The annual Traffic Count Report provides an overview of the traffic flows in Tyne and Wear in 2009.
The report provides data on flows in 2009 and in most cases for the 5 previous years. Monthly information for each site is given in the appendix where possible. Some of the data given is obtained from the Highways Agency.
The data has been grouped into the cordons and corridors, as identified in the Local Transport Plan (LTP). The cordons cover district, centre, some local centres and county boundaries. In addition screenline data for the two main rivers is incorporated. A graph of flows is included in most cases to give a visual representation of the flows and the location of counts shown in the figures.
The data should be regarded as a snapshot and account should be taken for any factors that may have influenced the flows during the course of the year. On a regular basis count sites can be influenced by incidents, road works, vandalism and thefts of equipment. Whilst these are a problem, the report endeavours to reflect any significant, technical, count site issues in the text and where feasible any technical problems will have been rectified on site as soon as possible after the event.
Tyne and Wear Traffic and Accident Data Unit (TADU) are able to monitor such a volume of traffic counters because many of the sites are connected using telemetry communications. This means that Tyne and Wear has a wealth of traffic count data and in some instances speed and classified data.
TADU migrated from the old Mcounts traffic counts system which was developed in the late 1980’s to a new system; the new count database is version of the Highways Agencies TRADS, and went online in the second quarter of 2009.
The volume of data brings with it the burden of maintenance of these assets in order to ensure the quality of service can be sustained. Budget constraints will start to have an impact on the service if not protected by the districts councils that jointly fund TADU.
TADU are hoping over the year ahead to obtain the volumetric data from Newcastle City Council’s C2 traffic count database which is part of their speed management plan, plans are already underway and some data has already been added to TRADS, but the sheer volume of data, means the task will take some time.
We hope that this report will give you an indication of the type of and volume of data that TADU can provide. Feedback is always welcome to help us to deliver a better service.