This paper presents the state-of-the-art and the challenges in the field of IA and transport infrastructure development. We discuss experiences and practices to enhance the field.
Impact Assessment (IA) and transport infrastructure are closely related. Transport infrastructure plans/projects have been subject to IA from its start. As infrastructure proposals are fundamental to socio-economic development but also are highly contested because of their social and environmental impacts. Also, transport infrastructure planning has influenced IA practice. Moreover, IA for transport infrastructure provides opportunities to link up with future challenges (renewable energy, social inclusiveness, defence). To address these future challenges, we need to shift from traditionally dominant project-oriented management (focusing on solving bottlenecks and congestion) towards more (adaptive) strategic process/program-management, addressing multi-modality, integrated infrastructure and spatial development, visioning and collaborative planning.
Building upon earlier research, this paper sets the scene of the session called Transport Infrastructure and Impact Assessment – Past and Future Avenues? To this end we are taking stock of the state-of-the-art in the field, focusing on the multiplicity of transport infrastructure (scale, time, sectors, stakeholders, governance) and the issue of addressing future challenges, including renewal of aging infrastructures.
Charlotta Faith-Ell is Associate professor in Sustainable Built Environment at the Department of Natural Science, Design and Sustainable Development at Mid Sweden University.