A two year partnership between the Port of Dover and Kent Business School has brought benefits for traffic management in the town.
Analysis of traffic flow from Kent Business School (KBS) mapped pinch points and led to less use of the Dover Traffic Assessment Project (Dover TAP) traffic management scheme. It was introduced to minimise the impact of traffic to the Port on residents and businesses. The TAP applies a 40 mph speed limit, restricts lorry drivers to the left lane of the A20, and holds back queuing lorries from the town centre by traffic lights until space is available in the Port.
The researchers from the Centre for Logistics and Heuristic Optimisation at KBS analysed data and built up a comprehensive picture of vehicles movements which improved forecasting. It meant the TAP was used 13 fewer times in April and May 2016 compared to the same period in 2016.
The Port authorities also now use a new buffer zone capable of holding 4 kilometres of traffic.
The University’s collaboration with the Port of Dover is the result of the Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTP) which is part funded by Innovate UK to enable businesses to use academic excellence to innovate to improve competitiveness and productivity.