1. 1 februari 2007 Martha Brouwer (program manager Traffic Management and Public Transport) Network Operations in the Netherlands

2. 1 februari 2007 Network Operations in the Netherlands2 Topics 1. National transport policy 2. Contribution of Rijkswaterstaat 3. Organisational issues 4. Some remarkable developments 5. Challenges

3. 1 februari 2007 Network Operations in the Netherlands3 1. National Transport Policy: goals Travel times: –Congestion is a fact of life –But it should stay within certain limits: reliability –A trip in rush hours may take 1,5-2 times as long as the free flow time Traffic safety: –Strong reduction of number of fatalities –Relatively less involvement of trucks, compared to 2002 Environment: –Most important: pollution and noise –Strong European influence

4. 1 februari 2007 Network Operations in the Netherlands4 1. National Transport Policy: other aims National policy stresses the importance of regional cooperation ‘Regional network analyses’ are performed for a common understanding of problems and solutions Road authorities should strive for a robust network (a network which can keep its function, even in special circumstances)

5. 1 februari 2007 Network Operations in the Netherlands5 2. Contribution of Rijkswaterstaat Global development in time: –Local solutions to local problems –More coordinated measures on motorways –Network wide approach Types of activities –Operational traffic management –Hard shoulder running, extra left lane, buffering –Small infrastructural measures –Mobility management

6. 1 februari 2007 Network Operations in the Netherlands6 2. Contribution of Rijkswaterstaat: some examples Operational traffic management: –Regional cooperation –Traffic information Hard shoulder running

7. 1 februari 2007 Network Operations in the Netherlands7 2. Regional cooperation (a) A working model has been agreed on: sustainable traffic management Main idea: –All road authorities in a region agree on policy goals –Assess the most important travel relations (e.g. commuting in rush hours and long distance travel outside rush hours) –Agree on the preferred routes for these relations –Facilitate the preferred routes, if necessary detoriating travel times for other routes

8. 1 februari 2007 Network Operations in the Netherlands8 2. Regional cooperation (b) Results: –A modest overall improvement –A deliberate ‘division of the pain’ Potential conflict of interests between NRA and other RA’s: –Safety and environmental consequences of more traffic through built up area or rural roads –Priority for cars versus priority for public transport and cycling/walking Modelling studies suggest the regional benefits of having more kilometres run via motorways

9. 1 februari 2007 Network Operations in the Netherlands9 2. Distribution of traffic information Rijkswaterstaat is allowed only to inform road users along the roadside or above the road All other distribution has to be left to the market (RTV, internet, telephone numbers) Upto now not much development in user services in this area & the customer is not prepared to pay much Rijkswaterstaat started a ‘National Data warehouse’ project –Scope: all roads of more than local importance –Data gathering will be outsourced –This might improve business cases

10. 1 februari 2007 Network Operations in the Netherlands10 2. Hard shoulder running Normal procedures for building new infrastructure are quite long For hard shoulder running a shortened procedure applies, because of selective use Also applies for extra (narrow) left lanes and buffering lanes Extension is halted because of emission criteria And note: full use of the capacity threatens robustness of the network

11. 1 februari 2007 Network Operations in the Netherlands11 3. Organisational issues Rijkswaterstaat has 9 Regional Directorates, 5 regional traffic management centres and 1 national TMC Role of national TMC: –updating the service providers with the latest traffic information –coordination in cases of large scale incidents The five regional TMC’s have different systems and work processes Intention: more professionality and more uniformity, for more efficiency and better road user appreciation

12. 1 februari 2007 Network Operations in the Netherlands12 4. Some remarkable developments Large scale pilots are being set up, to establish the effects of coordinated measures Since last year the preservation of traffic flow is dominant in the planning of road works; Infraproviders have to conform to a framework –set up from a road user perspective, –even if this is more expensive A framework for urgent repairs is being set up, balancing traffic flow, safety and liability

13. 1 februari 2007 Network Operations in the Netherlands13 5. Challenges Establish effects of network operations Convince the Ministry that investing in network operations is justified Regional cooperation and optimisation of road use Coalitions with private companies Assess when investments in road side equipment can be diminished thanks to in-car technology