Book Review Van Geenhuizen, M., Reggiani, A. and Rietveld, P. (eds.) Policy Analysis of Transport Networks

Abstract

This book presents a selection of contributions from a series of meetings of the Network on European Communications and Transport Activities Research (NECTAR) cluster on networks. It is not meant as a book of proceedings, rather it brings together a coherent group of high quality contributions providing a picture of new important research challenges in the field of policy analysis and decision making. This book contributes to our understanding of the state of the art and new developments in policy making for transport networks and the regional impacts of network integration. It emphasizes the central role that evaluation, including cost-benefit analysis and other tools to evaluate policy, play as a decision support instrument. Attention is also given to tools that analyze the impacts of transport policies on accessibility and spatial integration as well as to the vulnerability of the transport network both due to terrorist threats and to natural disasters. The book reviews existing studies and advances in decision support tools in transport policy and in broader evaluation studies of network integration and regional development dealing, with important and challenging issues including the impact of transport projects on regional development, equity and social acceptability, and uncertainty and risk. Understanding of these various complexities in evaluation of transport is imperative for the design of plans and policies that can be used to optimize the efficiency, performance and safety of transportation systems.