Two questions are currently being discussed, in both technical and political terms, which are of importance to the spatial and traffic-related development of Switzerland. The first one concerns the traffic capacity of transit corridors and the corridors between major conurbations; the second question involves the urban and conurbation policies of the federal government and the cantons, which aim at internal urbanisation in city areas and the creation of a functional and strategic urban network. These two topics form the core of this analysis "Specialisation and integration: Transport capacity and demand analysis in the urban system of Switzerland".

Main requirements of the Swiss urban network are good communications between the metropolitan areas themselves and with smaller regional cities. It is aim of the project to analyse and to explain traffic system which is relevant to the Swiss city network. Parameters are to be analysed which may have much influence on meaning, volume and development of traffic flows. Inter-relationships between traffic supply, development of demand and the Swiss city network are to be analysed in qualitative terms. Potential changes in supply are to be explained in consideration of sustainable policy targets.