Policy, Regulatory and Commercial Considerations for the Implementation of a Mobility as a Service System

Brown, Clare

Abstract

Transport and access to mobility have been highlighted as a key factor in enabling economic growth and improving quality of life. However, widely used transport modes, such as private vehicles, also negatively impact cities and towns in several ways, including increasing congestion, poor air quality and leading to fragmented neighbourhoods and communities. In an effort to explore new ways of providing for and accessing transport modes, policy and decision makers are considering new planning and delivery models. One model that has risen to prominence amongst transport professionals is Mobility as a Service (MaaS). Hailed as a new way of planning, operating, and accessing transport modes, MaaS is frequently noted as a new opportunity to offer more personalised, seamless, and reliable transport to urban and rural areas. In order to do this, a MaaS system would offer grouped transport to individuals, whether through a monthly subscription or a pay-as-you-go package, allowing access to a wider range of transport and offering travellers more opportunity to use public transport and active travel. Through a MaaS system, it is often assumed travellers would be more attracted to public transport and the system would reduce the reliance on private vehicles.
However, with no large-scale system in operation, many of the benefits of MaaS are based on assumptions and results of small-scale trials. As such, there are several gaps in knowledge around how MaaS could be implemented, including the roles of the public and private sectors, the business model and subsidy requirements, and the payment and ticketing system. With limited information to support the development of a system, cities looking to implement MaaS must either rely on parameters established in trials elsewhere or must develop their own in response to their challenges.
This research considered MaaS through the lens of a city region case study (Greater Manchester) experiencing many of the notable challenges that result from recent economic growth and an increase in transport use, particularly the use of private vehicles. Using a mixed methods approach, including in-depth interviews, policy analysis and quantitative analysis of transport patterns in Greater Manchester, this study considers how MaaS may contribute towards the reduction of some of the key transport challenges in the city region, and how it may fill gaps within the transport system.
Results detailed in this work highlight that there are several gaps in knowledge regarding the concept of MaaS, which require greater clarity in order for policy and decision makers to
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proceed with designing and implementing a system suitable for specific areas. These gaps in knowledge include ongoing challenges within the concept of MaaS itself, including:
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A lack of clear definition;
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Differences in assumed benefits; and,
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Disbelief around how a system could be designed and implemented on a large-scale.
The results of this study contribute towards filling these gaps in knowledge, offering best practice from areas which have adopted innovative transport measures and new perspectives from transport professionals and experts on how a system could be designed and refined, tested, and implemented at scale. This thesis concludes by recommending potential routes forward for policy makers and areas for future research.

Citation

Brown, C. (2023). Policy, Regulatory and Commercial Considerations for the Implementation of a Mobility as a Service System. (Thesis). University of Salford

• Thesis Type: Thesis
• Deposit Date: Oct 6, 2023
• Publicly Available Date: Oct 30, 2023
• Award Date: Sep 29, 2023