WORK to bring traffic restrictions into a digital database has taken a “significant” step forward, Reading Borough Council has announced.
The project to move Traffic Regulation Orders (TROs) from paper to digital format will bring a record of all parking, movement and speed restrictions together in one place, with the aim of making the system more efficient and reliable.
The first phase of the project has focused on waiting, loading and stopping restrictions across the borough, but coming work will involve a statutory consultation on transitioning these from paper to digital TROs.
Councillors say that the proposed consultation will not seek to introduce, amend or remove any restrictions currently in place.
The digitisation project was undertaken in anticipation of forthcoming national regulations which will require local councils to have TROs available in a digital format.
ROs are legal orders which provide the legal backing for the placement and enforcement of road and traffic management restrictions such as speed limits, bus lanes and parking controls.
The process has involved a boroughwide survey of existing highway restrictions which will lead to text-based paper records being replaced by map-based digital records, which will provide clearer information and reduce the risk of future misinterpretation and inaccuracy.
Members of the Council’s Traffic Management Sub Committee are being asked to authorise a statutory consultation at a meeting later today (Thursday, September 10).
Full details of the meeting agenda are available via: democracy.reading.gov.uk
