The Office of Rail and Road has published details of how Highways England will be held to account for delivering more than £11 billion of investment in strategic roads over the next five years.
'Monitoring Highway England - the monitoring framework' sets out how ORR will monitor Highways England's performance in areas including making the strategic road network safer, minimising disruption from roadworks or incidents, and delivering better environmental outcomes. It also explains how ORR will hold Highways England to account for efficient delivery, for example of major improvement schemes.
The document sets out how ORR will carry out its highways monitoring function through expert analysis of performance data, strong engagement with stakeholders and transparent reporting and commentary on Highways England's progress.
'Monitoring Highways England' is the product of consultation with road users, the highways supply chain, government and wider stakeholders. ORR took on responsibility for monitoring Highways England's performance and delivery of the road investment strategy in April 2015.
Commenting on the publication of the framework, ORR's highways director, Peter Antolik, said: “Road users and taxpayers expect a high performing, value for money strategic road network. The framework sets out how ORR will hold Highways England to account for delivering its significant investment portfolio to improve our roads.
“Transparent, robust and expert analysis and challenge of Highways England's planning and delivery is essential in driving value for money improvements to the road network – and to realising benefits for drivers and other road users, and the wider economy.”
ORR has also confirmed the appointment of two further senior industry figures to its highways committee. Terry Hill and Garrett Emmerson join the committee alongside Professor Stephen Glaister, Emeritus Professor of Imperial College and former director of the RAC Foundation, and other ORR board members.
ORR will shortly be publishing its first assessment of Highways England's performance, looking at the progress the organisation has made in its first six months as a government-owned company, as well as its enforcement policy, which explains how Highways England will be held to account.
The full document and a list of all responses received can be found here.
