Welcome to Warwickshire County Council

Urban Traffic Management and Control Systems in Stratford upon Avon
The project Stratford has an international profile due to its associations with Shakespeare and the Royal Shakespeare Company, but is also well-known for its traffic congestion. The Urban Traffic Management and Control (UTMC) approach uses new technology to provide travellers to Stratford, both before and during their trip, with information about the best routes to follow and parking availability at any particular time. Conditions are constantly monitored so that information is entirely up to date. Pre-trip information is available on the Web and in-trip information is provided by a series of variable message signs. Traffic signals are also controlled by the system to reduce congestion and pollution, give priority to buses and improve the flow of traffic, especially when there are incidents or peak traffic surges.	Conditions in the High Street Queues and pedestrian conflict at Bridgefoot
1. The Real Time Information System for Car Parks
The Stratford upon Avon Traffic Management system came into operation in 2002. The first stage was the installation of electronic car park signs at various sites throughout Stratford. These variable message signs tell motorists in 'real time' how many free spaces there are in the main town car parks, including those at the Leisure Centre, Bridgefoot, Recreation Ground, Arden Street, Windsor Street and Rother Street. Real time car park information for Stratford. The signs also provide clearer directions to each car park. A further benefit of the signing system is expected to be a reduction in traffic circulation in the town centre, because drivers should be more likely to use the nearest suitable car park as they enter the town.	Car park signs on Bridgeway
2. The Route Advisory System The second system is a camera system that monitors queues approaching Stratford at weekends, Bank Holidays, and when major events are held. Associated with this was the installation of additional variable message signs on the approaches to Stratford (A46 at Marraway, A3400 at Bishopton Hill, A46 at Wildmoor) to inform drivers of congestion problems on the three major routes into Stratford - the A422 Alcester Road, A3400 Birmingham Road and A439 Warwick Road; to advise drivers of any forthcoming event in Stratford that is likely to cause delays to traffic; and for emergency purposes i.e flood warnings. It should be noted that the Alcester Road, Birmingham Road and Warwick Road are continuously being monitored by a journey time measurement system. If either Alcester Road or Warwick Road are congested and Birmingham Road is free flowing, the system activates the variable message signs automatically and informs drivers to use the alternative route into Stratford. When the system is not being used for the above reasons, it is used to provide safety messages and promoting the Park and Ride facility. At present, the above variable message signs are not linked with the Highways Agency matrix system on the motorways.
Who was involved? The Stratford UTMC was implemented by Warwickshire County Council, in partnership with Stratford-on-Avon District Council, the Highways Agency and the Royal Shakespeare Company. The project was partly funded by the Department for Transport.	Urban Traffic Management & Control
For further information please contact: Traffic Control and Information Systems Communities Warwickshire County Council P.O. Box 43 Shire Hall Warwick CV34 4SX Tel: 01926 412810 Fax: 0870 2428144 Email:signals@warwickshire.gov.uk Return to Traffic and Travel Information Page