Urban transport directions: challenges for future research

Abstract

Urban transport research and planning is facing some major challenges. There is a new realism emerging which is recognising that it is not possible to construct enough capacity to match projected growth in traffic, especially automobile-based traffic. Furthermore, there is no consensus. The important questions in very broad terms are: "what are desirable futures?" and "how do we get there?". This paper sets out some major themes which urban transport researchers should address as contributions to the development of both a tactical and a strategic view of better futures. At the heart of the debate on a desirable future is a consideration of the role(s) of the market and the role of non-market controls (including physical planning incentives and policies).