DEVELOPMENTS IN TRANSPORT POLICY: OBSERVATIONS ON THE NEW APPROACH TO THE APPRAISAL OF ROAD PROJECTS

This paper discusses some wider implications of the UK government's Guidance on the New Approach to Appraisal. That document states that the objective of the new approach is to develop "a clear and open framework to appraise and inform the prioritisation of trunk road investment proposals". It states that choices must be made between different solutions to the same problems, and that priorities between proposals must be set. The mechanism for deciding on road schemes should strive for five characteristics, but these criteria are partly conflicting. They must be seen in the broader context of a need for a mechanism to allocate resources between competing public spending programmes and decide the total amount of public spending. The New Approach to Appraisal (NATA) is a further development of cost-benefit analysis (COBA) and other approaches in response to the continuing evolution of public understanding and opinion. There is now debate about COBA's appropriate role in the NATA. To be useful, it must gain the acceptance of those who will have to be influenced by it; this requires several compromises. The paper also discusses multi-criteria analysis, 'double counting', the form of an appraisal summary, and future developments.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/oclc/856156
• Corporate Authors:

  LONDON SCHOOL OF ECONOMICS AND UNIVERSITY OF BATH

  UNIVERSITY OF BATH, CLAVERTON DOWN
  BATH,   United Kingdom  BA2 7AY
• Authors:
  • Glaister, S
• Publication Date: 1999-5

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: p. 227-33
• Serial:
  • Journal of Transport Economics and Policy
  • Volume: 33
  • Issue Number: 2
  • Publisher: University of Bath
  • ISSN: 0022-5258
  • Serial URL: http://www.jtep.com

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Arterial highways; Benefit cost analysis; Budgeting; Competition; Evaluation and assessment; Federal government; Information management; Information, data, and knowledge; Investments; Mathematical analysis; Methodology; Policy; Public participation; Road construction; Strategic planning
• Geographic Terms: United Kingdom
• ITRD Terms: 6471: Analysis (math); 257: Budget; 235: Competition; 226: Cost benefit analysis; 9020: Evaluation (assessment); 183: Government (national); 8555: Information documentation; 227: Investment; 2748: Main road; 9102: Method; 173: Policy; 141: Priority (gen); 142: Public participation; 3665: Road construction; 8119: United Kingdom
• Subject Areas: Data and Information Technology; Finance; Highways; Policy; Society;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00769907
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport Research Laboratory
• Files: ITRD
• Created Date: Oct 7 1999 12:00AM