Who Should Pay for Traffic Signals ?
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AREPORT, with recommendations, issued by the traffic sub-committee of the Metropolitan Boroughs Standing Joint Committee states that representatives of the Joint Committee. the London and Home Counties Traffic Advisory Committee and the Ministry of Transport have met informally to discuss the following points in connection with traffic-control signals :
(1) Responsibility for erecting signals. (2) Maintenance of the signals and arrangements for dealing promptly with temporary, defects: (3) Adjustment of signal timing to meet varying conditions of traffic. (4) Financial arrangements between the Ministry and borough councils.
It was urged on behalf of the borough B24 councils that the entire cost of the erection and maintenance of the signals should be a charge upon the Road Fund. The representatives were informed, however, that it was the general practice throughout the country for signals to be installed by the local highways authorities, and, in every case _outside London, the municipality bore 40 per cent. of the cost, the Ministry contriButing the remainder.
The chairman of the Traffic Advisory Committee (Sir Henry P. Maybury) stated that, in his view, it was desirable that the borough councils should be responsible for everything upon the highways maintainable by them.
It was suggested that a number of signs should be installed directing light
traffic to routes alternative to the main roads used by heavy traffic. The Minister desired to know whether the Metropolitan Borough Councils would be prepared to co-operate with his department in providing and maintaining the necessary equipment, on the same basis as other traffic signs.
The Joint Committee is strongly of the opinion that the Metropolitan borough councils, as highways authorities, should have control of all signs, etc., placed upon the public roads under their jurisdiction, as contemplated by Section 48 of the Read Traffic Act. The Joint Committee further considers it reasonable to expect the Metropolitan borough councils to fall into line with the provincial local authorities.