About the Pan Regional Transport Model
Leicestershire County Council’s Pan Regional Transport Model (PRTM) is a bespoke computer-based transport model that provides consistent travel forecast evidence to the transport planning process across the Midlands. It has been built using current industry best practice based on Government (Department for Transport’s, DfT) Transport Appraisal Guidance (TAG) and engagement/consultation with relevant stakeholders such as National Highways (NH) and the Local Planning Authorities (LPA’s).
The PRTM is an expansion of the authority’s previous integrated transport model (Leicestershire and Leicestershire Integrated Transport Model, LLITM) developed by industry leading transport and land-use consultants, and remains one of the most advanced transport models in the country with multiple aspects of its production being adopted by TAG as the industry standard.
The processes and methodology adopted in the development of matrices in the model had been the basis of numerous European Transport Conference papers and ultimately underpinned the drafting of the DfT’s matrix building guidance (TAG Unit M2.2).
The PRTM is comprised of:
- A planning input module, to derive forecast total travel demand
- A bespoke TAG compliant variable demand model
- Highway, Public Transport and Active mode supply models
- Environmental model components
These can be run together or independently depending on the work being undertaken. From a current 2023, post-Covid, model base year the PRTM can provide forecasts for any year between 2023 and 2061 using the latest planning data, infrastructure, and economic assumptions.
Compliance and integration
The model continues to be TAG compliant and is integrated with a comprehensive air pollution dispersion model, RapidAir, which can assess air pollution for all pollutants – including CO2 – across the County of Leicestershire, as well as the whole PRTM study area down to link level and by road type. Also added to the modelling suite is a newly developed Carbon Tool for early high-level scenario testing and sifting of decarbonisation policies and strategies either in a stand-alone mode or fed with PRTM output data.
The model aligns with National Highway’s Midlands Regional Transport Model and, as part of its latest update, has been extended and enhanced to incorporate the East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA) area within its detailed modelled area. There is currently a live update to further enhance the PRTM to include Rutland and south Lincolnshire, expected to be ready in summer 2027.
In support of the Midlands Engine’s growth ambitions, the model offers the capability to support the development of key strategic transport schemes across the Midlands such as its use for the East Midland Freeport Project’s business case. The PRTM offers opportunities to work collaboratively to support regionally significant objectives, providing a comprehensive and integrated one-stop modelling suite for assessing the potential capacity for growth in the region to support the Government’s current Levelling Up Policy.
The Pan Regional Transport Model includes:
- The largest geographical coverage of any single Midlands transport model
- 24 Highway Authorities
- 73 Local Planning Authorities (pre-devolution)
- 2,499 Zones, 41,500 links
- Alignment with National Highways Regional Transport Models
- Opportunities to expand or enhance to align with its user’s needs
- A bespoke 24-hour tour-based Variable Demand Model
- Parking Model
- Capability to model Park ad Ride sites, road pricing, Clean Air Zone, and other similar schemes
- Functionality to model Transformational Transport Technologies – Autonomous Vehicles and Connected Autonomous Vehicles
- A Comprehensive and integrated Air Quality Emission and Dispersion Model
- A newly developed Carbon Tool for early policy sifting and scenario testing
What the PRTM is used for
The PRTM is used to forecast the impact of changes in transport policy, land-use and infrastructure on travel decisions, the environment, and the economy. Over the next 30 years, tens of thousands more houses and jobs will be created across the county to meet the demands of a growing population and economy.
The location of these developments will affect travel patterns within their local areas, potentially extending further than originally envisaged, the PRTM can help in providing a robust and auditable evidence base to mitigate these impacts to the transport network.
Typical applications of the PRTM include:
- Major scheme bids to Central Government
- Informing regional and local transport and land-use policies/strategies
- Development control
- Environmental impact of changes in land-use and/or transport infrastructure
- Scheme development and design
- Provision of supporting transport evidence for business cases
- Used for the development of the planning process including Core Strategies, Local Plans, Strategic Growth Plans, Local Transport Plans
- Local and strategic transport-related environmental plans, carbon and air quality assessments.
Contact details
The PRTM can only be commissioned via the Network Data and Intelligence Team. For more information on accessing the PRTM, please contact:
Laura Good (Modelling Services and Commissioning Framework Manager)
Phone: 0116 305 8223
Email: etcf@leics.gov.uk
