What is the role of roadway design and traffic management on local PM2.5 concentrations?

Background

The reducing environmental impacts strategic priority is in recognition that there is an environmental aspect to all transport, and therefore almost all the work of DfT. Transport is the largest emitting sector of greenhouse gases in the UK, contributing 27% of domestic emissions in 2019. Our transport system must change to deliver the government’s Net Zero ambition and DfT will drive forwards that change through our longer-term green transport agenda. On decarbonisation specifically, we published our Transport decarbonisation plan (TDP) in July 2021, which sets out the steps we will take to deliver the necessary carbon reductions across every form of transport. Sustainability will be at the heart of levelling-up. People everywhere will feel the benefits – villages, towns, cities, and countryside will be cleaner, greener, healthier and more prosperous and pleasant environments in which to live and work

Next steps

Get in touch with bridgetoresearch@dft.gov.uk

Source

This question was published as part of the set of ARIs in this document:

DFT-Areas of research interest 2023 GOV UK

Related UKRI funded projects


  • Tool to assess air quality impacts of elevated roads within the Strategic Road Network

    Highways England is working towards developing the Strategic Road Network (SRN) to have minimal air pollution impact on neighbouring communities. The ADMS-Roads air quality modelling software tool is key to this goal bec...

    Funded by: Innovate UK

    Lead research organisation: CAMBRIDGE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH CONSULTANTS LIMITED

    Why might this be relevant?

    The project provides a tool to assess air quality impacts of roadway design and traffic management, which can answer the question fully and the authors have the necessary expertise.

  • Network Emissions/Vehicle Flow Management Adjustment (NEVFMA)

    In the last 5 years, air quality has become a key consideration for the UK government agenda, as illustrated by the increasing number of Low Emission Zones (LEZ), Ultra Low Emission Zones (ULEZ, including the first ULEZ ...

    Funded by: Innovate UK

    Lead research organisation: AIMSUN LIMITED

    Why might this be relevant?

    The project focuses on network emissions and vehicle flow management adjustment, which partially answers the question and the authors have the necessary expertise.

  • Integrated Research Observation System for Clean Air (OSCA)

    "Poor air quality is the largest environmental risk to Public Health in the UK" (DEFRA, 2017) and is consequently a focus of a range of regional and national policy interventions. However, since our transport s...

    Funded by: UKRI

    Lead research organisation: Imperial College London

    Why might this be relevant?

    The project is not directly related to roadway design and traffic management, but the authors have the necessary expertise.

  • Integrated Research Observation System for Clean Air (OSCA)

    "Poor air quality is the largest environmental risk to Public Health in the UK" (DEFRA, 2017) and is consequently a focus of a range of regional and national policy interventions. However, since our transport s...

    Funded by: UKRI

    Lead research organisation: UK CENTRE FOR ECOLOGY & HYDROLOGY

  • Dyanmic Air Quality Management with Variable Mandatory Speed Limitation

    This project aims to improve air quality in local communities by dynamically changing the speed limit on Highways England’s Strategic Road Network (SRN). This proposal uses existing smart motorway infrastructure, allowin...

    Funded by: Innovate UK

    Lead research organisation: AMEY OW LIMITED

  • Simplifai Integrated Corridor Management - Air Quality

    The UK Government 2019 Clean Air Strategy sets out plans to replace petrol and diesel vehicles over the next 20 years. Until then, the UK needs a transitional approach to reduce the significant health problem (100 premat...

    Funded by: Innovate UK

    Lead research organisation: SIMPLIFAI SYSTEMS LIMITED

  • Biotecture Active Airflow Living Wall

    Title: Biotecture Active Air Living Wall The project will investigate the feasibility and develop an innovative technology which directly addresses Air Quality in a Highways environment. Biotecture have developed (patent...

    Funded by: Innovate UK

    Lead research organisation: BIOTECTURE LIMITED

  • Live Visualization of Emission - Towards Informed Avoidance of Pollution Hotspot (LiVE-TAP)

    "**MAIN DEFINITION** **School-Run-Routes:** Streets commonly used by pupils and accompanying adults as routes to primary schools **SUMMARY** Poor-air-quality is the largest environmental-risk to public-health in ...

    Funded by: Innovate UK

    Lead research organisation: EARTHSENSE SYSTEMS LIMITED

  • Quantifying the health and climate impacts of vehicle particulate emissions

    Particulate matter (PM) is a key atmospheric pollutant regulated at the national and international levels. PM arises from solid and liquid particles directly blown into the air and from gases that condense into droplets....

    Funded by: NERC

    Lead research organisation: University of York

  • TRAFFIC POLLUTION AND HEALTH IN LONDON

    While it has been recognised for some time that small particles from vehicle exhausts and other traffic related pollutants cause a range of health effects, policy within the UK and Europe has not directly targeted these....

    Funded by: NERC

    Lead research organisation: Imperial College London