Transport policy making and SEA in Liverpool, Amsterdam and Berlin—1997 and 2002

The paper evaluates transport policy making and strategic environmental assessment (SEA) practice in the city regions of Liverpool (Merseyside), Amsterdam (Regional Body of Amsterdam, ROA) and Berlin at two points in time; 2002 and 1997. By 2002, all three examined regions had abolished either 1997 policy-SEA practice or the intention to conduct policy-SEA. Furthermore, between 1997 and 2002, the three regions had been moving away from a possible ‘window of opportunity’ to formalise policy-SEA. Finally, transport policies in 2002 were found to be less strategic and more project-oriented than those in 1997.