RTA Associates launches the enhanced RTA OrderPro

Tell us about RTA Associates - where you came from and how the business has evolved

Peter: My background is in bridge engineering and I moved into traffic management in 1995 while working for Salford Council. This developed into me becoming a parking specialist in the private sector, because there was a clear need for assistance to enable adoption of decriminalised parking in the UK. Through my work, I realised there had to be a better, more reliable way to manage Traffic Regulation Orders in what was already a very complex area.

RTA Associates was established in 1991 by Norman Downie, who was a real pioneer in digital traffic regulation orders (DTRO), I joined in 2001, with RTA starting the mapping of DTROs in 2002 and Annette and I bought the company in 2010. Over time, we have gained vast experience in mapping, surveying, legal compliance and digital delivery. We both have a local authority background. We’ve taken Norman’s legacy forward by moving the work online and making it practical for authorities to use at scale.

We knew that local authorities needed a more joined-up way to keep expansive datasets current and usable and COVID provided us with the time to develop and beta test OrderPro.

Annette: I’d add that the business has evolved from hands-on specialist support into a much broader managed service. We now help authorities not only create the DTRO data, but maintain it, publish it and keep it legally robust, which is a very different proposition from a traditional consultancy. We’ve also expanded our support, so it works for both small and large authorities, because one size definitely does not fit all. The enhanced latest version of OrderPro, with its modular approach, reflects that evolution.

Why are DTROs important, and how do they help local authorities comply with legislation?

Peter: DTROs matter because they turn legal traffic restrictions into something visual, accurate and easier to maintain. If the legal order, the map and the on-street reality do not match, then enforcement is exposed to challenge, and that is a serious risk for highway authorities.

Digital orders also support the move toward connected transport systems for automated vehicles, including the DfT’s DTRO Hub, which is why getting the data right now is so important. In practical terms, DTROs help authorities comply by making the legal position clearer, more auditable and easier to update when things change.

The Automated Vehicles Act 2024 means that local authorities in England will need to add all DTROs to the Hub. Although not mandated, Scotland is progressing with map based data and in Wales virtually every local authority already has map based data.

Annette: Digitalisation reduces dependence on paper records. Many authorities still have filing cabinets full of Orders, a good proportion of which don’t match what’s on the ground, and that makes compliance and enforcement much harder. DTROs gives Parking, Highways and Enforcement teams one source of truth, which is much more robust from a legal and operational perspective.

Talk us through the enhanced RTA OrderPro - how it is different, what it offers module by module, and how it will benefit local authorities

Peter: The enhanced OrderPro is built around the existing central OrderPro platform, with new modules which can be added, according to need. The central idea is flexibility: authorities do not have to buy a huge system they will only partly use, because they can pick the modules that suit their workflow. The key benefit is that everything is integrated, so consultation, surveying, maintenance and public access all feed into and out of the same live system. We’ve designed it to improve accuracy, reduce duplication and save time streamlining the whole process.

Annette: The modules include RTA ConsultPro for public consultations and stakeholder engagement, RTA SurveyPro for site surveys and GIS data collection, RTA MaintainPro for on-site reporting and remedial workflow, DTRO Public Portals for public access and self-service, DTRO Conversion Tool for taking GIS data from established Corporate GIS systems into DfT’s DTRO hub, Partner API to transfer DTROs into other corporate system (e.g. asset management, planning systems). DTROs can also be converted for use in other systems including camera vehicles. Finally, there is RTA TempPro for managing and visualising Temporary TROs (TTROs) (available from Autumn 2026).

We are very grateful to the "Conwy Supporting Local Business Key Fund” grant we received (RTA provided the match funding) to help us develop many of the new modules, the Partner API and our new website.

How do DTROs support enforcement companies like Excel?

Peter: They support enforcement by ensuring the underlying legal data is correct - if the Order is wrong, unclear or out of date, enforcement can fail under challenge. With a well-managed DTRO system, enforcement teams are working in real time from current, authoritative information, which makes their work more reliable and more defensible. That helps companies like Excel because it reduces disputes, improves confidence and supports smooth operational delivery.

Annette: It also helps because it joins everyone up internally. The service is provided on an unlimited user basis, so traffic engineers, parking teams and civil enforcement officers can all see the same live data, rather than working from different versions or different assumptions. In our experience, it really does help teams work together better.

How does OrderPro support members of the public?

Peter: The public benefit from clearer restrictions, better transparency and fewer misunderstandings. A resident or driver can access accurate information about where restrictions apply using the public portal, which can reduce the number of appeals and FOI requests.

Annette: It is not just about enforcement or back-office efficiency. When restrictions are mapped correctly, they are easier for people to understand, especially if they are visual learners. That is important for all sorts of users, from motorists to residents to contractors. It makes the whole system more open, accessible and usable.

What are your plans for the future?

Peter: We want to keep developing the platform, keep improving the modules and keep supporting authorities as the regulatory landscape changes. The demand for digitised, legally robust traffic data is only going to grow, especially as more systems rely on accurate machine-readable information. We are also looking at how the service can continue to evolve across the UK and support different authority structures, including those who want to map the data themselves and add that into OrderPro. My focus is on making sure the system stays practical, scalable and genuinely helpful for the people who have to use it every day.

Annette: And I’d just say we are very proud of what has been achieved so far, especially with the help of partners and clients who have beta-tested and shaped the product with us.

Peter was also given the “Outstanding Contribution to Parking in Wales” award at the Parking & Transport Wales conference on 17 June 2026, which was a brilliant recognition of everything he has done for the sector, including his time as a BPA Past President and his ongoing work as BPA Chair of Parking & Transport Wales since 2009.

That award means a great deal because it reflects the work behind the scenes as much as the public-facing success. We are excited about what comes next.

Thank you

Thank you both for taking part in this interview and we wish you the very best with the launch of the enhanced RTA OrderPro solution.

If you would like to find out more, you can visit the RTA Associates website.