Reading's traffic restrictions set to move from paper to a digital map
The council says the switch won't change any restrictions already in place
A major project to move records of every traffic restriction on Reading's roads from paper to a digital database is taking a significant step forward.
The plan would bring details of all parking, movement and speed restrictions together in one place, which the council says will make the system more efficient and reliable.
It involves moving Traffic Regulation Orders (TROs) from paper to digital format.
TROs are the legal orders which back the placement and enforcement of road and traffic controls such as speed limits, bus lanes and parking rules.
What's changing
The council says the switch will not introduce, amend or remove any of the restrictions currently in place.
Phase one has focused on waiting, loading and stopping restrictions across the borough.
The next step involves a statutory consultation on moving these from paper TROs to digital ones.
The work has included a boroughwide survey of existing highway restrictions.
Text-based paper records will be replaced by map-based digital records, which the council says will give clearer information and reduce the risk of future misinterpretation and inaccuracy.
Why now
The council says the project was carried out in anticipation of forthcoming national regulations, which will require local councils to have TROs available in a digital format.
Members of the council's Traffic Management Sub Committee are being asked to authorise the statutory consultation at a meeting on Thursday 10th September.