The problem

Eurotunnel, the Baltic Sea Motorway, and the Iberian Electricity Network are examples of large infrastructure trans-European transport and energy networks. Some experts believe that current methods to evaluate the actual operation and likely future impacts of such networks could be significantly improved. There is a need to draw together the methods and experiences of several different countries, and create coordinated systems that can be presented in a single set of evaluation guidelines.

Overview:

EVA-TREN will appraise and further develop the evaluation methods used to assess large infrastructure projects in trans-European transport and energy networks.

The project will:

• Examine approaches used in a variety of countries to evaluate the impact of large infrastructure projects
• Select best practice approaches and check for critical problems and pitfalls
• Further develop appraisal methods and related decision-aid tools regarding large infrastructure transport and energy projects
• Tackle the issue of assessing the relative contribution of specific projects to core trans-European networks

Contribution to policy development:

• EVA-TREN will develop methods and tools to allow the Commission and Member States to meet their requirements for analysing large infrastructure projects in the transport and energy sectors.
• The project will provide the analytical basis needed to test some methodological hypotheses in evaluation systems.
• It will publish guidelines on evaluation methods for use by evaluators and policy-makers.

Project deliverables

• Workshop reports – January 2007 and December 2008
• Case studies of a range of evaluation methods – October 2007
• The EVA-TREN guidelines for ex post and ex ante evaluation methods – October 2008
• Final report, recommendations and plan for using and disseminating knowledge – December 2008

Dissemination

• EVA-TREN website and newsletter – July 2006
• Interaction and joint activities with other relevant projects such as the HEATCO project – from February 2007
• Communication with established focus groups of a variety of transport research organisations – as opportunities arise
• Publications in professional journals and presentations at international conferences – as appropriate
• Distribution of the EVA-TREN report, recommendations and guidelines – months 28-30

Technical information

Project acronym: EVA-TREN
Project’s official full title: Improved Decision-aid Methods and Tools to support Evaluation of Investment for Transport and Energy Networks in Europe
Research priority: Tools and indicators for assessing sustainable transport and energy systems performance
Specific webpage: http://www.eva-tren.eu
Proposal/contract no: 022734
Start date: 1 June 2006
Kick off meeting: 5 June 2006
Completion date: 30 November 2008
European Commission scientific officer: Frederik Rasmussen, Frederik.RASMUSSEN@ec.europa.eu

Coordinator:
Name: TRT Trasporti e Territorio
Abbreviated name: TRT
Address: Via Rutilia 10/8, 20141 Milano
Country: Italy
Tel: +39 02 57 41 03 80
Fax: +39 02 55 21 28 45
Website: http://www.trttrasportieterritorio.it

Partners

Name: Institute for Economic Policy Research, University of Karlsruhe
Abbreviated name: IWW
Country: Germany

Name: Fraunhofer- Institut for Systems and Innovation Research
Abbreviated name: Fraunhofer-ISI
Country: Germany

Name: Institute for Prospective Technological Studies
Abbreviated name: JRC-IPTS
Country: Spain

Name: Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Chaire Logistique, Economie, Management
Abbreviated name: EPFL-LEM
Country: Switzerland

Name: Centro Studi Industria Leggera
Abbreviated name: CSIL
Country: Italy

Name: Nouveaux Espaces de Transport en Europe (Application Recherche)
Abbreviated name: NESTEAR
Country: France

Name: Institute for Industrial Production, University of Karlsruhe
Abbreviated name: IIP
Country: Germany