››› Session 6

Institutional and Legal Issues in Establishing Traffic Response Units in City of Brisbane

Brendan O`Keeffe   Principal, Travel Demand Management, Brisbane City Council

In early 2000 Brisbane City Council saw a need for traffic response units in the field to improve the Traffic Control Centres incident management procedures. Traffic Response Units are common practice tool used in incident management around the world. A number of options were assessed ranging from establishment and staffing completely with Council resources to total outsourcing. The latter was the option that was adopted due to its advantages in flexibility of staffing, experience, culture, and the minimisation of risk to Council in handling vehicles. The Brisbane road system is owned and managed by two different organisations, Brisbane City Council and the Department of Main Roads. As there are some roads close within the 8 kilometre radius of the CBD owned by DMR, it was logical to offer to DMR the advantages of this facility, so that a seamless service could be offered to the motoring public. Obstacles that needed to be overcome included different cultures and approaches to road management and different legislative frameworks. This paper explains how these obstacles were overcome to enable a satisfactory agreement to be made.