Traffic Planning

Faber Maunsell has a capability that covers the full spectrum of traffic planning from inception through preliminary and detailed design to implementation onto the network. This includes work in parking management, traffic signals and systems, walking and cycling, bus and vehicle priority, traffic management, traffic signing/lining expertise all supported by the state of the art design and assessment methods including microsimulation.

As transport policy in the UK has moved away from 'predict and provide', and the associated large-scale road-building programmes, the importance of traffic engineering has increased significantly. Making best use of existing assets, including road space, has involved the development and deployment of new as well as traditional techniques to better manage public highway infrastructure.

The potential scope of intervention is enormous, ranging from local safety schemes, through parking management and bus priority schemes to area wide traffic management. Our wish to promote more sustainable travel modes has led to a greater emphasis on meeting the needs of those who walk, cycle or use the bus.

Faber Maunsell has built a substantial team of expert traffic engineers, based in offices around the UK. This structure offers the clients the perfect mix of services sensitive to local need, supported by the strength and depth a major consultancy can muster.

Faber Maunsell personnel are flexible, open-minded and innovative, seeking to actively support the achievement of Client objectives. Successful partnerships with Client organisations have been forged over many years, leading to mutual understanding and trust and high levels of repeat business.

The company offers support services through the whole life of a project, from policy and concept through to implementation and commissioning. Services are grouped as follows:

Traffic Control

This is an area of specialism within the traffic engineering business that has become key to the majority of urban traffic engineering work. We use all the traditional predictive software in the development and detailed design of schemes and now increasingly utilise VISSIM to undertake microsimulation on individual schemes, such as signalised roundabouts, to whole route or area based traffic systems.

The recent development of innovative queue management techniques have been actively promoted by Faber Maunsell and now form the basis of many quality bus corridor schemes undertaken throughout the UK and Ireland.

A wealth of assessment, detailed design and implementation of the following signal systems is available:

• Traffic signals at junctions and at crossings, including Pelican, Toucan and Puffin design
• Traffic control systems, including isolated (MOVA), co-ordinated (CLF) and area wide (UTC and SCOOT)
• Access control schemes
• Vehicle positioning and priority
• Enforcement schemes

Traffic Management

The continual demand for safer and more efficient transport coupled with the desire to maintain a high degree of freedom and independence to travel where, how and precisely when we want continues to set goals and challenge engineers in every aspect of traffic management.

This challenge set against the backdrop of government policies to reduce pollution and accidents, whilst cutting back on major road building, highlights the need for engineers to find ways to better manage the existing road network to achieve these, often conflicting, objectives by reallocation of the use of existing roads in both space and time.

Faber Maunsell has the necessary detailed design experience across the whole spectrum of Traffic Management to develop and implement the wide ranging and often complex systems required to manage traffic in highly congested areas and at major intersections.

Our breadth and depth of traffic engineering knowledge and experience in the following specific areas enables us to offer a service to develop and implement comprehensive, innovative, practical and cost effective Traffic Management solutions:

• Parking studies, including economic justification for decriminalized regimes
• Traffic regulation
• Junction assessment and design

Sustainable Transport Initiatives

Reliable, high quality bus services are widely regarded as one of the keys to improving access to urban centres. However, persuading image-conscious car owners to move from private to public forms of transport depends on achieving a major step forward in standards of service and efficiency, as well as vehicle style and comfort. The Quality Bus Corridor (QBC) concept is designed to achieve this goal.

Faber Maunsell have worked in partnership with local authories, PTEs and operators to deliver effective solutions to these needs providing a complete range of integrated services.

We recognise cycling as important to the environment as well as to the wider quality of life and support the increasing priority being given to it. We believe that the company has acquired a range of skills and experience enabling it to offer a corporate package that is second to none in this field.

The company's experience in the planning and design of cycle and walking facilities includes:

• development of strategic plans for cycling
• development and implementation of cycle route network proposals including consideration of safe routes to schools
• design and implementation of traffic engineering measures to provide for cyclists at major junctions and crossing major roads
• evaluation and prioritisation of cycle facilities
• analysis of cycle accidents and accident remedial measures
• development of rural cycleway networks
• signing and promotion of cycle schemes

Road Safety Services

Road traffic accidents are one of the most serious problems currently facing modern industrialised societies, not only for their social consequences but also in terms of economic cost. In Great Britain, for example, 3,500 people are killed each year and a further 300,000 injured, costing the community in excess of £13 billion.

Faber Maunsell has built up an in-depth understanding of road safety issues over a number of years, establishing its reputation as one of the world's leading consultancies in this field. Consequently it is able to offer clients a high level of practical and strategic assistance in this vital area.

Based on its extensive knowledge and experience the company provides a range of integrated services covering all aspects of road safety. They include:

• Road safety research
• Accident investigation and analysis
• Remedial scheme development
• Safety routes to school (or bus stops/stations)
• Traffic calming
• Safety audit

Specialist Services

In addition, the company is able to offer specialist traffic engineering support in areas such as:

• Managing the impacts of road pricing/congestion charging schemes
• Regeneration of rejuvenation of town and city centres
• Implementation of schemes, with preparation of specifications, contract documents and site supervision
• Pedestrianisation schemes

For more information on our experience and capabilities please contact Paul Knight.