Redefining Urban Development Strategies for Effective and Efficient Future Mobility Solutions

Research Project, 2017 – 2018

The main question of this pre-study is if there is a coherence between future sustainable urban development and urban transportation models. The current rapid development of new technologies will result in new innovative transportation models. To what extent are they compatible with urban models? 

The population and urban growth change urban mobility in space and stress the word infrastructure. Urban transport is one of the major challenges on a local, regional and national level, where decision and planning processes in cities are extremely complex. A polycentric model of growth to avoid pressures on the urban centres, has been accompanied by developing transport networks along existing corridors. The problems however remain: shortage of land, growing traffic congestion, pollution, etc. This aims to define new innovative urban transport solutions with a larger flexibility in response to the growing dynamic urban development. Is there a paradox between urban development along existing corridors and the idea of flexibility of mobility? New technologies and new transportation modes are already accessible. However, alternative city structures for new transportation system models are not widely discussed in the city development strategies. 

This pre-study is based in Gothenburg as a case city. Research outputs are grouped under two main subtopics: 

I. Historical perspective. Description of how urban forms and land use changes as a consequence of new transportation technologies;

II. How will different new innovative transportation systems (i.e. private, mixed, and public) affect a) accessibility to destinations for different socio-economic groups b) distribution of goods? 

Findings were presented as following:

-        Challenges in connecting “the Old” with “the New” mobility

-        Dynamic development of networks and partnerships in the ICT (Information and Communication Technologies), automotive and mobility sectors in cities

-        Urban systems depending on mobility oriented towards “Public Sector” (cities with developed efficient public transport) and “Private Car Autonomy” dominated cities;

-        An introduction of the time-line for autonomous vehicles- example from the RPA (Regional Planning Association) New York Region;

-        Outputs from the organized seminar: meeting with a larger target group for the expert’s discussion- summary from the protocol;

-        Future planned activities related to the pre-study.