EU involvement in TEN development: network effects and European value added

The recent White Paper emphasises once more that the Trans-European transport network (TEN) is a key element in European Union (EU) policy, yet that its realisation is jeopardised by the lack of an integrated approach during evaluation and funding of cross-border infrastructure. Despite the intervention of the EU in conceptualising the TEN, subsidiarity and continued use of conventional evaluation procedures mean that most assessment of individual TEN components is still undertaken in relatively narrow, national terms. The primary objective of this paper is to explore how the international character of the TEN may be recognised and incorporated in still predominantly national evaluation processes, and which evaluation horizons may be broadened based on the concepts of network effects and European value added (EVA). We present some examples of EVA and discuss EU involvement in projects with potentially high EVA, either by co-ordinating bilateral negotiations for compensation between Member States or by co-financing projects that support the achievement of strategic EU transport policy objectives.     

The uses of cost–benefit analysis in public transportation decision-making in France

Cost–benefit analysis (CBA) is a tool used to evaluate the potential socio-economic impact of public investment choices. In many countries, particularly in France, this tool is used to support decision-making related to transportation infrastructure. In the context of difficult budgetary arbitrations, taking the multiple effects of the different choices into account makes choosing among transport infrastructure investments a two-fold problem. On the one hand, public decision-makers have limited resources that they must use in the best way possible. On the other hand, when choosing among alternative investment projects, the decision-makers reveal their priorities (based on the importance they assign to the different projects), and these priorities must be perceived as legitimate. Based on a case study of how French institutions use the CBA method, this paper examines how the use of cost–benefit analysis interacts with the use of public debate and stakeholder participation in France today. This French case illustrates the difficulty of striking the right balance between the expert knowledge produced by CBA methods and the knowledge produced by the participation of various stakeholders in the decision-making process.     

Network effects and total economic impact in transport appraisal

It is sometimes claimed that transport infrastructure projects have network effects, which are not taken into account in the appraisal of these projects. This paper reviews the concept of network effects, relates this to transport appraisal practice, and links to the concept of ‘total economic impact’. The limitations of transport modelling and appraisal in estimating total economic impact are reviewed. Good quality appraisals should be capable of picking up relevant network effects in the transport market, but the state of the art remains limited on the linkages between transport and the wider economy.     

A game theory approach to urban public transport integration policy

A game theoretic conceptual framework model is presented to highlight strategies undertaken by individual public transport operators, public or private, vis-à-vis operational integration strategies. The Nash equilibrium is used to identify possible outcomes in various market situations. These are compared with reported case studies. The model, as a strategy-guiding tool, may be used to assist transport policy decision-makers concerned with public transport integration in identifying the most cost-effective form of intervention and its timely implementation.     

Are wider economic impacts of transport infrastructures always beneficial? Impacts of the Istanbul Metro on the generation of spatio-economic inequalities

Assessment of the Wider Economic Impacts (WEIs) of transport infrastructures has become crucial for justifying transport infrastructure investments, especially large-scale projects, not only for transport researchers but also for policy makers. Although the WEIs have been widely discussed in transport research and policy for more than a decade, these discussions lacked an important dimension: the likelihood of transport infrastructure investments to produce spatio-economic inequalities. This paper discusses the necessity of incorporating an understanding of spatio-economic inequalities in the analysis of WEIs. In order to do that, an ex-post analysis of the Istanbul Metro is carried out. In this sense, this paper also adds to the growing number of ex-post analysis of transport infrastructures. Through its findings based on the ex-post analysis of the impacts of the Istanbul Metro, this paper concludes that contemplating spatio-economic inequalities in ex-ante analysis of transport infrastructure investments will improve the calculation of WEIs of transport infrastructures. Such an approach is expected to help policy makers investing in projects that are less likely to produce spatio-economic inequalities.     

Critical factors for implementing a programme for international MICE professionals: a hybrid MCDM model combining DEMATEL and ANP

The study was performed to identify critical factors driving the implementation of an English-medium instruction programme for the training of international professionals to serve in the MICE industry. A hybrid multiple criteria decision-making model, termed the decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL)-based analytic network process (ANP), was used to prioritize the complexity of influential factors interwoven in the process of implementing the programme. The DEMATEL-based ANP employed by the study can be extended to evaluate priority factors critical to the implementation of similar programmes in other tertiary settings, as it will formulate a set of procedural guideline for implementers to systematically improve and sustain the implementation effort. Results of the study will lead to a number of practical, managerial, methodological and research implications.     

Bridges across borders: A clustering approach to support EU regional policy

We present a methodology to analyse high resolution population and transport data in order to assess cross-border connectivity within the European Union. Transport infrastructure can strongly influence cross-border interactions as well as regional, urban or local development. The analysis is carried out using a policy perspective, with network efficiency as the main indicator of accessibility. The aim is to allow the quantification of the quality of cross-border road connections and the identification of areas where infrastructure improvements can lead to higher benefits. We propose a machine learning approach that combines cell level route assignment and k-means clustering at a fine −1 square km- population grid. The outputs cover all internal EU land borders and consist of sets of spatial clusters that meet user-defined policy criteria. The results can be used as input for investment decisions and can be easily combined with other policy support tools for tailored multi-criteria analysis.     

Transport infrastructure investment,accessibility change and firm productivity: Evidence from the Seoul region

This study explores how and to what extent transport infrastructure investment affects the level of agglomeration and consequently impacts on firm productivity, using transport network data and micro-data for manufacturing firms in the Seoul region. A first-difference model with novel instrument variables is developed to obtain more precise results than those in previous studies, and the partial arbitrariness that exists in previous studies is reduced by using the estimated spatial-decay parameter. An accessibility indicator derived from a multi-modal travel model is also applied to increase the accuracy in the measurement of agglomeration. It is found that an increase in the degree to which transport infrastructure investment improves the level of agglomeration raises firm productivity, with a best estimated elasticity of 0.0452. The finding highlights the key role of transport infrastructure investment in strengthening the level of agglomeration and the resulting economic advantages for production and economic actors. It is suggested that a policy for transport projects be implemented to maximise their cost effectiveness and ensure that agglomeration is promoted in the area where they are developed.     

Searching for policy priorities in the formulation of a freight transport strategy: a canonical correlation analysis of freight industry attitudes

An efficient and effective freight transport strategy can be aided by early professional contributions from key stakeholders. One broad group who have historically been given limited opportunity to influence the drafting of a freight strategy, are commercial road users and shippers who manufacture and distribute goods. Utilising a data set collected in Australia in 1996 from a sample of organisations involved directly and indirectly in road freight transportation, views were sought on road infrastructure changes, new road infrastructure, non-road infrastructure needs and transport policies. An optimal scaling approach using non-linear canonical correlation is implemented to search for structural relationships between the underlying policy and infrastructure dimensions and the various industry categories. This framework provides a powerful mechanism for identifying differences among stakeholders in terms of their support for or opposition to specific policies. Results reveal the considerable differences in attitudes associated with the component parts of the freight industry.     

Policy transfer and learning in the field of transport: A review of concepts and evidence

This paper presents a state-of-art review of why and how policies and policy lessons in the transport planning arena are transferred between cities. It begins by drawing on literature from the fields of political science, public administration, organisational learning and management to outline a conceptual framework for policy transfer and learning. This framework is then used to structure a review of policy transfer literature in the fields of transport and planning policy. Although there is only a limited amount of literature on policy transfer in this field, the findings suggest that transport has much in common with other areas of public policy in terms of the main aspects and influences on policy transfer. As well as being part of a process for introducing new ideas into countries or cities, policy transfer in the transport sector (as in other areas of public policy) can also be a highly politicised process that seeks to justify preferred solutions. Little is known about the relative importance of different parts of the transfer process or the extent to which learning about policies in other areas can influence the effectiveness of policy design in the transport arena and/or policy outcomes. The paper concludes with some research and methodological recommendations that may help to answer these questions. It is suggested that policy transfer concepts can be important to both practitioners and researchers in the transport arena, particularly given the pressures to seek solutions to accelerate progress to a more sustainable future.     

Phased implementation of transport pricing for Greater Oslo

We apply a modelling framework, RETRO, based on the land use and transport models for determination of implementation paths for marginal social cost pricing of passenger transport in Greater Oslo. Marginal social cost pricing strategies are assessed through welfare maximisation with respect to the transport instruments that are available. We have constructed implementation paths unconstrained and constrained with regard to acceptable levels of transport instruments, financial situation and equity. The implementation paths are evaluated relative to a base-case situation with continuation of today's pricing policy. The evaluation includes a discussion of the effects on land use and transport indicators.     

Multinational hotel development in developing countries: an exploratory analysis of critical policy issues

Multinational hotel companies, often integrated with tour operators, travel agencies and other businesses in tourist‐generating or tourist‐receiving countries, play a key role in the development and continuity of an international tourism industry in developing countries. In order to take advantage of benefits and minimise the unwanted adverse effects from multinational hotel involvement, developing countries need the planning, implementation and evaluation of carefully designed policies linked to their particular objectives. This paper reviews the potential benefits and costs of multinational hotel companies and brings together previously scattered critical policy issues in relation to them, while suggesting possible options for developing countries to follow. Seven critical policy areas are identified: establishment of the need for foreign investment; deciding on forms of involvement; deciding on the scale of hotel development; supporting sectoral linkages; supporting indigenous employment/training; monitoring business practices; and determining foreign investment incentives and regulations. It is argued that policies should be worked out in these areas and co‐ordinated in order to achieve a balance between the benefits and costs of multinational hotel involvement in developing countries. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

显性差异特征的铁路客运产品谱系设计研究

长期以来,我国铁路客运产品谱系化特征不明显,在铁路网规模扩大、运营场景复杂的背景下,越来越难以适应日益增长和复杂的旅客异质性出行需求。在阐述国外铁路客运产品谱系化特征和做法的基础上,分析我国铁路客运产品分类的适应性,以及新时代背景下铁路客运产品实现谱系化的紧迫性和必要性;基于我国铁路设施设备条件、经营管理方式和列车开行特点,借鉴国外成熟经验,提出以“车-流”匹配效益最优为目标的客运产品谱系化设计思路和谱系结构框架,对巨量复杂需求用有限品类列车分类匹配运输资源、服务水平、客流组织、行车组织等内容,对推动铁路客运产品从“弱差异化”谱系特征向“显性差异”谱系特征转变具有重要意义。     

Norway's urban toll rings: Evolving towards congestion charging?

The role of various types of road user tolls has been an important part of Norwegian transport development for a number of years. There are now around 50 such projects in operation around the country. This paper examines the urban toll ring projects and presents results from new research into the schemes in Norway's three largest cities: Oslo, Bergen and Trondheim. The research indicates that key decisions are being debated as to whether the schemes will continue as toll rings, be stopped completely or transformed into more of a demand management style policy. Interviews with road and local authorities have shown that the feelings are mixed and that the decision will depend on various transport, social, organisational and political factors.This paper reviews the cases of Bergen, Oslo and Trondheim and documents the latest developments in each scheme. The theory behind the application of the toll rings is explored through the case studies. Despite all the projects being implemented by similar networks, each scheme developed its own individual characteristics. These are laid alongside the economic and transport benefits with which they have been associated. The Strategic Policy Niche Management framework is used to analyse various aspects of the toll projects and identify key lessons. The effect these might have on future UK projects is also discussed.     

Walk-to-transit demand estimation methods applied at the parcel level to improve pedestrian infrastructure investment

Public transportation is a critical component of cities' transportation system that can be supported by a safe, complete, and connected pedestrian infrastructure. Agencies spend millions of dollars each year to improve transit ridership, yet many of the transit destinations do not have adequate pedestrian infrastructure to connect to the transit stops creating a substantial barrier to growing demand. This is particularly true in suburban areas. This paper presents a replicable methodology for estimating relative parcel-level transit demand such that analysts can conduct fine-grained evaluation and prioritization of the pedestrian network enhancements as they relate to public transit system. To this end, pedestrian infrastructure can boost transit ridership and enhance riders' safety. We rely on spatial data available in most cities coupled with land use and socioeconomic data to generate potential relative number of walk-to-transit trips for each parcel and weight the occupied road segments based on the results from mode choice and gravity models. Using this GIS-based tool, we identify road segments that have a higher potential in serving as a walking path to transit stops and prioritize gaps in existing sidewalk infrastructure. This result eliminates arbitrary sidewalk investment scoring programs and the reliance on transit walksheds to direct investment. We apply this method to a case study of the city of Knoxville and discuss the challenges and possible solutions. This approach can help city planners and engineers in data-oriented investment strategic management of sidewalk enhancement programs that support transit.     

Hot or not? The role of cycling in ASEAN megacities: Case studies of Bangkok and Manila

The Association of the Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) recognizes the role of nonmotorized transport for sustainable urban development in its policy framework. National and local policymakers in Thailand and The Philippines, two tropical countries without a tradition of urban cycling, are increasingly paying attention to cycling as well. This article aims to assess the current situation and progress in cycling, using Bangkok and Metropolitan Manila as case study cities, and to describe the necessary conditions for advancing the significance of cycling in tropical megacities. This is done by operationalizing the so-called Technological Innovation Systems (TIS) framework, which has been used in transition studies since 2008, however, never for cycling. As such this article also “tests” this framework for its application in sustainable transportation. The two case studies are characterized with regards to the current role of cycling in the mobility system, its infrastructure, governance system, and existing research on the potential and barriers. We find that TIS can readily be applied to our cases, with the analysis showing that elements such as knowledge development, actor networks, e-bike adoption, infrastructure, resource mobilization and legitimation are not well developed; on the other hand, flat terrain, attention for cycling for health and environment, heavy congestion, expansion of public transport, growing bike industry, active university communities, and the emergence of advocacy coalitions, could open up opportunities for increasing its modal share.     

Transport accounts—methodological concepts and empirical results

Although economic theory suggests social marginal cost pricing as the optimal pricing principle for transport infrastructure charging, information on the total (or average) social costs of transport and on the revenues from taxes and charges are important for pricing policy, for example for monitoring purposes and for the design of second-best prices. This paper provides empirical evidence on the total social costs and revenues for road, rail and air transport, covering all EU countries and Switzerland. It discusses methodologies to estimate the social costs of transport for all modes, focussing on practical experience with applying advanced methodological approaches both in the light of data quality and availability, and regarding the feasibility of conducting this type of research on a routine basis for transport policy.     

A freight transport optimization model for integrated network,service, and policy design

This paper presents a freight transport optimization model that simultaneously incorporates multimodal infrastructure, hub-based service network structures, and the various design objectives of multiple actors. The model has been calibrated and validated using real-life data from the case study of hinterland container transport of the Netherlands, where CO₂ pricing, terminal network configuration, and hub-service networks are chosen as the design measures. Policy packages combining multiple types of policies show better network performance as compared with the optimal performance resulting from a single policy type. This illustrates the value of incorporating multiple types of policies simultaneously in freight transport optimization.     

Maximizing the value for money of PPP arrangements through flexibility: An application to airports

The economic crisis in most developed countries is fostering the search for new models for infrastructure planning and management. There is great uncertainty surrounding these investments and, therefore, it is necessary to capture the latent value from infrastructure projects. The principle is that the project should have the necessary flexibility to adapt to future changes, i.e., at the design stage it is necessary to incorporate flexible options that would allow the infrastructure and/or the service to be adapted to changes.This paper focuses on contextualizing this concept as well as characterizing real options and identifying different areas of application to showcase the broad range of the different fields that make use of this tool. Moreover, the case study which regards a large infrastructure – an airport – will allow quantifying the economic value of some options supported in real options theory.