National Planning Models and Instruments

This paper focuses on the analysis and planning of multimodal, multiproduct transportation systems at the international, national, and regional levels, where the movements of several commodities through the transportation networks and services of several carriers are considered simultaneously. The main questions relate to the evolution of a given transportation system and its response to various modifications of its socio-economic, regulatory, and technological environment. These questions are often part of cost-benefit analyses and comparative studies of policy and investment alternatives with broad and significant impact, not only on the transportation system but also on the economy and society as a whole. Canadian researchers have contributed significantly to this field. They have not only developed models and methods to perform national planning activities, but also transferred these results to practice through decision-support software commercially distributed worldwide. This paper presents an overview of national planning issues together with the main methodological approaches proposed in the literature, reviews the contribution of Canadian researchers to the science and practice in this field, and examines current challenges and research trends.