Cost benefit analysis of peri-urban land use policy - Plurel

Cost Benefit Analysis of Transport Infrastructure
Projects
Eda Ustaoglu and Brendan Williams
School of Geography, Planning and Environmental Policy, University College Dublin, Richview,
Clonskeagh Drive, Dublin 14, Ireland
Abstract
This paper explores the land transformation process and growth pattern emerging in the functional
urban regions of Europe with particular attention paid to growth impacts on peri-urban areas. The
process is considered in the light of the growth pattern of selected Plurel Regions which is analysed
based upon international economic and social statistical evidence. Provision of transport
infrastructure as a critical determinant of growth pathways will be examined.
In the last decade in particular the emergence of discontinuous patterns of development and rapidly
expanding functional urban areas has been observed in many developing city regions such as Dublin.
Evidence of contrasting trends have emerged with an urban regeneration driven return of
development to central areas of economically strong regions, and a concurrent significant dispersal
of housing and employment activities development in a sprawl type manner. In turn, in regions with
lower levels of economic growth a gradual dispersal of development into peri-urban areas has
occurred potentially weakening central core areas.
It is recognised that dispersed patterns have significant implications for the long-term regional
development patterns of Plurel Regions. Therefore, this paper will include empirical evidence on
development patterns emerging in Dublin and other regions, which it is expected will assist in
evaluating the effectiveness of policy measures. In addition the paper will focus on policy support
evaluation measures relating to the Cost Benefit Analysis (CBA) tool in assisting the evaluation of
new transport infrastructure proposals.
Keywords: Rural/Urban transportation-land use relationship; Rapid rail investments; Greater
Dublin Area; Cost-Benefit Analysis; Scenario Analysis; Plurel regions.
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