Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps the Department is taking to support the rollout of smart and adaptive traffic signal technologies.

Local Highway Authorities are responsible for traffic signals on their networks, including monitoring and assessment of assets. However, the Department for Transport sponsors the Transport Technology Forum and works with the traffic systems industry to understand the state of associated equipment in use in England.

Based on this collaboration the Department for Transport has, on an exceptional basis, provided £65 million in funding to English local highway authorities for traffic systems since 2022. In 2022 the Department for Transport provided £15m in targeted grants to 39 local authorities through the Traffic Signals Maintenance (TSM) fund to address general equipment renewals and upgrades.

In 2023 a further £50m was provided. £40m was given in two targeted grants to 68 local and combined authorities: the Traffic Signal Obsolescence Grant to replace obsolete equipment and the Green Light Fund to address operational enhancements and new technology provision for traffic systems.

The remaining £10m was given to all English Highway Authorities for traffic signal maintenance and a general technology upgrades.

In terms of the strategic road network, National Highways will continue to assess and prioritise investment in upgrading roadside technology during the third roads investment period.