FTA Transport Manager 2014

Introduction

• The Highways Agency and the Strategic Road Network• Risks to resilience• Ensuring resilience during all types of severe weather• Encouraging the public to prepare for winter journeys• Transport Resilience Review• The future for the Highways Agency• Conclusion

What does the Highways Agency do?

• Maintain and operate the Strategic Road Network in England

• Value - £110bn

• One third of all traffic

• Two thirds of heavy goods traffic

Risks to resilience

• Major organised events• Serious traffic collisions• Natural hazards - severe weather, flooding• Serious crime – metal theft• Acts of terrorism – cyber attack• Protest action• Pandemic flu, salt shortage

Impa

ct

Likelihood

Major Traffic Collisions

Ice and SnowPandemic Influenza

Fuel Shortage

Inland Flooding

Heat Wave / DroughtCoastal Flooding

Metal Theft

High Wind / Gales

Suicide Incidents

Power Outages

Protests on SRN

Hoax Terrorist Attacks

HA Strike Action

Conventional Terrorist Attacks

Unconventional Terrorist Attacks

Loss of Telecoms

Major Industrial Accidents

Electronic Attacks

Animal Disease

Major Structure Failure

Reservoir Breach

Severe Weather

Planning for Severe Weather

• Severe weather plans• Tests and exercises• Incident de-brief process• National post winter season review• Implementation of improvements• Research and development

HA Winter Service Delivery

• 24/7 service – all network treated• We aim to keep completely open• 437 ‘pre-wet’ salt spreaders• 2 million miles and 250,000t salt in a typical season• 280,000t of operational salt at start of winter

What happens in Winter

• Weather stations and forecasts• Spreaders deployed ahead of

predicted freeze times• Timing critical• Snow clearance

Key Resilience Improvements

• Vulnerable locations• More efficient salt use and reserve stock • Improved communications• Crisis management approach

Severe Weather Communications

The Challenge – How to influence driver behaviour

Messages:

Be prepared – is your vehicle ready for winter?

Be informed – have you checked the latest traffic and weather?

Approach - website, VMS, radio, media, social media, partner organisations

Transport Resilience Review

Transport Resilience Review - Findings

• Transport networks responded well in the face of record breaking weather - but significant disruption in places

• Transport networks operating near, or beyond, capacity• Can’t protect all networks all the time• Maintenance a key factor – e.g. vegetation, drainage• Many common issues• 15 recommendations affecting HA

TRR - HA Strategic Road Network

Key issues for the Strategic Road Network:• Review risks of blow-overs and consider proposals to restrict

vulnerable vehicles at some locations• Improve wind forecast information and messages• Flexibility in use of VMS signs and wording of legends• Improve knowledge of drainage infrastructure• Review flood risk assessments

The Future of the HA

RESURFACE

80% of the network in

modern low noise materials

By 2021 we will…

CONNECTING LONDON, BIRMINGHAM, MANCHESTER

AND LEEDSwith a modernised Smart

Motorway Network

Completed and commenced planning for

a further 46 major projects (1278 lane km)

Seek feedback from

1000 customers every month

20%

SAVE a further 20%

in the cost of construction

IMPROVE TRAFFIC

FLOW

by tripling investment in PINCH POINT

IMPROVEMENT SCHEMES to £895m

£

By 2021 we will…

The Modernised Network

What this change means…

• Yes, more roadworks• More capacity• Longer term investment plans• Better value for money• Realign our business to the needs of our customers• Use emerging technology to provide enhanced traffic

information

Conclusion

• Robust resilience built on tried and tested plans

• Crisis management capability• Major investment in network• Better understanding of customer

and stakeholder needs

Table Discussion Questions

Full questions are on the tables. Topics covered:

1.Restrictions for certain vehicles on parts of the network that are particularly vulnerable to high winds?  

2.Information needed by Transport Managers? Customer understanding of severe weather impact?

3.Improved wind forecasts? Information or guidance useful if high winds occur during a journey?

4.Research into tractive units on snow and ice - concerns if drivers were asked to raise the lift axle?

Thank You