Skip to main content

Next generation traffic management has CHARM

A collaboration between Highways England (formerly Highways Agency) and the Rijkswaterstaat (RWS) to develop an integrated advanced traffic management system (ATMS) for the UK and Dutch highways is in the process of finalising the software platform requirements. The Common Highways Agency Rijkswaterstaat Model (CHARM) program aims to move towards an open, modular ATMS architecture that is integrated, flexible and scalable. Highways England and RWS have collaborated in order to develop requirements for a
August 20, 2015 Read time: 2 mins
A collaboration between 8101 Highways England (formerly 503 Highways Agency) and the 4767 Rijkswaterstaat (RWS) to develop an integrated advanced traffic management system (ATMS) for the UK and Dutch highways is in the process of finalising the software platform requirements.

The Common Highways Agency Rijkswaterstaat Model (CHARM) program aims to move towards an open, modular ATMS architecture that is integrated, flexible and scalable. Highways England and RWS have collaborated in order to develop requirements for a new generation of traffic management systems that will be jointly procured to support the operational processes of traffic management centres.

Austrian company Kapsch TrafficCom has been awarded a contract by the Rijkswaterstaat and has been advised of Highways England’s intention to award a contract to supply its advanced traffic management system DYNAC as part of the CHARM collaborative program.

In a contract valued at around US$66.7 million, Kapsch will deliver and install DYNAC in two traffic management centres, one in England and one in the Netherlands, with the instalment set to be completed within 26 months of the start date. Following implementation in the first traffic management centres, DYNAC will be installed by a third party in all remaining traffic management centres. The contract also includes provision of maintenance support services for a period of up to 13 years.

The proposed modular architecture would allow Highways England and Rijkswaterstaat to improve operational efficiency by using contemporary traffic management systems to cater for developments in traffic management within the agencies. It is expected that the majority of the existing applications will be replaced.

The CHARM programme plans deliver the first traffic management centres in 2016 and to complete the implementations in 2018.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Mobility as a Service gaining traction in US and Europe
    December 15, 2015
    As Mobility as a Service starts to move into the mainstream of transport planning, David Crawford compares European and North American initiatives. Mobility as a Service (MaaS) is a concept fast gaining traction on both sides of the Atlantic as a way of giving travellers digital multimodal one-stop shops and journey planning tools as an alternative to private car use. Planned delivery methods include subscription-based travel packages in Europe, and 'mobility aggregator' apps, including employee commute ben
  • Upgrading Turkey's tolling system
    April 25, 2013
    A programme modernising road tolling equipment on Turkey’s national highway network has resulted in what is arguably Europe’s most advanced toll system, reports Jon Masters. Turkey has introduced a new system of technology for charging for use of its 2000km national highway network, heralded as the first full-scale use of passive RFID tags for electronic open road tolling in Europe. The new ‘Fast Passing System’ (HGS) is an upgrade of Turkey’s existing Automatic Passing System (OGS) technology, which uses
  • ‘Free’ power for signs, shelters and so much more
    March 17, 2016
    David Crawford looks at the sunny side of the street. Solar power has been relatively slow in entering the transport sector, but a current blossoming of activity bodes well for the large-scale harnessing of an alternative energy that is zero-emission at source and, in practical terms, infinitely renewable. Traffic management and traveller information systems, and actual vehicles, are all emerging as areas for deployment. Meanwhile roads themselves are being viewed as new-style, fossil fuel-free ‘power stati
  • Mayrise software aids Blackburn’s highways efficiency
    January 21, 2013
    As part of a plan to enhance asset management and drive efficiencies, Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council in the UK has implemented street lighting software from UK supplier of local authority service management systems, Mayrise Systems. Supported by £400,000 worth of funding from the Department of Transport the council has developed a number of projects designed to develop a model for highway asset management, to be achieved through innovative use of IT and the continued delivery of safety schemes.