Network Infrastructure and the Urban Environment: Introduction and Summary

Transportation and communications networks together with the built environment constitute a major share of a society’s infrastructure. The amount of investment in this area in any country, particularly in developed countries, is immense. The impact of infrastructure on economic efficiency, productivity, and competitiveness, as well as on people’s welfare is also tremendous. But there is a negative side to this as well, especially to the expansion of transportation networks and the accompanying increased motorised mobility. Air emissions, the use of nonrenewable resources, accidents and congestion are a few examples of issues that have been raised in the growing public debate. Sustainability, apart from the fact that it is not easily defined, has become a key concept in transport policy forming. A proper understanding of the role of infrastructure for welfare—including positive and negative externalities—and economic growth will be a decisive factor for a successful urban and regional policy that can balance different objectives in an appropriate way.