Transitioning towards Area-Oriented Approaches in Transport Infrastructure Planning: An Analysis of European Best Practices

Investments in transport infrastructure severely impact the regions in which they are planned. These impacts can be both positive (e.g., connectivity, accessibility) and negative (e.g., environmental pollution). To advance more in-clusive and sustainable development of transport infrastructure, a variety of Eu-ropean studies were conducted about the potential of area-oriented planning ap-proaches in which infrastructure and spatial development are integrated. Alt-hough area-oriented approaches are promising, they are not standard practice. Barriers such as political dynamics, organizational structure and limited scope of mandate restrain National Road Authorities in becoming area partners. The suc-cesses of area-oriented projects are found in communicative and collaborative skills but are not fully developed to advance the transition to a new area-oriented planning regime. To accelerate the transition to area-oriented transport infrastruc-ture planning, a European agenda for further action is presented.