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Collaboration, innovation and funding challenges under the spotlight on Highways Voices from the SWARCO User Group. How can the highways sector deliver innovation faster while navigating tight budgets, procurement hurdles and increasing demands on road networks? That's the question explored in the latest episode of the Highways Voices podcast, recorded at SWARCO's User Group meeting in Coventry last week. Host Paul Hutton is joined by Derek McLean, Head of Product and Solutions at SWARCO, his colleague, SWARCO's Urban Systems Manager Andrea Newman, Richard Ling, Head of Parking and Traffic Management at Cambridgeshire County Council, and Peter Eccleson, Managing Director of smartmicro UK. Together they discuss how the industry's growing focus on collaboration is helping suppliers, local authorities and technology partners tackle common challenges and deliver better outcomes for road users. The panel examines the ongoing difficulties surrounding revenue funding, procurement regulations and asset renewal, while also highlighting opportunities created by emerging technologies. Richard Ling explains how authorities can make the case for investment by focusing on long-term savings, while Peter Eccleson argues that the sector must become quicker at embracing innovations that can improve network management and unlock the value of data. The discussion also explores how suppliers are responding to changing customer expectations. Derek McLean and Andrea Newman describe how SWARCO is working more closely with customers and partners to develop solutions that integrate with existing infrastructure, making it easier for authorities to adopt new technologies without major capital expenditure. Looking ahead, the conversation turns to artificial intelligence, data-driven decision making and the need for an industry-wide approach to innovation. Despite the challenges, all four guests strike an optimistic tone, arguing that stronger collaboration, open communication and a shared focus on solving customer problems are creating plenty of reasons to be positive about the future of highways and traffic management. Listen to the full episode now on Highways Voices. Highways Voices is brought to you with its podcast partners the Transport Technology Forum, LCRIG, ITS UK and ADEPT. (Picture L-R: Paul Hutton, Peter Eccleson, Richard Ling, Andrea Newman, Derek McLean, courtesy SWARCO)

Fuel Cell Systems powers first ever fuel cell installation on National Highways network. Fuel Cell Systems, a leading UK-based hydrogen refuelling and fuel cell engineering company, has supported SWARCO UK & Ireland Ltd to install the first fuel cell powered traffic management equipment on the National Highways network. The deployment of the low emission fuel cell technology eliminates the need for polluting forms of reliable off grid power and marks a significant step towards more sustainable transport infrastructure in the UK.

PTC3 traffic controller gets green light from Swarco. Based on the PTC1 series, new controller also features the same physical dimensions Swarco UK & Ireland has launched its PTC3 traffic controller series. Based on the PTC1 Controller, the PTC3 series is TOPAS 2500B-approved and fully compatible with existing configurations, the Austria-headquartered manufacturer says. It is designed to support new adaptive and AI-driven traffic management strategies, such as Swarco ImFlow and Smart AI, which will enable local authorities to use real-time intelligence and data to optimise city-wide traffic flows, rapidly respond to traffic incidents and future-proof their networks. "More than just a traffic controller, the PTC3, which is already being trialled by a number of local authorities throughout the UK, is a platform for the next generation of intelligent mobility," says John Pickworth, MD at Swarco UK & Ireland. "By pairing energy efficiency with data-driven control and resilient design, it empowers local authorities and operators to manage traffic more sustainably, efficiently and intelligently." The PTC3 has been designed with operational efficiency at its core, Swarco insist. The controller provides direct monitoring of ultra-low power LED units (down to 1W), reducing energy consumption, lowering operating costs and expanding equipment life. There is an optional uninterruptible power supply (UPS) to ensure continuous network operation - even during power outages. The PTC3 series also features Swarco's ITC-3 hardware platform, already deployed in more than 50 countries worldwide, and enhanced processing power to allow faster analytics, the firm says. Available in both small and large cabinets, the PTC3 Controller series features the same physical dimensions as the PTC1 series, which means upgrades do not require replacement of the controller plinth.