heads and managers of highway network management, heads of highways major projects, heads of road network delivery & development, road network services managers; heads of traffic management and traffic projects; chief executives; councillors; transport data and research managers; public transport investment managers; traffic signals managers; urban transport control managers; specialist transport officers; civil engineers; traffic engineers; mechanical services engineer; highway maintenance engineers; heads of fixed penalties; heads of highways; heads of national and local air quality policy; network strategy heads and managers; heads of transport policy and strategy; heads of public safety; heads of road safety; heads of roads policing; heads of transport; fleet managers; highways technicians and works co-ordinators and will be drawn from central government departments & bodies, local authorities, trade unions, businesses and employers, regional development agencies, local strategic partnerships, charities and academia.

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