The UK Government's White Paper on the Future of Transport published in July 1998 provided a new policy framework for the Highways Agency (HA) defining its main role in the future as a road network operator rather than a road builder. Recognition of this role has prompted the HA to develop the Traffic Control Centre (TCC) initiative which will provide real time monitoring of the road network and strategic management of interurban routes. The information collected by the TCC will be made available to motorists through the network of roadside Variable Message Signs and off-road information systems. The road network operators (data providers), the Value Added Service Providers (VASPs) and the users of the road network can all be considered to be members of a Travel Information Community (TIC). The members of this TIC all share a common goal of acquiring the best quality traffic data from across the road network, turning the raw data into useful information and then distributing the information to the end users as quickly as possible. In order to achieve this, the TCC initiative also calls for the development of a Travel Information Highway (TIH) which will be used for the exchange of information between the members of the TIC. (A*)
Samenvatting