telent awarded contract to manage £26 million scheme aimed at easing West Midlands traffic congestion

4 November 2008 – telent, a leading provider of technology services, announced that it has been awarded a contract for the programme management of the £26.6 million West Midlands Urban Traffic Control (UTC) Major scheme.  The scheme is designed to reduce congestion in the West Midlands metropolitan area by linking, for the first time, each of the regions’ existing UTC centres together with the traffic systems operated by the Police, the Highways Agency and public transport operators.

By combining the region’s existing traffic control systems on one platform, the new system will be able to identify traffic hot spots, make traffic signals more efficient, improve the bus network through selective vehicle priority, deliver more traffic information and enable intelligent transport services to be deployed.

Trevor Errington, Lead Officer for the West Midlands metropolitan authorities commented: “This is a complex project, both organisationally and technically. It was important to the delivery of the project that we chose the best project managers. Following a tough selection process we are very pleased to have appointed telent.”

Covering Birmingham, Coventry, Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull, Walsall and Wolverhampton, the scheme aims to manage traffic flow, reduce journey times and improve air quality by reducing stationary and stop-start traffic.  It will also assist local authorities to meet the requirements of the Traffic Management Act 2004.

“The roads in the West Midlands are among the busiest outside London,” said Peter Eccleson, General Manager of Traffic Technology at telent.  “telent’s ability to provide end-to-end technology services, from design to operation and maintenance, enables us to ensure a successful and cost-effective delivery for our customers.”

To fulfil the project requirements, telent will utilise the latest communications technologies, including a variety of Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS).  Customised high level network designs have been created, utilising interoperable UTMC compliant equipment to maximise whole lifecycle cost benefits.  The project will include the following ITS components: Central Control Room, MATTISSE enhancements, selective vehicle priority systems, CCTV enhancements, Traffic Signal Junction Controllers, UTC Systems, Variable Message Signs (VMS), above ground detection devices, environmental monitoring, communications and monitoring and evaluation systems.

“This highly innovative project is the first of its kind in the UK,” continued Mr Eccleson.  “telent has a well-established track record in the design and delivery of complex and pioneering projects not only in its Traffic Technology Division but also in the Rail, Metro, Emergency Services and Defence sectors. We are proud to be working with the West Midlands authorities in leading ITS development in this area.”