Atkins News - June, 12 2009

A new traffic congestion busting system for cities co-designed by Atkins is being introduced by Peterborough City Council. The system called SCOOT monitors vehicle flows and adjusts traffic signals accordingly as congestion levels rise or fall. By increasing the green phasing on routes where traffic is heaviest the system should improve vehicle flows and cut pollution levels.

Mo Perkins, Atkins director said: “Peterborough has a good road layout already but as their intelligent transport system advisers we saw opportunities to make it work even better. The city was experiencing major growth in traffic because it has been increasingly successful but to maintain that it was key to keep the traffic flowing.

“Peterborough County Council is showing real foresight with this first move into vehicle flow management but it’s only year one of a three year programme. Future plans being managed by Atkins will also see CCTV and Automatic Number Plate Recognition systems brought in to allow even greater monitoring of road conditions. Through this modern approach Peterborough will have one of the most advanced traffic systems of any UK city.”

The SCOOT (Split Cycle Offset Optimisation Technique) system uses loops in the road which detect traffic levels. This information is fed into a control room where it is used to adjust traffic signal timings at individual junctions and to coordinate a number of junctions along a route.  As the system expands operators will monitor and manage traffic flows, reacting to events such as road accidents, road works and other planned events by adjusting traffic signal timings.

Councillor Peter Hiller, cabinet member for neighbourhoods, housing and community development, said: "The system being introduced in Peterborough is similar to others used in major towns and cities across the UK which have shown to improve journey times by between eight and 12 per cent.

"As the city grows it is essential our roads are able to cope with an increase in traffic. This system will improve traffic flow and reduce congestion on two very busy routes into the city centre from the south of Peterborough. Looking ahead we would also like to introduce the system on other key routes."
    
David Farquhar, head of environment, transport and engineering for Peterborough City Council, added: "The city council has been working with Atkins over the past two years to bring this project to fruition. The new system will allow us to use information passed to us about traffic levels to tailor the traffic signals to give motorists using London Road and Oundle Road a smoother journey in and out of the city centre. 
                         
"With higher than usual traffic levels anticipated in the coming months on these routes whilst essential maintenance work continues on the Frank Perkins parkway, the system will better equip us to keep traffic flowing. Delays are still likely due to the volume of traffic using this route. However, we will be able to manage traffic levels far more effectively."

The SCOOT system will initially be introduced on Oundle Road, between its junction with Shrewsbury Avenue and the Town Rail Bridge, and on London Road from Glebe Road to Town Bridge.

The system has been designed by Peterborough City Council working in partnership with Atkins. Siemens Traffic has been contracted to supply and install it.

Ends

 
For more information:  
 
Atkins
Louisa Perry
Communications manager
01372 756297 or email Louisa.perry@atkinsglobal.com

Peterborough County Council
Amanda Franklin
Media and communications officer
 01733 452304 or email media@peterborough.gov.uk

Notes to editors:

Atkins (www.atkinsglobal.com) is a multinational engineering and design consultancy, providing expertise to help resolve complex challenges presented by the built and natural environment. Atkins is the largest multidisciplinary consultancy in Europe, the largest engineering consultancy in both the UK and the Middle East, and the UK's second largest architecture firm.

Recent projects include:
• Major infrastructure works, such as the design and programme management of the civil works for the Dubai Metro red and green lines;
• High profile transport planning and urban design – a scheme to deliver a diagonal crossing at London’s Oxford Circus will help solve the problem of pedestrian crowding;
• Key rail projects – helping improve train times on the West Coast Main Line through the design, installation, testing and commissioning of new signalling at Rugby and Nuneaton;
• Multidisciplinary building design – North Road Primary School in Darlington is an exemplar project which raises standards for environmental design and community engagement;
• Vital water and environmental projects – as part of a joint venture, Atkins is providing technical assistance to the Water Supply and Sanitation Sector Reform Programme in Nigeria, which will benefit up to three million people.

Atkins was named among the 20 Best Big Companies to Work For 2009 by The Sunday Times; The Times Top 100 Graduate Employers 2008; and The Times Top 50 Companies Where Women Want to Work 2008. The company was construction sector winner for the third consecutive year in the Target National Graduate Recruitment Awards 2008.

Atkins is the official engineering design services provider for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.