The UK’s Department for Transport (DfT) has announced that the Commissioner of Transport for London (TfL), Mike Brown, has been appointed as the new chair of the Transport Infrastructure Efficiency Taskforce (TIET).
The taskforce is charged with implementing the Transport Infrastructure Efficiency Strategy (TIES), a collaboration between the DfT, TfL, HS2, Network Rail and Highways England (HE).
Simultaneously, the TIES partnership has published its one-year-on report that sets out its progress in three key areas:
- Improving understanding of costs and performance;
- Adopting modern methods of construction in infrastructure projects; and
- Enabling improved delivery, through developing long-term, collaborative relationships with supply chains.
The publication of the one-year-on report also coincides with the UK government’s Infrastructure and Projects Authority (IPA) publishing its ‘Best Practice in Benchmarking’ report, focused on ensuring infrastructure investment decisions are informed and transparent.
The Taskforce’s partners have already started adopting innovative technology to drive forward efficiency, including:
- Savings of approximately 20% in design and construction costs through HE’s standardized bridge design where these can be adopted in the program;
- Network Rail’s Modular Stations Program, delivering efficiency savings of 30% in the design process; and
- Savings in excess of £1m (US$1.3m) at Bank Station through the installation of real-time technology to enable efficient construction.
The Taskforce has also established a benchmarking forum and piloted tunneling assessment with the Infrastructure and Projects Authority; completed a review of cost planning capabilities; and committed to the roll-out of automated design, with potential saving of up to £1bn (US$1.3bn) in the period up to 2026/27.
“Bringing together some of the most important transport organizations in the UK provides an opportunity to improve transport infrastructure efficiency, support growth across the country and deliver better services for transport users,” noted Brown.
“I am looking forward to working with all of our partners in order to build on the great work we achieved in our first year, and to deliver further improvements for the industry as a whole.”
The DfT’s Permanent Secretary, Bernadette Kelly, said, “I am delighted to welcome Mike as chair of the TIET. His wealth of experience, with leading roles within London Underground and Heathrow Airport, will be invaluable in driving forward greater efficiency in the sector.
“The one-year-on report demonstrates the good progress the taskforce has made in its first year. I’m confident the collaboration will gain even more momentum under its new leadership.”
