SUP&R ITN outreach magazine SUP&R ITN features in FIRM magazine - Jun2014 | Page 7

TRA2014 FEHRL hosted a Forever Open Road Invited Session on Thursday 17th April, attended by 50 stakeholders, to discuss how the Forever Open Road concept responds to the challenges faced by road owners and users. The session included the participation of Thierry Goger (FEHRL SecretaryGeneral), Bob Collis (TRL), Joris Al (Rijkswaterstaat), Stefan Höller (BASt), Mohammed Hoseini (NPRA), Nicolas Hautière (IFSTTAR) and Stefan Deix (CLEPA). The session was divided into two parts, each one with a short introductory presentation followed by a panel discussion and questions from the audience. Thierry Goger gave an introduction to FEHRL and Bob Collis gave a background to the Forever Open Road, what has been achieved to date and the ongoing requirement to fill the research gaps and undertake demonstration projects. PART 1: IS THE FOREVER OPEN ROAD ADDRESSING THE NEEDS OF ROAD OWNERS? In his introductory presentation, Joris Al explained that the biggest problem faced by road owners is the maintenance deficit as even the newest of roads are often 40 years old. Other challenges include climate change, electric vehicles and interchanges between transport modes, all of which need to be related to the users. Easy and implementable solutions are most helpful, and working with industry is key. Joris also stated that the ERANET Plus Infravation Call 2014 has come about as a direct result of the Forever Open Road. FEHRL FOREVER OPEN ROAD SESSION GETS VITAL INPUT FIRST PANEL DISCUSSION Bob asked the panel “how can you build a 5th generation road when roads already exist?” Joris and Nicolas Hautière felt that due to a largely complete network and financial constraints, building new high-tech roads is unlikely, however the Forever Open Road provides technologies and tools for regeneration and modernisation programmes to make existing roads work better. PART 2: HOW DOES THE were important considerations. It was felt that the benefits and costs should be considered and procurement based on life cycle costs would be helpful. A key point raised was that there is a large cost to the economy already though lost productivity due to congestion, and hospital costs from accidents. The discussion and questions provided useful insights which will be developed by the Forever Open Road Experts Group (FOREX). FOREVER OPEN ROAD ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF ROAD USERS? Joris introduced the session, then Bob gave a presentation on road users, who include drivers, freight companies, cyclists and pedestrians, and others such as utilities companies who bury their services in the road. SECOND PANEL DISCUSSION Stefan Deix started by saying that the CLEPA represents OEMs whose vehicles are damaged by poor quality roads. Stefan Höller felt that the user wants to get from A to B as economically, quickly and comfortably as possible. The Forever Open Road provides opportunities to combat an ageing infrastructure and improve safety through technologies such as prefabrication. The audience and panel felt that journey time reliability and reliable information For more information, contact Bob Collis at [email protected] or see www.foreveropenroad.eu 7 I