The last hundred years can be divided to three periods, two stable and one unstable. With the energy crisis a new unstable period has started. This has a major influence in transportation planning. However, the efforts to find solutions for the problems of today traffic and to the problems of near future must continue. There is large variation in the forecasts for next 20-30 years. These forecasts are needed when planning major transportation facilities. The lifespan of roads and railways is hundreds of years, which must be considered, in planning.
Abstract