Calderdale leaders give £186,000 backing to Yorkshire traffic busting company

Calderdale Council Cabinet has agreed to support the formation of a regional traffic control service which aims to unblock congested highways.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

It will cost the council around £186,000 a year to create along with other councils a West Yorkshire Urban Traffic Management Company (WY-UTMC) but in return Cabinet members believe traffic will move more freely across the region as a result, bringing a number of benefits.

The new service will take over responsibility for the design of new traffic signal installations for all of West Yorkshire and be responsible for their operation.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

A well resourced WY-UTMC should be able to make savings on economy of scale for any purchases, for example buying signals when needed for all the partners, and increase efficiency managing congestion in a more co-ordinated way and better able to manage unplanned incidents and events.

Traffic in CalderdaleTraffic in Calderdale
Traffic in Calderdale

The benefits for people using the roads in Calderdale and the wider region would be improved journey times and better air quality, all the while boosting employment and economic growth as a result, councillors were briefed.

Each district committing cash to the pool – capital costs will be funded by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s West Yorkshire-plus Transport Fund – will however keep ownership of the traffic signals and would retain responsibility for paying associated energy bills.