Government invests millions in congestion-cutting tech

Councils across England pitched their ideas to improve journeys in their areas through digital innovation and 19 have been chosen to receive between £50,000 and £300,000.

Apps that notify motorists of congestion, free parking spaces and real time journey information for visually impaired passengers, are just some of the projects that will receive a share of £4 million government technology funding.

The money is to be spent on developing technology like apps and sensors which can be used to cut congestion and improve city centre parking and also to alert drivers when electric car charging points become available.

Successful councils include:

• Blackpool - £234,000 to use Bluetooth technology to cut traffic congestion
• Dorset - £182,000 to provide advance congestion warnings for drivers on the A31 using an app
• Warrington - £300,000 to provide real-time information to businesses and public through on-street information displays, social media and phone apps
• Coventry - £150,000 for a real-time bay availability system across 450 pay and display parking spots
• Westminster, Hounslow, Hammersmith and Fulham - £204,000 to roll out a new generation of electric vehicle charge points which will provide real-time data to motorists when they are available
• Peterborough - £50,000 to use digital technology to provide real-time journey information directly to visually impaired people.

Roads Minister, Andrew Jones, said: “I congratulate today’s winners for coming up with cutting-edge, innovative ideas that will transform journeys for passengers and motorists across the country.

“Technology is rapidly evolving and this important work shows that if we get it right, it can cut congestion, speed up journeys, clean up the environment, and improve accessibility.”