Long-Term Urban Transportation Planning Methodology in France: A Review

An outline of the general principles underlying urban transportation planning in France is given here. Also reviewed is the methodology used when carrying out long-term transportation studies. There is an attempt in France to co-ordinate transport and land-use planning through a process of continuing dialogue between those responsible for urban planning. This reliance on individuals' intuitions distinguishes the approach from the more conventional exercises which attempt to model the interaction between land use and transport. The approach followed uses simplified techniques for travel forecasting purposes. This allows for alternative transport plans to be considered quickly and cheaply at the expense of using travel demand models lacking a sound behavioural base