Innovating Traffic Management Fund EOI Event

The purpose of this Prior Information Notice (PIN) is to notify the market of forthcoming market engagement event relating to the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) Grant Application, as part of the DfT's Intelligent Traffic Management Challenge Fund.

The Department of Transport (DfT) announced in October 2023 the intention to provide a targeted grant for the delivery of innovative traffic management solutions by local Highway Authorities in England.

This is in recognition of the essential role traffic signals and control systems play in ensuring network traffic management works smoothly and safely across the highway network.

A £20 million Intelligent Traffic Management Challenge Fund (ITMF) has been established by the DfT to deploy advanced technology for traffic signals, making use of machine learning and artificial intelligence to optimise traffic flow and balance traffic across highway networks.

The ITMF bid submission is due by 31st July 2024 with successful projects expected to commence in September 2024 with funding for a two-year period.

For details of the ITMF process see Traffic Signal Funding - Technology Transport Forum (ttf.uk.net).

Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) is the public body responsible for co-ordinating transport services in the West Midlands and it is an executive body of the WMCA.

TfWM works with our local Highway Authority partners to make sure public transport is safe, accessible and reliable; we monitor and improve road safety; and also provide and manage the Regional Transport Coordination Centre (RTCC) for the West Midlands.

As part of this latter role we monitor and coordinate the region's key highway network including supporting and improving network traffic control.

TfWM is announcing its intention to apply for funding from the ITMF grant to deliver a number of innovative and advanced technology solutions for network traffic control across the WMCA area.

The bid submission will be research and development focused, aimed at delivering a workable range of new and emerging solutions to UK traffic management challenges to benefit traffic control on a corridor or area wide basis across the region.

In accordance with DfT guidelines we intend to create a consortium of technology suppliers and local authority partners to deliver an ITMF project with the following key outputs: - A platform for integrated digital infrastructure and connected mobility; - Weighted algorithms to manage traffic signal timings; - Public facing real-time in-vehicle messaging systems; - Traffic signal priority for blue light services; and - Innovative use of video detection technology.