Assessment of Innovative Transport Concepts Using Cost Benefits Analyses: The Superbus case

Assessment of Innovative Transport Concepts Using Cost Benefits Analyses: The Superbus case

Melkert, J.
Van Wee, B.

Aerospace Engineering

Aerospace Design, Integration and Operations

2007-04-03

Since the year 2000 the Netherlands are using a new guideline for assessing the costs and benefits of transport systems. This guideline has been used several times now to assess transport systems using existing transport modes like trains. This paper reports on the first time this guideline was used to assess an innovative transport concept, the Superbus, a possible option to connect the North of the Netherlands to the Western urbanized part, the Randstad. The innovative character of the Superbus concept and the fact that it is under development made it difficult to assess this concept. In the assessment the costs of infrastructure, the demand driven logistics and the environmental aspects played an important role. The assessment caused major challenges with respect to the costs of infrastructure, the demand driven logistics and the environmental aspects. From the Cost and Benefit Analysis (CBA) performed it showed that in comparison with the other transport alternatives the Superbus has the lowest costs and the highest benefits. It is concluded that that is has been possible to assess the innovative Superbus concept by using the Dutch guideline for CBA assessments. The most important lessons learnt were the following: - It has been possible to assess the cost of infrastructure based on a combination of a toolbox of infrastructure elements, possible trajectories and adding costs for uncertainties. - Modelling the demand driven logistics has also been possible within the framework of the National Modelling System. - Environmental assessment of the concept has shown to be possible in this early stage of the development as well. - The assessment of the indirect benefits due to the innovative nature of the Superbus has not been possible - A CBA assumes a fully developed system. In case of an innovative system the end of the road towards maturity has not yet been reached. A CBA should be able to take this into account. An approach for this is presented. The authors conclude that in a future assessment of such an innovative concept, the assessment of the potential benefits of innovation, including factors determining success and failure, requires more research since they now have not been taken into account.

http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:c2187fd6-5185-4ea4-b76a-3b480a69dfea

Proceedings of the BIVEC-GIBET Transport Research Day, April 3rd, 2007, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

Institutional Repository

conference paper

(c) 2007 Melkert, J. ; Van Wee, B.