The next cabinet would do well to prioritize the extension of the North-South line, believes Haico Spijkerboer of consulting firm Boer&Croon. "It is crucial for Amsterdam's business climate and solves part of the problems that threaten to slow down the Dutch economy."
According to Spijkerboer, the increasing congestion in public transportation in the Amsterdam region not only hinders business, but also threatens the quality of education, healthcare and cultural life.
The measures of the Amsterdam college to reduce car use put additional pressure on public transport. This threatens the accessibility of the city. For people who cannot find affordable housing in Amsterdam, it is becoming less and less attractive to work there in healthcare or education. This is already a problem, and failure to find a solution will have major social consequences. Even a trip from the suburban area to the cultural temples of the capital will become a perilous undertaking.
National interest
Extending the North-South line will largely solve congestion. If more travelers and tourists travel by metro instead of the current Sprinters, space will be freed up in the Schiphol Tunnel for additional (inter)national train connections. In addition, Schiphol's position can be strengthened. Thus, the expansion of the metro network is not only of regional, but also of national importance.
Time is running out
A decision on this should be made soon and agreements made on how to finance it. Schiphol, the Transport Region, Amsterdam, Haarlemmermeer, North Holland, KLM and NS have already offered to jointly contribute over a billion euros. The total cost will be substantial, but will certainly outweigh the damage to business and residents if Amsterdam becomes further congested.
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