This paper focuses on the problems of providing a satisfactory appraisal methodology to evaluate road improvements in congested urban areas. The problems are presented in the light of the U.K.'s department of Transport's methods of road scheme appraisal with particular emphasis on the economic evaluation of user benefits. The current forecasting models predict that, with high economic growth, road traffic could grow by 142 percent by 2025. The combination of high growth and severe congestion at current levels of traffic has given rise to concern over the ability of the present network to cope with the forecasted traffic and the effect additional road capacity might have on travellers behavior. Japanese Ministry of Construction and OECD/Road Transport Research Programme held the seminar on "future road transport systems and infrastructures in urban areas" in Chiba, Japan on 4th - 6th june 1991 sponsored by the Japanese organizing committee.
Abstract