Immediately after the determination of the track alignment of the South High-Speed Line in the Netherlands, people living in the neighbourhood were actively involved in the decision-making process about the fitting in of this track alignment, from a landscape and traffic point of view. The policymakers and designers now have the task to incorporate this involvement into the final decision on the track alignment. The involvement of citizens has had consequences: (1) for the project organization concerning the South High-Speed Line, for instance the involvement of designers and experts in working meetings with citizens concerned; and (2) with respect to content: citizens and designers are now involved in the decision-making process which used to be the area of competence of policy officials of the project organization. In an example it is shown how the original starting points for a design, concerning the fitting in of a part of the South High-Speed Line, can change, partly as a result of the citizens' suggestions.
Abstract