This paper recommends the development of trans-European motorways. These routes will cross at least one national border and will carry a high percentage of medium and long distance journeys. A network of trans-national motorways should be transposed onto the European scene. The year 2020 is seen as a target date for completing this in order to allow development of the economy in Eastern European countries. The network must be organised on an analysis of European territorial development, and should reinforce existing national road networks. Such roads would attract a high level of demand from cross-border journeys, externally registered vehicles and tourist traffic. Technological breakthroughs should be taken into account to use `smart' motorways and vehicles. One aim is to serve large urban centres and freight areas, but the motorways should also provide links to consumer zones, tourist and environmentally sensitive areas and other transport modal interchanges.
Abstract