Johan Visser

Infrastructure policy in the Randstad Holland: struggle between accessibility and sustainability

Abstract This contribution examines the background of infrastructure policy in the Randstad Holland. In national government policy there is a strong focus on the improvement of the international accessibility of the Randstad as well as on the reduction of environmental pollution caused by road traffic. As part of the improvement of the international accessibility a number of policy issues are being developed. They concern the expansion plans of Amsterdam-Schiphol Airport, the high-speed railway line Amsterdam-Paris, the harbour plans of the Rotterdam local authorities, the freight railway line Rotterdam-Germany and new highway cross-river connections in the Randstad. In these plans environmental and economic interests are at odds with each other. As a result the implementation of infrastructure policy is complicated and slowed down. A more balanced infrastructure policy is advocated that relies less one-sidedly on accessibility considerations, and which pays more attention to environmental criteria.

Evaluation of Potential Successful Innovative Freight Transport Options

Abstract The central question is: Which innovative freight transport options might be implemented successfully? A first conclusion is that most innovations do posses a strong technical component and are indeed technology driven, which is a key success factor. A second conclusion is that, besides the product characteristics (technical part), the user-requirements (customer part) are also important in order to realize successful market introduction. A third conclusion is that innovations that aim for gradual improvements of current modes (incremental development) seem most promising.

Technolgical innovations in transport: an implementation strategy for underground freight transport

The impact of transport on the environment is a major issue of worldwide concern. This important new book presents state-of-the-art contributions on spatial and technological aspects of transport in relation to environmental degradation, together with analysis of sustainable transport policy.