MaaS as a driver of sustainable planning : an evaluation of Dumfries' readiness
Arrieta Solís, Josué (2022)
Arrieta Solís, Josué
2022
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2022110622087
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2022110622087
Tiivistelmä
Technology is shaping the future of mobility, and while doing so, it can also shape the layouts of cities and towns. To achieve that, technology offers numerous innovative solutions. Mobility-as-a-Service, MaaS, is one of them. Its essentials of car ownership reduction, transport integration, and user-centredness have the potential to revolutionise conventional inefficient transport systems that led to street-based spatial forms, traffic congestions, socioeconomic inequalities, greenhouse gas emissions, and air pollution. MaaS is often operated and studied in urban areas. Barriers to implementing MaaS in rural spaces have led to less MaaS rural solutions and case studies. However, rural areas can still benefit from MaaS. In the Northeast of Scotland MaaS trials are operating already, mixing urban and rural contexts. The Scottish Southwest however is yet to operate such schemes. The settlement of Dumfries, the regional capital of Dumfries and Galloway, in the Southwestern region of Scotland, shows a mixture or urban and rural features. This presented the opportunity to study the likely rollout of MaaS strategies in rural areas, while allowing to take on urban experiences to guide the implementation of MaaS solutions. Dumfries MaaS readiness was evaluated through the Modified MaaS Maturity Index from Thanos (2018), leading to a readiness score of 2.42, meaning Dumfries current transport system, ICT, demographics, and regulations, offer some usefulness to a MaaS implementation, but are below of what should be desirable to a fully supportive MaaS delivery. A fragile and fragmented PT, a significant reliance on personal vehicles, an ageing population, low rates of smartphone and personal internet usage, and an absent legal framework to regulate MaaS partnerships and deployment are the main barriers, contesting a population highly engaged with AT and willing to give up their cars should a more efficient PT be put in place. To improve Dumfries’ MaaS preparedness, solutions like multi-modal transport master planning processes were revised, linking them to land use planning, both centred on Dumfries’ residents and visitors. Lastly, 4 small-scale MaaS concepts are proposed, as a way to start building up preparedness and integrating the transport system.