Field Test Amsterdam

Praktijk Proef Amsterdam (PPA) translates to Field or Practice Test Amsterdam.  It is a coordinated network-wide traffic management and ITS project that began in the Amsterdam region by the Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment in 2012 and will run through 2014, with final evaluation results to be

Expanding Amsterdam’s Metro: Helpful or Headache?

Amsterdam’s bicycle infrastructure and culture are frequently touted, but what about it’s other modes of transportation? Since the 1970’s, Amsterdam has enacted a number of polices to discourage car use in the central city. In conjunction with these polices, Amsterdam has built a large and multi-modal public transportation network. The network includes an extensive bus system, sixteen tram lines, passenger and bicycle ferries, and the Metro, which consists of rapid transit and light rail lines.

Amsterdam's Zuidas District

            The Zuidas city district is located just south of the historical center of Amsterdam, along the A-10 Ring Road.  Plans for the district originally began in 1997, and the area is not anticipated to be completed until 2040.  Zuidas literally means South Axis in Dutch, but it is also known as the “Financial Mile”.  The

Health Impacts of Transportation in Amsterdam

Over the past 30 years, Amsterdam’s transportation polices have focused on making bicycling and walking safer and more attractive.  Over 40% of trips in Amsterdam are now completed either by walking or cycling. The health benefits of active transportation have been well documented in numerous studies and, unsurprisingly, the Netherlands has one of the highest life expectancies in the world (80.2 years). While many factors affect life expectancy, the high proportion of the population that engages in active transportation on a daily basis is undoubtedly significant.

Amsterdam Smart City

            Amsterdam is a European leader in being ‘green’.  The city is ranked fifth overall on the European Green City Index, with a score of 83.03 out of 100.  It has been listed as a ‘Smart City’, and was named the 2013 World Smart Capital, but there is still room for improvement.  Amsterdam ranks low on reduced carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, so the city has set a goal of reducing CO2 emissions by 60% by 2025 based on their 1990 levels.

Congestion in Amsterdam

Amsterdam is currently one of the least congested major cities in Europe, but this was not always the case. A series of transportation policies beginning in the 1970’s were responsible for the dramatic decrease in automobile congestion and the rise of cycling as the primary mode of the transportation in the city.