Abstract
The use of quantitative and mathematical methods in transportation planning is discussed. The answer depends on what politicians and planners require from the planning process. In an open participatory process democratic paradigms are forcing the planners to reconsider their analytical tools. This article is an assessment on how well fit the cost-benefit analysis is an transportation planning where citizen participation is a central feature. Procedures are recommended for adjusting and supplementing the cost-benefit analysis to make it more easily accepted by the participating layman.