Secondment Spotlight – James Drinkall

Meet James Drinkall, a Project Engineer on secondment to Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council (RMBC) from Waterman Aspen. James Drinkall is helping to make everyday journeys easier, safer and more reliable for residents, commuters and visitors alike.

Working alongside the RMBC team, James has been modernising traffic signal sites along the A631 corridor in Rotherham, work that’s quietly improving how vehicles flow through the borough. Funded by the Traffic Signals Obsolescence Grant (TSOG), the council was awarded £600,000 to improve local traffic signals infrastructure. James is focused on: fix what slows people down, reduce avoidable delays and make crossings safer for everyone. The result is a noticeable lift in day-to-day travel without the need for major roadworks.

To make that difference, older ‘press and wait’ crossings have been replaced with ‘demand responsive’ signals that adapt to how people walk, extending time when needed and signalling traffic to go as soon as the crossing is clear. In some locations, the system also recognises buses and cycles to help them through, so the signals feel more responsive for everyone.

Early monitoring reveals average journey times have been reduced by 4%, with smoother travel and lower energy use and carbon emissions. Those everyday gains add up, especially when incidents on the M1, M18 or A1 send traffic through Rotherham via diversions. It eases pressure on the wider network and supports safer, more reliable journeys across the borough and beyond.

Recognition beyond Rotherham

The scheme has attracted national recognition, with nominations at several high-profile industry awards, including:

• Better Mobility Through Technology at the ITS UK President’s Dinner & Awards 2025
• Best Use of Technology in the Highways & Transportation Sector, Collaborative Partnership, and Transport Technology Innovation at the LCRIG DfT Special Recognition Awards 2025.

What’s next

As James continues in his secondment at RMBC, his focus remains on refining peak-time performance, using journey-time data to target hotspots and trialling new technologies. With the upgraded route providing a strong foundation, these innovations are set to deliver benefits well into the future. James is committed to ensuring the project continues to provide lasting benefits while also helping to inspire the future of transport in other boroughs across the UK.

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