Impact assessment for infrastructure planning:

This article explores four dilemmas with respect to the role of impact assessment in Dutch infrastructure planning. The first dilemma concerns a difficult choice between a “top-down” and a “bottom-up” approach of infrastructure planning. The other three dilemmas relate to choices between strategic versus operational, reviewed versus unreviewed, and sectoral versus integral impact assessments. The article’s most important observation is the lack of fundamental strategic discussions, which leads to a lack of well-considered strategic impact assessments. To solve this shortcoming, a choice must be made between pursuing one integral assessment or several sectoral assessments. The outcome of this choice will direct how the other dilemmas can be solved. The challenge for planners is to search for approaches that (1) provide facts for fair and straight discussions as well as (2) increase public involvement in strategic decision-making.