The Dutch government currently invests a large amount in large public transport infrastructure projects. Therefore, it decides on the application procedures and the information that is needed. For instance, the use of 'THOMPIOV' is urged on. It forces the applicant to collect all the relevant information and to see it in connection. Regional authorities can make considered choices for their project. Central government's representatives can make mutual comparisons between different projects. THOMPIOV contains the THOM and PIOV tools, and a manual for project application. The latter contains indications for the so-called Multi Year Programme on Infrastructure and Transport (MIT) procedure and for the project analysis. THOM brings qualitative and quantitative information systematically together to determine the most suitable public transport technique in a concrete situation, and PIOV helps to find priorities between different infrastructure projects. Both THOM and PIOV use a cost-benefit and a multicriteria analysis. The effects that appear in a situation in which a certain project is realised in comparison to a situation in which the project is not realised, are the central concern for both tools. THOMPIOV is now used in the dialogue between national and regional governments about applications for public transport infrastructure projects. But in future, when regional authorities themselves are responsible for the development of new public transport infrastructure, the tools will be very useful for themselves. (A)
Abstract