Speech given by Minister Cramer on 3 December 2008 during the railway zone development conference in Utrecht. The redevelopment of outdated railway station zones can inject a tremendous amount of life into what are sometimes run-down areas, usually characterised by the inefficient use of space. Their location in city centres makes them ideal for housing, shops or other convenient services, including police stations, schools or outpatient clinics.
However, there are problems to overcome. The redevelopment of inner city locations is often quite challenging and expensive. Area residents experience a tremendous amount of inconvenience, and the connections with and accessibility of these locations is often less than optimal. In addition, additional safety and environmental requirements apply due to their location in the centre of town. This includes such issues as noise nuisance and additional fine particle emissions.
For the complete speech click here.