AI-Powered Traffic System Reduces Delays in Tees Valley, Officials Say

 

AI-Powered Traffic System Reduces Delays in Tees Valley

Transport officials in the Tees Valley say a new traffic management system powered by artificial intelligence (AI) has successfully reduced delays and improved bus journey times across the region.

The system uses a “digital twin,” a virtual replica of the Tees Valley road network, which collects real-time traffic data and uses AI to predict where congestion and delays may occur. By analyzing this information, the system can quickly adjust traffic conditions and respond to potential issues before they worsen.

According to early results from the pilot program, the first phase of the project achieved a 13.7% reduction in traffic delays over a six-month period.

Sean Fryer, digital transport delivery manager at the Tees Valley Combined Authority (TVCA), said the system helps reduce the everyday disruptions that commuters face.

“It allows us to mitigate against the everyday occurrences that would usually frustrate people trying to get home or to work,” Fryer said.

The system gathers data from several sources, including GPS-tracked buses and roadside traffic sensors. Using this information, it can automatically respond to traffic conditions across 11 identified hotspots in the region.

Local leaders say the technology is proving to be effective. Stephen Harker, leader of Darlington Council and transport portfolio holder at TVCA, explained that while the system still has human oversight, the AI has demonstrated an ability to make faster and often better decisions.

“If traffic is held up somewhere it is aware of that, and it can look at the cycle of traffic lights and adjust them,” Harker said.

He added that the system can analyze traffic patterns quickly and suggest alternative routes or signal adjustments to ease congestion.

“They’re finding that the software is coming up with better solutions than the humans can. It does it far more quickly and has been quite clever about where it thinks transport should be diverted,” Harker said.

Despite the positive results, some officials stress that technology alone cannot fully solve traffic problems. The Green Party welcomed the new system but warned that increasing numbers of cars on the road could limit its effectiveness.

Data shows that vehicles traveled 13 billion miles (21 billion kilometers) on North East roads in 2024, an increase of more than 1.5 billion miles over the past decade.

Darlington Green Party councillor Matthew Snedker said that innovation must be combined with efforts to encourage people to use public transport, cycling, and other sustainable travel options.

“If you plan for more and more cars, you plan to fail,” Snedker said.

“Just building one more lane and thinking that will fix it doesn’t work. It is a bit like buying bigger trousers to solve obesity.”

Snedker added that a more sustainable and active transport system could help reduce traffic while making it easier and cheaper for people to travel.

The next phase of the Tees Valley Traffic Digital Twin Project will expand the system by adding new routes and additional types of data, including freight movements, active travel patterns, and environmental information.

Officials hope the project will continue to improve traffic flow and support more efficient transportation across the region.