Replacement of Poole Bridge Variable Message Signs

BOROUGH OF POOLE

TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY GROUP

THURSDAY 10 NOVEMBER 2005

REPORT OF HEAD OF TRANSPORTATION SERVICES

replacement of poole bridge variable message signs

1.Purpose of the Report and Policy Context

1.1To consider options for replacement of the existing Poole Lifting Bridge Information Signs with Variable Message Signs (VMS) on routes into the Town Centre.

1.2The Transportation Strategy aims to maximise the efficient use of the highway network and improve the capacity of our existing roads.

1. Recommendations
2. It is recommended that the scheme to install five VMS as described in this report be approved.

3.Information

3.1The five current Poole Lifting Bridge rotating prism sign units are approaching the end of their useful operational life and consideration therefore needs to be considered for their replacement. This provides the opportunity to review the way this information is provided and by utilising new VMS technology enables significantly more traffic related information to be displayed.

3.2The next Local Transport Plan looks increasingly to this type of technology associated with Intelligent Transport Systems as the means of positively managing the road network and dealing with increasing traffic flows in the absence of new road building. The Transportation Strategy is committed to making the most effective use of the existing road infrastructure as well as improving the availability, quality and choice of non-car transport modes.

3.3Lessons are now being learned examples such as from the ROMANSE project in Southampton on how the application of can provide effective up-to-date information for motorists.

3.4The concept behind the Poole VMS project is, therefore, the collection, processing and dissemination of timely traffic information to assist people in making informed travel decisions.

3.5The locations of the existing five VMS units are shown as Appendix A. It is proposed that the new signs are installed where the current Poole Bridge signs exist with the following exceptions :

• Not replacing the sign in Sterte Road heading towards Holes Bay Road, as this road no longer carries a significant amount of traffic, particularly with the impending 7.5T limit on Sterte Bridge.
• New sign on Blandford Road in the direction of Poole Bridge, location to be determined. While accepting that this provides information on the status of the bridge at only one location along this long road, it will nevertheless provide useful general Town Centre information on this main route into Town.
• Utilising the existing communications link on the four current locations and with a new link from Blandford Road, the signs would be operated via the traffic signal based Urban Control System ( UTC ). In this way the signs would display either Poole Bridge information directly from the Civic Centre control room or general Town Centre messaging via the office at St Johns House. A protocol for operation of the VMS displays will be developed.
• At this stage this system would operate independently from on-street real time car parking information signs which currently show available spaces in the Town Centre multi-storey car parks. However it is envisaged that ITS will be developed over future years such that ultimately all of the different systems would be linked and fed back to one control centre via an Urban Traffic Management and Control ( UTMC ) system.
• Providing drivers Town Centre information in this way is the first stage in what could ultimately develop into a conurbation wide system, controlled by a single control centre for the conurbation, giving driver choice on the main strategic routes into and out of the conurbation.
• An added benefit of introducing ITS will be the potential for increasing awareness of transport issues which should lead on to an attitudinal change and more thoughtful travel behaviour, a key objective of the Transportation strategy and Local Transport Plan.
• While the need to provide drivers information on the status of the existing bridge is needed only until the Twin Sails Bridge is provided, it is considered that the benefits of providing other the other more general messages more than justify this scheme going ahead. The variable message signing directly associated with the operation of the two bridges will be confined to the road network immediately serving the bridges.

4.0Background

4.1The existing Poole Bridge information units were installed in March 1995 and refaced with new sign legends in March 1997. These currently read ‘Poole Bridge Open’ and ‘Poole Bridge Closed’. A further message ‘Poole Bridge Lifting Shortly’ was removed from the operational sequence when the Bridge house controls were moved to the Civic Centre Control Room in 2001. There has been for some time the debate over the understanding of the signs - does ‘Poole Bridge Open’ mean that it is open to traffic or open in the sense that the leaves are up and in fact it is closed to traffic ?

4.2The signs are currently maintained as part of the Traffic signals contract by Siemens Traffic Controls Limited. As has already been stated these signs are becoming increasingly difficult to maintain and as such there will be a credit provided through the contract in lieu of no longer having to undertake this maintenance on these signs.

4.3There are three main types of variable message signing commercially available – High-Intensity LED, fibre optic and rotating prism. It is proposed that one of the former two systems be used. Features of these units are:

• Can be controlled centrally and are able to display a variety of different traffic information messages very quickly.
• There is an issue that they can become less visible if viewed at anything other than the correct angle or in direct sunlight. However with correct siting and adopting the latest technology these disadvantages can be kept to a minimum.

The typical appearance of these signs is shown as Appendix C.

4.4Funding of £70,000 is currently allocated within the Traffic Management Category of the approved Capital Programme. Expressions of Interest have already been sought from Contractors capable of supplying this type of signing. If this report is approved then tenders will be sought towards the end of 2005, with installation taking place before the end of March 2006.

4.5There is strict control on the prescribed wording that can be used on these type of signs. To meet the legal requirements it is therefore necessary to seek authorisation from the Department for Transport for these messages, but it is typically the alternatives likely to be available that are shown at Appendix B.

JAMES T BRIGHT

Head of Transportation Services

Appendix A – Locations of signs

Appendix B - Suggested VMS Message matrix

Appendix C – Size and type of typical VMS Unit

Name and Telephone Number of Officer Contact:

Martin Baker (01202) 262073

TAG101105T3C

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EXISTING Variable Message Signs Around Poole

01 VP A350 Holes Bay Road

02 VP A349 Broadstone Way

03VP Sterte Road

04VP Towngate Bridge

05VP New Orchard

APPENDIX B: POOLE UTMC: SUGGESTED VMS MESSAGES

(BASED ON 4 ROWS x 12 CHARACTER DISPLAY)

(A) Car Park Related Messages

Row

Possible Messages related to Town Centre Car Park Status

“At Rest” Messages

Incident/Event Related

(B) Event Related Signs

Row

Event Related Messaging

Poole Lifting Bridge Messaging (Subject to change when Twin Sails Bridge is operational)

(C) General Messaging

Row

Incident Related Messaging

APPENDIX C: POOLE UTMC: TYPICAL VMS LAYOUTS

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