1. Transportation in Amsterdam Final Presentation

2. The Randstad

3. Ring City Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague, Utrecht

4. Amsterdam

5. Government Planning Structure Local and Regional Cooperation Elements  Stadsregio Amsterdam  Regio Randstad  Physical Planning Dept. (Amsterdam)

6. Stadsregio Amsterdam City Region of Amsterdam Partnership between 16 cities in the Amsterdam region Coordinate planning in the areas of spatial development, transportation, economic affairs and housing affairs

7. Stadsregio Amsterdam Regional Agenda 2006-2010  Accessibility  Quality of Life  Economic Development  Comprised of policies relating to: Road safety and traffic Public transportation Bicycle traffic

8. Stadsregio Amsterdam Coordinates with private transportation companies and determines their jurisdictions.  Randstad wide transportation policy coordination Responsible for the allocation of transportation funding to the participating municipalities

9. Regio Randstad Since 2002 Cooperation between  North Holland  South Holland  Utrecht  Flevoland

10. Regio Randstad Cluster Development Plans “A cluster can be defined as a geographically proximate group of interconnected companies and associated institutions in a particular field, linked by commonalities and complementarities. Another, more pragmatic definition of a cluster is an economic network of strongly interdependent firms, knowledge-producing agents and (demanding) customers, linked to each other in a value-adding production chain.”  http://www.regio-randstad.nl/actueel/uploads/Report_Total_v12_final_RR.pdf http://www.regio-randstad.nl/actueel/uploads/Report_Total_v12_final_RR.pdf Clusters = Zoning

11. Randstad Cluster Theory Competitive approach to economic development Clusters develop, nation develops economically Access is the issue

12. Access Factors  Researchers compared Amsterdam with the Rhine- Ruhr area in Germany, Flemish Rhombus in Belgium, and Stockholm in Sweden Factors ranked in terms of  External Accessibility (train)  Internal Accessibility (bus, tram) Regional Accessibility

13. Results  Internal Accessibility Amsterdam ranked second highest  External Accessibility Amsterdam ranked last  Problem: Price level of transit  Solution: Government needs to loosen legislation preventing innovative improvements and take a more pro-active approach  Possibly implement a Randstad wide high speed train system

14. Physical Planning Dept. Amsterdam city planning department  Has its own museum! The department is so well funded that it has its own sophisticated museum in a converted church building Expose the public to the planning process and its importance  Evidence of how important planning is to the Dutch

15. Transportation Infrastructure Bicycles  700,000+ Trams, Buses The Metro  Good regional public transit, dense suburban rail service  Central Station: major hub of activity and originator of train and tram routes Cars  Urban use is discouraged High parking fees, urban use permits Possible future pollution tax and vehicle specific parking fees Freeways do not enter Amsterdam Canals  Water taxis, more use in the past Schiphol International Airport  Ranked Best European Airport for 15 straight years

16. Strippenkaart Nationwide mass transit ticket with several strips that are validated when used Number of strips cancelled depends on number of zones traveled through Can be confusing Very similar to the system used in Stockholm, Sweden

17. Other Transit Tickets Sterabonnement  “Season Ticket” of public transit Zomerzwerfkaart  “Summer Roaming Card” OV-Chipkaart  Smart Card  Introduced in 2005, will replace the Strippenkaart by 2009

18. Principles of Effective Transportation Use broadly defined goals embracing economic, social and environmental outcomes Plan for desired outcomes, not continuation of past trends Develop solutions maximizing access, not mobility Give priority treatment to the cheaper, cleaner, more efficient mode of travel Provide choices through a diversity of modes to meet different needs and suit different contexts

19. Do they do it? Does it work? Use broadly defined goals embracing economic, social and environmental outcomes  YES  Ex. Stadsregio Randstad and Regio Randstad Region wide planning and coordination. Transportation issues are considered along with economic and social issues, their interdependency and effects

20. Do they do it? Does it work? Plan for desired outcomes, not continuation of past trends  YES  Major regional planning and cooperation Region is planned rather than allowed to grow on its own or “sprawl” Increased future car discouragement  Shows a desire to decrease urban car traffic even further

21. Do they do it? Does it work? Develop solutions maximizing access, not mobility  YES Dense urban layout Diverse modes, pedestrian/bicycle friendly streets Great local public transportation Cluster Theory/Development  NO Regional Public Transportation could be better  Ranked low in a recent study  For cluster design to work regional transportation must improve

22. Do they do it? Does it work? Avg. Commuting time in the Netherlands

23. Do they do it? Does it work? Give priority treatment to the cheaper, cleaner, more efficient mode of travel and Provide choices through a diversity of modes to meet different needs and suit different contexts  YES Car use is actively discouraged within Amsterdam Buses and Trams are well used Huge Bicycle use, infrastructure  700,000+ bikes  400+ km bicycle paths

24. Do they do it? Does it work? Give priority treatment to the cheaper, cleaner, more efficient mode of travel and Provide choices through a diversity of modes to meet different needs and suit different contexts  Mode Split in Selected European Cities (ADONIS, 1998)

25. Conclusion For the most part it seems that transportation planning in Amsterdam and the surrounding region lives up to the principles of effective transportation planning. While the transportation system is not perfect it seems to be one of the best in Europe and in the world:  It provides mode choice and cheap, clean transportation alternatives  Local public transportation infrastructure is strong and well used  Streets are pedestrian friendly and urban car use is discouraged  Planning is done with an eye toward regional coordination and a consideration of the interdependency of transportation with economic, social and environmental factors