For the first time PTV software for predictive traffic modeling will be deployed in York, UK, to create a real-time city-wide transport model in Great Britain. As part of the “Smarter Travel Evolution Program – STEP”, the City of York is aiming to reduce traffic jams, emissions and travel times, as well as improve the reliability of the transport network, create better public spaces and enhance safety. The consultancy firm Wood has been appointed as lead partner in implementing the project, which is supported by the Government.

Like many UK cities, York – a vibrant city, with traffic congestion, pollution and accessibility issues – is turning to innovation and cutting-edge technology in a bid to improve the lives and well-being of its citizens

The project team will support the city’s mission by designing and deploying a live model of York’s traffic network, in a dynamic digital representation fed from a wide range of real-time data sources. In addition to traffic optimization through the live model, a strategic model will provide information as the basis for long-term decision making concerning the local transport plan, development planning and business case applications, for example.

Wood will work in partnership with Relative Gap, independent strategic transport modeling consultants, and PTV Group, multimodal transport planning software experts. Their common goal is to deploy predictive modeling software for the first time on a city-wide scale in the UK, to test strategies in a virtual environment and run multiple scenarios simultaneously. The real-time model will also provide predictions of traffic responses to planned and unplanned events using live and historical traffic data, ensuring the best possible strategy can be implemented quickly and efficiently.

PTV UK Director Devrim Kara said: “We are delighted that City of York Council is investing in strategic modeling with our trusted PTV software. We look forward to working with the Wood project team on this exciting and innovative project.”

Joe Sczurko, CEO of Wood’s Technical Consulting Solutions business, explained: “This state-of-the-art program will help the City of York provide a transport plan which enhances its citizens’ lives and helps protect the urban environment.”

James Gilchrist, Assistant Director for Transport, Highways and Environment, City of York Council added: “These new strategic and real-time models will enhance York’s long-term plan for transport provision and provide more informed, robust business cases for the implementation of future projects, in compliance with transport analysis guidance. Cutting-edge real-time technology will be able to conduct traffic predictions up to sixty minutes into the future. This insight will facilitate smarter transport decision making, optimized traffic signal plans and better travel advice for road users across the historic city. We are excited to begin working collaboratively with Wood and PTV to deliver this ambitious project.”