The ERF presents its latest publication: Keeping Europe Moving — a Manifesto for the long-term, effective management of a safe and efficient European road network. Chronic underfinancing is leading to a severe deterioration of the quality of Europe’s road network and is threating one of Europe’s most important community assets. With a total of around 5 million km, the European Union’s road network represents a value of more than € 8 trillion that has been built over the last 50 years at considerable cost and great effort. Today we are experiencing a critical moment whereby a continuation of the status quo and immobility in the field of investments could lead to a permanent and irreversible loss of this important heritage. The risk of compromising in a short time this great resource is very high. To ensure the continued mobility of people and goods across Europe and avoid greater risks for accidents, congestion and noise, it is essential to preserve the road infrastructure and to improve its quality efficiently. With the Manifesto “Keeping Europe Moving” the ERF calls upon policy-makers in the European Union and its member states to implement a long-term, effective management for a safe and efficient European road network including the allocation of appropriate funds for regular road maintenance. Road Asset Management can achieve these goals by: * Establishing a complete inventory of all the road elements; * Providing a clear picture of the current condition of the road network; * Estimating the value of the asset and the costs of maintenance; * Setting up precise funding scenarios for the regular and timely maintenance and upgrade of the road asset; and * Assisting political decision-makers in selecting the most cost-effective programme for maintaining, improving and properly financing the road infrastructure. oad Asset Management enables to take political decisions based on the level of service expected and should be provided with the necessary funding to deliver it. Keeping Europe Moving — a Manifesto for the long-term, effective management of a safe and efficient European road network” has been issued within the framework of the ERF Road Asset Management working group. (Author/publisher)
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