Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) has opened its Regional Transport Co-ordination Centre (RTCC), saying it is the first of its kind to bring together real time information on all modes of transport.
The move is part of a £22 million project to improve coordination across public transport and road networks and manage congestion in the region.
Secretary of State for Transport Grant Shapps (pictured with TfWM director of network resilience Anne Shaw) officially opened the centre last week.
It provides a single hub for West Midlands transport authorities, emergency services and bus, rail and tram operators to manage the network during major incidents and events.
The RTCC includes giant screens and CCTV links, enabling staff to react to any pressures through steps such as rephasing traffic lights, organising additional buses with operators and providing information to travellers through mobile apps and social media. It will also support planning and diversions around major road and infrastructure works.
The investment has also included upgrading traffic lights and CCTV in the region, and providing technology to monitor average journey times and enable real time data alerts in response to congestion.
The RTCC will continually store the data it gathers and will be used by all its partners to plan future projects that support TfWM’s goal to create an integrated transport system.
Ongoing investment
Shapps commented: “As we look ahead to this exciting event, our ongoing investment in the region continues to bear fruit with the new Transport Coordination Centre putting better journeys front and centre and the Westside Metro extension underlining this Government’s determination to be the greenest on record.”
The centre was first outlined 18 months ago in the congestion management plan and was delivered with support from the Department for Transport’s Transforming Cities Fund.
The launch follows pilots during the 2019 Cricket World Cup matches at Edgbaston and the Birmingham Christmas markets.
TfWM is working with multiple partners including Highways England, Network Rail, local councils, the emergency services, HS2 and rail and bus companies through the RTCC.
Image from TfWM
