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Bus gate access control system to combat congestion

One of a number of recent improvements and developments that have been carried out in Wellingborough town centre as part of Northamptonshire County Council’s Highways initiative is the installation of an access control gate system that gives public transport vehicles sole access to a designated town centre route during peak times. The council hopes that the system, which uses long-range vehicle identification technology to allow only buses and taxis to enter the specified route between the hours of 0900 to
February 25, 2013 Read time: 3 mins
One of a number of recent improvements and developments that have been carried out in Wellingborough town centre as part of Northamptonshire County Council’s Highways initiative is the installation of an access control gate system that gives public transport vehicles sole access to a designated town centre route during peak times.

The council hopes that the system, which uses long-range vehicle identification technology to allow only buses and taxis to enter the specified route between the hours of 0900 to 1630, will combat congestion in the town centre and cut down carbon emissions by encouraging more people to travel using public transport.

A single directional triple rising bollard system was supplied and installed by UK security solutions integrator 7182 APT Security Systems.  Explains Chris Rowlands, managing director of APT Security Systems: “We supplied three bollards integrated with APT’s Passmaster technology at a strategic point on the route, and vehicles authorised by the council to use this route were fitted with a tag.

“The Passmaster system emits a signal that triggers the lowering of the bollard when it recognises an authorised tagged vehicle as present, and traffic indicators advise drivers when they can proceed,” he continues. “We also installed an intercom as a back-up to safeguard the system, as well as ensuring that the council can operate the bollards manually from its CCTV control room.”

APT’s Passmaster readers can recognise tags at distances ranging from one to eight metres and are available in a range of formats to suit different applications and environments, including readers mounted on walls, posts and barriers or housed in a roadside pedestal.

Andrew Lunn of highway service provider MGWSP, a joint venture between 6665 May Gurney and 6666 WSP, was Design Manager for the Wellingborough bus gate element of the Public Realm project and decided to specify APT technology: “We received quotes from a number of suppliers and APT was able to offer the most competitive, cost-effective solution for the job. Furthermore, I had worked with the company on a previous project and knew that it could meet my needs satisfactorily.”

The Wellingborough bus gate system is now operational and has enabled Northamptonshire County Council to enforce its Traffic Regulation Order much more easily, without the need to prosecute drivers who ignore the restrictions.

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