Transport Infrastructure is a crucial part of the UK economy. It provides the networks and systems that support the day to day activities of other sectors of the economy and can effectively be a driver for economic growth. Transport infrastructure includes strategically important assets such as the national highway networks, local roads, ports, airports, the rail network and shipping (i.e., for moving people and freight around the country and overseas). The transport infrastructure sector is extensively regulated by government to: protect and maintain the infrastructure; ensure the modes can be integrated, maintain safety; and meet international standards. Transport infrastructure is vital to ensuring that the UK remains a competitive force in the global race. As such, it is vital it is managed as well as possible. The UK government through various infrastructure development strategies sets out a long term vision for transport infrastructure and provides a common direction for how to identify, prioritise, plan, fund, build and use all transport infrastructure. The Audit Commission has established that the processes for identification, prioritisation, planning, funding, building and use of transport infrastructure is ineffective and is fraught with inefficiencies. This, according to the Audit Commission is ultimately having and overall negative impact on the local and national economy.
The Audit Commission, on behalf of the UK government has asked you to write a report that:
Option 1:
a) discusses the generic process(es) of identification and prioritisation of transport infrastructure across the world [15%]
b) discusses the specific process(es) of identification and prioritisation of transport infrastructure applied in the UK [25%]
c) explains the limitations in the identification and prioritisation of transport infrastructure process in the UK [25%]
d) proposes a methodology for achieving and effective identification and prioritisation of transport infrastructure process [25%]
e) Structure, presentation, referencing [10%]
Notes:
The discussions in the report can consider any transport infrastructure sector may include: national highway network(s), local roads, ports, airports and the rail network, and shipping
To complete this exercise, you will need to consider some of the following issues in the report:
? Transport infrastructure planning process
? Predicting future demand for transport infrastructure
? Impact of transport infrastructure on the economy
? Cost benefit analysis
? Multi-criteria Analysis
? Policy
? Institutional framework
? Legal and regulatory issues
? Implementation process(framework)
? Investment analysis
? Sources and methods of infrastructure and/or investment and financing
This list is not exhaustive. You may consider other issues that you think will form part of the report.
Report Writing
The University Learning Development Centre (LDC) gives very sound advice on the writing and structuring or coursework in general and reports in particular and can be consulted.
http://www.gcu.ac.uk/ebe/ldc/supportforstudents/academicstudiessupport/academicwriting/
1. The report should NOT be an assembly of referenced material from which the reader may infer an answer. Referenced material should be used to reinforce or substantiate a point being made in the report. The explanations given should be explicit and focused on the case study problem. Material should be synthesised in the context of the case study and recommendations given.
2. Use bullet lists carefully. Do not end a section within the report or even the report itself with a bulleted list. Lists must always be rounded off with a sentence or paragraph summarising the final point of that section.
3. Every report should have a conclusion and every report of this nature should have recommendations. The client will be seeking assistance from the expert, understanding of specific Project finance issues.
4. Read over the report before submission.
5. Check your reports for no page numbers, obvious spelling mistakes and font changes (a classic sign of block copying).
6. Make sure you include your name, especially if one is submitting via email.
7. If appendices have been included then they should be referred to in the text. It is not for the reader to discover them and wonder at their relevance.
8. Do not list references that have not been referred to in the text. Do not give references in the text which are not referenced in the References.
9. All sections should be attempted
