The ex-post assessment of transport infrastructure investment projects

Abstract

The assessment of transport investment projects is a very difficult process using different methods involving various aspects to determine economic benefit for transport sector and the society. The implementation of projects to optimally, qualitatively and effectively use financial support of the EU is a very important issue. The support refers to economic utility evaluating the efficiency of projects. Due to the necessary determination of direct and indirect influence of separate factors it is very difficult to evaluate the financial impact on national economy and transport sector. For this purpose the indicators providing a numeric expression of the determined development goals have to be chosen. In other words, due to efficiency indicators the progress comparing basic situation with achievement of formed goals has to be assessed. There is a problem whether expressions of indicators forecasted during the preparation of projects are achieved after the implementation of projects. For this reason project monitoring is carried out. The present practice shows that project monitoring composed of technical-economic monitoring and ex-post assessment (final evaluation) is a basic mean to determine and compare changes of indicators and forecasts after the implementation of projects. The goal of this article is to analyze the process of ex-post assessment of projects including general practice of project monitoring, the comparison of changes of key factors and aspects, and the determination of basic impacts and possible long-term effects of the projects.