With current hindsight; learning from evaluation (Dutch)
Infrastructure projects usually cost many millions of euros. Consequently, to arrive at the correct decisions, comprehensive research is conducted prior to starting a project. However, once a project is completed, very little post-project evaluation is undertaken.
This report is available in Dutch
Post-project research is important for validating a project, but such research is also a crucial learning moment for future projects. The Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency (PBL) and the KiM Netherlands Institute for Transport Policy Analysis advocate to not only to comprehensive preliminary research (ex-ante) but also follow-up research (ex-post) in order to arrive at better estimates of the expected effects of subsequent projects.
This is a key conclusion of the ‘With current hindsight; learning from evaluation’ study, in which PBL and KiM explain what in practice can be learned from ex-post evaluations. The study involved the use of a case study – the A5 Westrandweg Extension. Since late 2003, this highway, situated near Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, has served to connect the A4 at Hoofddorp with A9 at Zwanenburg. The A5 was extended as a solution to accessibility problems in the region.