Engagement Comes Before Infrastructure

Isabel Dedring, deputy mayor for transport in London, writes about the importance of engagement in the process of developing essential infrastructure. 

"When it comes to delivering essential infrastructure, experts tend to discuss what are perceived as the difficult issues, such as planning, financing, and construction techniques. Engaging with stakeholders and the public is not always mentioned—and if it is, it’s way down the list."

"Engagement is emphatically not a fringe issue. Across the world, failure to consult before digging has delayed or undermined projects that businesses and governments have set their hearts on building."

Dedring goes on to site experiences with ongoing work in London, including the city's planned £1 billion in investment in cycling infrastructure, the Crossrail in Southeast Britain (and, according to Dedring, the biggest construction project in Europe), and Crossrail 2. One potential new frontier mentioned by Dedring: using new engagement strategies for demand management.