The strategic foundation of transport infrastructure projects

When developing infrastructure, public debate is often dominated by the opposition. Frequently, the conflict escalates when a project is already planned or the construction has already started. One potential way for tackling these problems is to improve the strategic foundation of transport infrastructure projects. Strategic environmental assessment (SEA) is one instrument for showing that a transport infrastructure projects is never an end in itself, but is essential to accomplish objectives from different policy fields. Taking the example of the SEA for the Airport link, this paper shows the importance of a broad evaluation framework for assessing infrastructure projects on a strategic level. This way, opinion leaders can be convinced of the plan or programme respectively of a possible follow-up project and can act as advocators. Strengthening the role of SEA as a strategic planning instrument can increase the quality of plans and programmes and subsequently of planning projects and disburden environmental impact assessment.