Economic and social effects of transport development

Expenditures for the development of transport are very high, and their share in overall state spending is significant. The rationale for the decision- making in the field of transport policy, including investments in infrastructure are the positive effects of economic and social character. Identification of these effects is not an easy task. Furthermore, the development of transport is determined not only by the development of infrastructure but also by the same transport service, which also lies in the field of transport policy (collective passenger transport). As for the need to take into account the social effects of transport development there are at least two reasons for doing so: firstly, transport has a significant impact on the quality of life (both positive and negative), and secondly, this impact may be significant. Therefore, there is a postulate to achieve a balance between benefits of transport users and the effects felt by other members of society. However, due to the fact that not all the effects are easy to measure, and not all are strictly economic in traditional meaning, conducting of economic calculation, that allows the effectiveness of these actions to be calculated, is very difficult. Although the scientific material on the benefits of transport development is relatively abundant, it is very difficult to reach conclusions of a general nature. The effects are different for both kinds of effects and its scope, direction and strength in individual cases.