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Practitioner views on transport planning's evolution – A Sisyphean task still ahead?

Paddeu, Daniela; Lyons, Glenn; Chatterjee, Kiron; Calvert, Thomas

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Authors

Daniela Paddeu Daniela.Paddeu@uwe.ac.uk
Associate Professor of Sustainable Freight Futures

Profile image of Glenn Lyons

Glenn Lyons Glenn.Lyons@uwe.ac.uk
Professor of Future Mobility

Thomas Calvert Thomas2.Calvert@uwe.ac.uk
Research Fellow in Transport and Urban Planning



Abstract

Transport planning as a formalised profession is relatively young and there is no doubt it has evolved over time. In Europe, Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans reflect a change in emphasis from keeping traffic moving to place-based, people-centric planning. Three new developments of significance present themselves to contemporary transport planning: the collision and merging of the digital age with the motor age; a widespread sense of deep (and possibly deepening) uncertainty about the future; and the imperative to address the climate emergency and decarbonise transport. Taken together, such developments are reflected in the recent notion of Triple Access Planning which sits within a so-called ‘decide and provide’ paradigm – contrasted with traditional transport planning within the ‘predict and provide’ paradigm. The world is changing significantly with a strong sense that transport planning needs to change accordingly. This paper draws upon the ‘7 Questions Interview’ technique to explore with 23 practitioners in the UK their experience of transport planning practice over time, their hopes and fears for its future and what could be achieved, and their views on enablers of, and barriers to, positive change. The interviews reveal a strong sense that transport planning can face a Sisyphean (seemingly impossible) task of advocating measures that could push towards realisation of economic, social and environmental aspirations, only to find progress with measure approval and implementation thwarted by perennial challenges including lack of political will and public buy-in. While the three new developments mentioned represent potential catalysts for significant change, such change relies on multiple other factors. These include collaborative cross-sector working, a long-term perspective, appropriate funding and political agency, and enhanced communication skills to win hearts and minds. The paper concludes that Sisyphus may continue to struggle to push the transport planning boulder to the top of the hill; unless perhaps Hercules can lend a hand.

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Jul 15, 2024
Online Publication Date Jul 27, 2024
Publication Date Sep 1, 2024
Deposit Date Aug 2, 2024
Publicly Available Date Aug 2, 2024
Journal Transport Policy
Print ISSN 0967-070X
Publisher Elsevier
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 156
Pages 89-100
DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tranpol.2024.07.015
Public URL https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/12766074

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