A new round of planning of finland's main road network began in summer 1989 with the publication of the report "developing the main highway network in finland--a basis for reassessment". The aim of the planning work was to redefine the length of the main road network and to provide new quality standards for the main roads. An effort has been made to carry out the planning work for the main highway network in a completely new way. The planning work is based in its entirety on an open, interactive, participative planning process that recognizes local conditions and needs. The work has been carried out open to public inspection. The planning process has aimed to reduce the conflicts between professional planning and its clients. The planning of development actions aims at correct timing of projects, in awide area over a sufficiently long time span. The plan includes comprehensive investigations of effects. The plan is dynamic. It is easy to revise if the starting assumptions change. Thus a durable basisfor decision making has been obtained. The choices can be made on an informed basis. The planning of the main road network was extendedin the beginning of 1990 to include all public roads. The planning of road 2010 was begun because of the main road network and because the whole financing of road maintenance and its various priorities are interlinked to a considerable extent. The road 2010 report will be published in summer 1991. The plan includes a new draft proposal for the main highway network. The plan will then be sent to be dealt with by the ministry of transport and communications. The process isa continuous one. This paper appears in transportation research record no. 1305, Finance, planning, programming, economic analysis, andland development 1991.
Samenvatting