|
STEDENBAAN INDEX
Index |
updated
13 October 2005 |
|
 Joost Schrijnen has to help with the solution of a problem: the most densely-populated section of the Dutch coast needs better transport and more housing. The Stedenbaan concept ( steden = cities; baan = line) is an innovative combined solution. For the time being, it is still on the drawing board. Joost Schrijnen's job is to make the plans reality.
He is both a professor and a manager in the field ofUrban design. At the Technical University of Delft, he teaches development planning, and he is the director of Space and Mobility with the provincial authority of South Holland. 'The Stedenbaan is an exceptionally innovative concept involving one of the most complex assignments facing the provincial authority. |
|
The problem
The Netherlands is a small country with 16 million inhabitants, and it is therefore one of the most densely-populated countries in the world. The highest concentration of people and industry is to be found in the coastal region. The agglomeration of the cities of Amsterdam, Rotterdam and The Hague is known as the Randstad. The building density is already high, but there is still demand for even more housing and services. And for better transport. Anybody who wants to tackle these problems comes up across numerous government authorities that all have their own responsibilities within this small area. So a single approach to the entire Randstad urban agglomeration is not feasible. But there is now a concrete concept for the southern section (from Leiden to Dordrecht).
|
The stages
The project was established a few years ago by a number of committed administrators and enthusiastic civil servants. In the early days, they deliberately concentrated more on the quality of the idea, rather than on feasibility. The whole thing started as an idea for public transport services, with the link to urbanisation being made later. Since then, broad support has been established from the government authorities that are directly involved and from the railways, and a project organisation has started work. Currently, all sorts of feasibility studies are being conducted.
|
|
The idea
A special idea has taken shape for the southern section of the Randstad urban agglomeration. The construction of a new high-speed rail link to Paris released extra capacity on the existing railway network. The 'Stedenbaan' plan uses that capacity for a high-frequency train service. The number of stations will be increased considerably and housing and offices will be built in and around the stations. In this way, the Stedenbaan kills two birds with one stone, providing more housing and better transport.
|
Steering
The Stedenbaan was launched without any project organisation. Although this undoubtedly helped in the free development of the idea, it also resulted in a deficit that had to be made up later. The number of parties involved is very large indeed. The railways are a case apart. In the Netherlands, the state owns the track and a private company with nationwide operations owns the trains. There is an unusual problem with respect to steering because the Stedenbaan is a regional concept on national tracks with national trains.
|
The ReUrbA method
ReUrbA has been involved with the project since 2004. The Stedenbaan uses the ReUrbA method intensively, calling on the principles of the Lifestyle Approach, Governance, Creative Densification and Value-Oriented Planning.
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
News
ReUrbA²
Partners
Projects
Method
Library