STRATEGIC DECISIONS IN ROAD PLANNING: AN EVALUATION OF 16 INITIAL STUDIES IN SWEDEN

The initial study is the first step at the project level in Swedish road planning. Decisions taken at a strategic level in road planning, shall be evaluated in the initial study. The aim of the initial study in this context, is to safeguard that the prerequisites for each individual road project are properly considered. Possibilities to solve the identified problems in the road traffic system without road construction, e.g. railroad measures or traffic rerouting, shall be evaluated in the initial study. An assessment of the consequences derived if no further measures are taken to solve the problem, must also be included. In this study, the aim is to evaluate how the choice of main measure (road construction or other) has been made in connection with the initial study. It shall also be examined whether environmental consideration has been taken at the choice of main measure. Obstacles or possibilities to strengthen the environmental consideration in the realisation of the chosen measure, are also to be identified. In this study, 16 road projects in Sweden have been examined. Interviews have been conducted with project managers and planning documents have been studied. A general result of the study is that decisions on the strategic planning level have directed the treatment of alternative main measures in the initial study. However, several examples of how the initial study has been able to reduce the extent of the main measure in order to increase environmental consideration, have been identified. (A)