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Highway & Network Management

Could the US Interstates be reconstructed using with toll finance?
November 13, 2013
The US Interstate network needs serious investment, and tolling could provide the answer - *Bob Poole writes Could the ageing US Interstate highway system be rebuilt and modernised using toll finance? What kind of toll rates would this require? How feasible would doing this be? In September the Reason Foundation released a study on this issue. The study showed that it may be feasible to finance the reconstruction and selective widening of nearly the entire Interstate system using moderate toll rates collect
What kind of future is there for road tolls?
November 12, 2013
Hugh Basham, transport strategy and policy director, UK and Ireland, at DHL Supply Chain, enters the ongoing global debate around the use of road tolls Road pricing has always polarised opinion. Whilst road users - who are already struggling to cope with high fuel prices and insurance premiums – may resent the additional expense, environmentalists and frequent drivers often welcome the introduction of tolls as offering an escape from gridlocked roads. Charging to use the road network isn’t a new phenomenon
Clearview Traffic enters smart parking sector with M300
November 11, 2013
The Clearview Traffic Group is entering the smart parking market with a range of solutions designed to maximise the effective use of existing parking capacity. Talking about the move, Nick Lanigan, the company’s managing director, said, “Hunting for an available parking space these days is a growing source of driver frustration, as well as a major contributor to congestion and environmental pollution in many major towns and cities across the UK.
New Siemens loop detector functionality
November 11, 2013
An improved version of the SLD4 loop detector family is now available from Siemens. The upgraded SLD4 is said to include sophisticated length-based classification with configurable outputs, which can be set to activate when specific conditions are detected, such as large vehicles exceeding a predefined speed. As well as offering standard vehicle detection, the latest version of the SLD4 ca
Thailand sets 7% annual road death reduction target
November 11, 2013
Thailand is targeting an annual 7% reduction in road accident deaths, according to the Public Health Ministry's Permanent Secretary Narong Sahametapat. The target has been revised after the previous ambitious target of slashing the death toll from road accidents by 50% from 2011-2020 was deemed unachievable based on statistics for 2011 and 2012. In 2012, 14,059 people were killed in road accidents in Thailand, up from 14,033 people recorded in 2011.
Quebec's US$495.35mn plan to electrify public, private transport unveiled
November 8, 2013
Almost US$500 million will be spent in the three years to 2017 on the electrification of public and private transport in Quebec, Canada. Of the overall programme fund, $11.5 million will be dedicated to develop a provincial car-sharing programme. Meanwhile, Quebec's rebate programme for the purchase of electric vehicles by private owners will be extended with an additional $62.34 million. Under the programme, the number of electric cars in Quebec is expected to rise to 12,500 by 2017, from the present f
Germany considers motorway toll for cars
November 8, 2013
Germany's Transport Ministry is considering the introduction of a vignette, a toll ticket for the use of the nation’s motorways. The plans would require all German and foreign passenger car drivers to buy a vignette for the use of German motorways. Such a vignette for one year could cost €100. The innovative proposal would provide for low-emission vehicles to be granted a discount on the price of the vignette. Owners of cars registered in Germany would be allowed to offset the vignette cost against the m
e-traffic tickets to tackle Bangkok's accidents and jams
October 31, 2013
Traffic police in Thailand’s capital Bangkok are to operate from next year an online e-traffic ticket system in a bid to control traffic congestion and road accidents in the city. After a four-year pilot, the new US$6.12 million (THB 190 million) e-traffic ticket system is being funded by Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), deputy chief of Bangkok's traffic police Pol Maj Gen Adul Narongsak has revealed. The police will partner with Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA) and the Land Transport Depar
Westminster forum to discuss UK local planning and major infrastructure policy
October 31, 2013
Major developments and next steps in UK local planning and major infrastructure policy will be discussed at the Westminster Energy, Environment & Transport Forum taking place later this month. With the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) now in full operation, the Forum will see delegates assess early indications of its impact on the planning system in England. Other key topics include how to preserve local democracy while coordinating large projects, progress on sustainability, and how to successfu
Indonesia’s traffic accidents cause near US$18.16bn annual loss
October 31, 2013
In Indonesia, economic losses due to traffic accidents reportedly add up to around US$18.16 billion (IDR 200 trillion) a year – 2.9% of the nation’s annual gross domestic product. Data from the police showed that a total of some 120,000 traffic accidents were reported in 2012 contributing to a death toll of nearly 30,000 people. The figures were revealed during the 12th Regional Conference of Road Engineering on 22 October 2013 in West Java.