This paper introduces the basic concepts of communicative action that needs to be incorporated in the education and training of engineers and planners, to equip them to deal effectively with citizen participation. It is recommended that in the changed context in which transportation engineers and planners will have to operate, it is essential that they go beyond just technical interests and be competent to cope with the social economic, and political dimensions of planning, through an understanding of the rudiments of communicative action. A blend of all three rationalities and interests (technical, communicative, and emancipatory) will have to form part of the day-to-day vocabulary and knowledge-base of future planners in view of the importance of public participation in the transportation planning process. An appropriate graduate course on this topic is outlined. (A)
Samenvatting