The paper explains the inadequacy of the current United Kingdom's Department of Transport cost-benefit analysis methods in the assessment of benefits to the Community, and also the inadequacy of their environmental assessment method which is purely qualitative. It shows that the lack of a quantitative method of assessment results in worthy schemes being rejected. To recognise the Government policy to remove traffic from towns and villages, the need is established for a quantitative method of assessment of environmental benefits to the Community. The theory is expressed, based on obvious evidence, that benefits do accrue from the building of motorways and bypasses, such as enhanced land and property values. Research and discussions over a period of years are related which indicate ways of confirming that these benefits exist and of quantifying them with sufficient accuracy to enable them to be used in the cost-benefit analysis which will then more accurately reflect the worth of schemes, both to travellers and communities. Ways and means will be suggested of using this same analysis to recoup some of the expenditure on highways from those who directly benefit.
Samenvatting