Local authorities outside of London can now submit expressions of interest for a share of new funding to repair and upgrade traffic signals.
Councils can use the Local Council Roads Innovation Group (LCRIG) website to apply for a share of £15m of extra money that has been allocated to supplement existing local authority spending on the upgrade and maintenance of traffic signals and associated equipment.
LCRIG is working with the UK Department for Transport (DfT) to gather information for the allocation of traffic signals maintenance grant funding for 2021/22.
Martin Duffy, chief executive, LCRIG, said: “This is a unique opportunity for councils to apply for funding that will enable them to upgrade their traffic signals.
“All authorities are striving to improve road safety and reduce collisions so having designated funding that can help them make improvements to technology that helps deliver these outcomes is most welcome.
“Through our close working relationship with the Department for Transport we have been able to put together a process that will allow councils to apply for the funding in a simple and straightforward way.”
In order to qualify for funding, councils will be asked to provide evidence of their current traffic signal maintenance policies and practices.
Those applying for the funding will be asked to provide details of the size of their traffic signals asset estate; maintenance and funding issues; needs and priorities; strategies for planning for the future; links to wider targets; and preparedness for future technology opportunities.
The application process involves authorities providing evidence of the policies they have in place for using their traffic signals, existing maintenance programmes and their aspirations for the future.
According to the LCRIG, the assessment of submissions will start after the closing date and successful authorities who have been awarded grant funding will be informed as soon as possible.
Funding will awarded in blocks of between £300,000 and £500,000 and will be paid out to between 30-50 local authorities to support programmes of work over the coming 24 months.
The application process will run for four weeks and will close on 12 May.
