Updated guidance has been published for the UK Government’s £20m Intelligent Traffic Management Fund (ITMF), clarifying requirements around the assembling of consortia in ITMF applications.
The ITMF is part of the £70m funding improvements to traffic signals announced last October as part of the UK Department for Transport’s Plan for Drivers. The £20m is expected to fund a small number of grants to groups led by local authorities of up to £2m each. The application period for ITMF closes on July 31, 2024.
The Transport Technology Forum is working with the Local Council Roads Innovation Group (LCRIG) to manage the ITMF process.
The updated guidance notes how groups should “aim to describe as fully as possible likely consortia arrangements in their bids that will deliver innovative, practical and workable solutions that demonstrate the application of new technology to corridor and region-wide traffic optimization.”
Local authorities are now preparing applications for a share of £20m of funding to deploy advanced technology for traffic control, using emerging technologies such as machine learning and AI to optimize traffic flow and balance traffic across wider areas.
Consideration is also being given to delaying the closing date for applications. “We have recognized that in the run up to the General Election announced for July 4, the actions of central and local government will be curtailed,” said LCRIG chief executive Paula Claytonsmith. “Therefore, consideration is being given to the extension of the bidding period to compensate for this.”
The opportunity to apply for funding is being offered to all English local highway and combined authorities outside London. The guidance is available on the Transport Technology Forum website, which also details the workings of the funding, covering eligibility, possible uses of ITMF, design and standards, and how successful projects will be evaluated and assessed.
