The interplay between infrastructural development and transport policy measures requires comprehensive assessment methodologies to guide decision-making processes. Existing methodologies often fall short of encompassing the multifaceted nature of transport systems, the variety of stakeholder interests, and the broader social and environmental impacts. This chapter introduces the Assessment Method for Policy Options (AMPO), a framework designed to address this complexity by integrating cost-benefit analysis (CBA) and multi-criteria analysis (MCA) while promoting stakeholder engagement.

The background to this initiative stems from an identified gap within existing transport policy assessment frameworks. Traditional methods such as CBA, while methodologically sound, often overlook the socio-political dimensions inherent in infrastructure development and maintenance. Moreover, the dynamic nature of societal needs and environmental considerations calls for a more adaptive and inclusive approach to transport planning and assessment. In response to these challenges, the AMPO emerges as a comprehensive tool that aims not only to bridge the gap between quantitative and qualitative analysis but also to harmonise the myriad perspectives and objectives of stakeholders.

This chapter defines the structure and application of the AMPO and highlights its potential as a tool for transport policy and infrastructure planning. The sections in this chapter are methodically structured to provide insights into the AMPO. Section 5.2 describes the scope and other aspects of the AMPO and provides clarity on its application and relevance. Section 5.3 explains the ten steps of the AMPO and provides a detailed guide to its implementation. Section 5.4 presents a case study that demonstrates the practical application and effectiveness of the AMPO in a real-life scenario. Section 5.5 introduces the AMPO tool, a digital tool designed to facilitate the application of the AMPO framework. Finally, Section 5.6 provides a synthesis of the findings and provides recommendations for the future application of the AMPO to ensure its continuous development and relevance for transport policy and infrastructure development.@en

In Europe, different road authorities have to face the ever increasing pressure to integrate their road network service provision with - often conflicting - different trends and conditions such as congestion, climate change, individualism, urbanization, safety, environmental issues and economic growth. There is also a need to cooperate with different stakeholders, such as interest groups, municipalities, industries, citizens and governments at different levels. Therefore, road authorities are seeking for innovative approaches to collaborate with these stakeholders concerning spatial and infrastructure planning. To assess the integrated spatial and infrastructure development, the Dutch National Road Authority Rijkswaterstaat has developed a method that analyses the added value of integrated designs and plans to clarify the societal relevance of collaborative planning. The method is a combined approach for multi-modal infrastructure and spatial development, called the ‘Assessment Method for Spatial Planning and Infrastructure Development’ (AMSPID). In ten steps the method uniformly and integrally takes into account different kinds of measures, including those which impacts cannot be monetized or quantified. AMSPID comprises an assessment tool which is combined with a digital workshop. With the tool and the workshop all stakeholders can share their view on the different infrastructure or spatial projects or measures and can give their scores on the different relevant aspects. This makes it a valuable addition to the normal planning process and it speeds up the policy making process. Furthermore, when used carefully, the combination is very powerful in drafting new policy measures or creating a new transport policy program.@en

To assess transport policy measures and putting together packages of measures for implementation, various methods and tools are available in the Netherlands. These methods comprise approaches to achieve packages of transport policy measures at a regional level and which are supported by the stakeholders. The best-known methods in the Netherlands are: 1.) The Sustainable Traffic Management method (GGB). This nine-step method can be used to compose packages of traffic management measures at a regional level, involving all relevant stakeholders. 2.) The Accessibility Solutions method. This is a quick scan method, to reach a consensus on a package of solutions for regional accessibility that contains both demand and supply-oriented measures. 3.) The Assistance for Cost-Effectiveness Analysis (KEA). This is a guide which shows how regional projects can be developed, balanced and optimised. Cost-effectiveness is an important criterion for deciding on the package of measures. 4.) The Toekan methodology. This methodology is meant to plan accessibility measures for temporary projects, such as (major) roadworks. In line with these methods, there are several other studies available that focus on optimising packages of transport policy measures. They are mostly related to one specific policy topic (traffic flow, safety or sustainability) or one specific type of measure (demand management, capacity management). There are also several studies on effects, ratios and cost-effectiveness of measures implemented and available. An overview of the effects of Dutch implementations of traffic management measures is given by Taale and Schuurman [2015]. The existing methods all have their own purpose and function to assess policy packages of measures or individual measures. However, there is a lack of a unified, integrated and comprehensive method to determine the cost-efficiency or to make a (social) cost-benefit analysis for such packages or measures. Currently, on one hand the integration of the different policy objectives and the different types of measures is missing, while on the other hand the uniformity of definitions, data (key figures and costs) and calculation methods is lacking. This chapter tries to fill this gap and describes an integrated and uniform approach, called the Assessment method for demand and traffic management (AMDTM).@en