Public transport capacity in cities has reached its ceiling. For example, the current and planned capacity expansion of public transport in Amsterdam, Rotterdam and The Hague is not sufficient to accommodate the expected growth in the number of travelers. Currently, the number of travelers is growing here by approximately 5 percent per year, while the plans assume approximately 2 percent. 

As a result, the transport capacity and the public transport ceiling in these cities will already be reached between 2025-2030. The Mobility Alliance calls for a revision of our vision of the mobility system and calls for the development of an integrated mobility system with much more freedom of movement, flexibility and freedom of choice for use. 

According to recent figures from Statistics Netherlands, the Netherlands will have more than 2035 million inhabitants in 18, a million more than now. Growth is expected mainly in the (medium) large cities. In order to accommodate growth, there is an enormous housing task and the corresponding need for a robust public transport network that keeps the cities accessible and can handle the transport capacity. Both in and around the Randstad. For the time being, the planned investments are insufficient to accommodate the growth of travelers.

“The rapid growth in the number of travelers as a result of housing construction is clearly visible on the Randstad Rail route between The Hague, Rotterdam and Zoetermeer in 2007. Due to the housing construction around the route, adding additional stations and increasing the frequency, the number of travelers has increased from 29.000 thousand per day in recent years to 130.000 now ”.

High growth scenarios also characterize Amsterdam where, despite the construction of the North-South line and the increase in the number of ferry connections, there is already a public transport shortage in the North. The houses also fly out of the ground along the West ring road, making the need for investments in a better west / east connection very important.

The need is high and mobility must become one of the top three themes in the next elections. The Mobility Alliance advocates an integrated approach to our mobility problems in the Netherlands. To this end, it presented the Delta Plan for Mobility in June this year. 

A blueprint for our future mobility system that makes it possible for the user to be more flexible in travel and transport behavior. This creates more space and makes it easier to travel and transport. This requires 3 billion euros extra per year. This approach yields our society up to 18 billion euros per year in social value (including fewer traffic jams and delays and fewer traffic victims).

Also read: Censys BV offers solutions in mobility for 25 years