It’s been a busy year for the Transport Technology Forum, with the highlights being our two events – the TTF Conference and our Autumn Update
Events
Spread over three days, the TTF Conference provided ample opportunities for delegates to make new connections and leave with fresh ideas, prompted by a suite of presentations including a keynote address from the Department for Transport’s Chief Scientific Adviser, Sarah Sharples, and a Q and A conversation with the Interim Commissioner for Active Travel England, Chris Boardman MBE (pictured). There was also a host of material detailing the real-world experience of developing and implementing technology solutions, including feedback from meetings of the six TTF Technical Working Groups and ideas around connected roadworks, the Manual for Smart Streets, procurement advice, export support and improving roadworker safety. More than 200 people from local and national government, technology companies, consultants and academics took part in the conference at the Marriott Hotel in Liverpool. Watch the event on our YouTube channel here. The Conference returns with a bigger venue for 2023, in Leeds from 25-27 April.
Meanwhile November’s Autumn Update in Manchester featured updates from our working groups and a range of technology solutions showcased, and you can watch the event here, while in September supported the UK SMEs in exhibiting at the ITS World Congress in Los Angeles.
Back in the summer, the TTF was heavily involved in LCRIG’s Innovation Festival and will be co-hosting the event when it returns to the Newark Showground on 4 and 5 July next year. This is an event where products, solutions, new innovations and techniques can be displayed and demonstrated over a range of live demo sessions, providing local authorities with a chance to find out about new innovations from the supply chain.
Watch
The TTF’s SPATULA Working Group carried out a series of cutting-edge demonstrations at UTAC’s proving ground in Millbrook in Bedfordshire, proving how connected vehicle technology using existing communications channels can make our roads safer, greener and more efficient. Watch a video report from the day here.
The TTF produced another video explaining the value of connected vehicle technology “untouched by human hand” which you can watch here.
Funding
The TTF proved its value in making a real difference to the travelling public with the first examples of the benefits of the £15 million Department for Transport-funded traffic signals fund. 39 authorities received either £250,000 or £500,000 in extra maintenance allocation, improving traffic signals to tackle road user safety, air pollution and congestion. Some of the benefits are outlined here.
Publications
Local Authorities also benefitted from excellent advice, with the TTF’s Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Working Group, with the support of the Office of Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV), delivering a simple starter guide aimed at helping local authorities understand the challenges around delivering on-street charging networks for electric vehicles (EVs). Authorities also enjoyed advice about digitising their roads , with the initial case studies in the Manual for Smart Streets and the publication of the Digital Local Roads report. Meanwhile, right at the start of the year we supported the RAC Foundation in delivering a report on connecting veteran cars, making them the oldest connected vehicles in the world which included a video report explaining the project.
The TTF
Finally in October the Department for Transport and Innovate UK committed to maximising the value of technology in transport by investing in the future of the TTF, guaranteeing it will continue to deliver great solutions for our travelling public. The investment, announced by TTF Manager Darren Capes FIHE FIET at the Strictly Highways event in Blackpool, funds the Local Council Roads Innovation Group (LCRIG) to run services for the TTF. Darren had an excellent year at the helm of the TTF, and furthermore was honoured to be appointed Junior Vice President of the Institute of Highway Engineers, meaning he will take over as President of the influential professional association in a few years’ time.
As Darren reflected during his speech at Strictly Highways, “The TTF has a great future, and has a great secretariat and a great opportunity to take this [using technology in transport] forward. If you’re not already involved in the TTF, get involved – it’s there for you to have a conversation with government and deliver technology.” If you, or someone you work with, wants to get involved, please contact us and we’ll be in touch.