Pioneering a new era of traffic control management, Cubic (ITMS) Ltd is ensuring that taking an innovative approach to problem solving can not only meet the customer’s needs – but exceed them.
After winning one of five London traffic signals contracts in August 2014, Cubic ITMS has set the standard for outperforming the Service Level Agreement (SLA) benchmark of 99.1 per cent, by maintaining a consistent average of 99.363 per cent. In January 2015 over 1,000 detected faults, or jobs, were successfully cleared by a small team of Cubic staff. These statistics show Cubic’s commitment to providing safer roads and more pleasant journeys for Londoners – be they walking, cycling or driving.
Traffic control management in London
Transport for London’s (TfL) Traffic Control Maintenance Services 2 (TCMS2) contract relies heavily on the use of the most effective, energy-efficient and best-value equipment to deliver benefits to all road users across London. Cubic’s contract with TfL covers the maintenance of over 1,000 traffic signals, variable message signs and overhead gantries across South-East London, with over 1,600 faults cleared in one four-week period.
TCMS2 runs for six years with an option for a further one-year extension. The contract forms part of a package of measures that will see investment in London’s road network increase from £2 billion to £4 billion over the next few years. Working in partnership with TfL’s London Highways Alliance Contract (LoHAC) contractors, TCMS2 involves installing, maintaining and expanding the use of intelligent traffic signal control and using the data generated to maintain and improve the increasing demand on the capital’s network for motorists, pedestrians, cyclists, public transport, freight and other services.
Having acquired ITMS in 2013 to form Cubic (ITMS) Ltd, the wholly owned Cubic subsidiary has taken a renewed and proactive approach to traffic control. TCMS2 differs from previous contracts in that the contractor is now responsible for complete management of the service rather than just delivery. Previously TfL managed the requirements, equipment, processing and issuing of works orders to contractors; Cubic is now responsible for sourcing and delivering all required equipment, resources and support services related to the project. The objective is to constantly deliver the highest level of performance and to make the contract work for customers with a safety, time, value, and quality perspective.
Cubic ITMS lights the way
Nick Roberts, Cubic’s TCMS2 contract manager, explains, “It is a significant undertaking but nonetheless exciting because we’re given more choice. TfL is focussed on innovation, much like our own vision, so we are encouraged to be creative with our solutions. That’s what makes Cubic ITMS stand out; our innovation commitment drives us to deliver the very best of everything that will benefit the customer. From an outsider’s perspective you may think a traffic signal is only that, but actually there’s a lot more to it and a range of different solutions that can be used to make them work better for everyone.”
The Cubic ITMS team ensures that Londoners have safer roads and more pleasant journeys by maintaining traffic signals as set out in the TCMS2 contract.
How do we drive innovation? “In one word, collaboration,” says Stephen Wojcik, head of London for Cubic ITMS. He continues, “Internally and also with our external delivery partners, we hold regular forums with many people involved; electrical and electronic engineers, system architects, highway designers, manufacturers, product experts to name a few.” Roberts adds, “What the customer sees on the street is only part of our work. The subsurface infrastructure, data transfer, data management, and in-station connectivity are crucial to performance. These hide a complex network of cables and communications and data analytics to make the system work.”
Teamwork is the key
With a relationship spanning over three decades, TCMS2 is another example of how TfL, Cubic and a range of partners are delivering efficient and effective technology to London. Maintaining consistent SLAs of above 99.1 per cent for Cubic means the team ensures a series of criteria is well managed. This includes solving faults within timeframes, ensuring work follows stringent health and safety requirements, and essential asset management administration. Part of the reason for Cubic’s success is due largely to the hard work and dedication of its team.
“We have some of the brightest people here at Cubic ITMS who are very well thought of in their field. Meeting SLAs consistently is not only driven by our original solutions, but by the unsung people behind those ideas who have spent hours to make sure our clients’ needs are achieved – and exceeded,” says Chris Bax, managing director of Cubic ITMS.
Hawa Motara, who manages the 24/7 control room at Cubic ITMS, says, “Teamwork and communication are most important. As soon as a job or fault is raised by TfL, control operators organise a site visit with an engineer to investigate the problem. Once we have a diagnosis of the problem, the proposed solution is received and resources are deployed. Our team is highly trained and motivated to get the job done: we are constantly learning and never afraid to ask questions.”
Iain Blackmore, head of Traffic Infrastructure at TfL said, “It’s great to see that the new TCMS2 contract is already providing customers with high levels of traffic signal availability all across London such as historic Greenwich to the outskirts of Bromley.”
Less than a year into the contract, Cubic ITMS is proving that a commitment to the customer’s needs delivers results beyond expectations. It is this approach as well as an appetite for innovation that has paved the way for cutting-edge intelligent traffic solutions. The exciting part is, for Cubic ITMS, this is just the beginning.
Ready Set Go!
TFL manages TCMS2 by splitting the contract into 13 periods a year, each consisting of 28 days, to report and deliver Service Level Agreements. Since taking control of the contract Cubic has successfully resolved all jobs or faults identified by TfL in each period, as well as resolving any issues identified by Cubic’s own team.
Chris Bax, managing director, Cubic Transportation Systems (ITMS).
Chris is responsible for maintaining international relationships with key clients in the public and private transport sectors.