It is with great sadness that Highways reports on the passing of Professor Harold John Wootton CBE, a man described by all as a 'pioneering figure in transport planning'.
Professor Wootton's sparkling career left its mark on many key elements and institutions across the sector.
As well as being a past president of the Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation (CIHT), he was also a trustee of the Rees Jeffreys Road Fund, the Rees Jeffreys Professor of Transport Planning at the University of Southampton and played a key role in founding ITS UK.
Professor Wootton was instrumental in the development of cost-benefit analysis computer programming and in the successful privatisation of the Transport Research Laboratory (TRL).
In 1971, he co-founded Wootton Jeffreys Consultants (WJC). The company became a leading consultancy in transport modelling, telematics and policy studies and under his leadership, developed innovative software systems such as TRAMP and MINITRAMP.
It also introduced the UK’s first ramp metering trials and undertook digital mapping projects for the Automobile Association and the American Automobile Association.
In 1991, he became chief executive of the Government’s Transport and Road Research Laboratory (TRRL), where he oversaw its transformation into TRL, a non-profit owned by the Transport Research Foundation.
Professor Wootton also served as a trustee with the Rees Jeffreys Road Fund for 10 years between 2000 and 2010 and sat on the panel deciding MSc Bursary awards.
A public notice from his family stated: 'For his family, he was a much loved husband, father, grandfather, brother and uncle who will always be remembered. For many more, around the world, he was a long standing friend, colleague and mentor. He was an expert in transport and transportation and even up to this year was providing advice and support on transport research and policy.
'Throughout his life, he was a wonderful sportsman, playing cricket for many years and golf with many of his friends and family. As a family we would like to thank all his friends, former colleagues and professional institutions for their kind words, messages and condolences, it has brought much comfort to us all.'
The CIHT said he would be 'remembered for his warmth, generosity and encouragement of young talent'.
It added: 'A prolific author, John published influential papers on transport futures, motorway history and policy development, often collaborating with leading academics. His 1998 CIHT presidential address, ‘The trends are not our destiny. We shape our future!’, reflected his belief in proactive, evidence-based transport planning.'
In a post on social media, the Rees Jeffreys Road Fund said: 'John’s pioneering professional work undoubtedly led to advances in the application of technology to transport, but his vision and aspirations also positively touched the lives of individual transport professionals.'
Professor Harold John Wootton passed away on 20 July 2025 at the age of 88.
