Abstract
Despite climate change mitigation and sustainability agendas, road transport systems in Germany and the resulting environmental burden are growing. Road transport is a significant source of emissions in urban areas and the infrastructure has a significant impact on the urban form. Nevertheless, mobility is a fundamental requirement for the satisfaction of the human desire to socially and economically engage in society. Considering these realities and the desire for sustainable development in a growing city (Potsdam, Germany), an integrated assessment methodology was co-developed among scientists and practitioners to prioritize a suite of transport-related measures. The methodology reflects the city’s qualitative and quantitative goals to improve public transport and promote sustainability, capturing synergies in categories that include environmental considerations as well as road safety, eco-mobility, and quality of life. This approach applies a multi-criteria analysis (MCA) to derive a practically relevant solution for the local traffic and mobility problems that fosters ownership and accountability of all involved. This paper reflects on the process of developing the MCA, and the different aspects that were found important and required consideration during the process. Recommendations on specific traffic-related measures and the assessment of their effectiveness are not given. The aim is that such process information could foster greater collaboration within city departments and similar transdisciplinary efforts.
Highlights
Cityscapes are shaped by road transport infrastructure which is often the single most important element of urban infrastructure [1,2]
We describe the process of developing a multi-criteria assessment jointly between scientists, practitioners, and decision makers for the planning of sustainable and more integrated measures in the passenger transport sector in Potsdam, Germany
The continuous engagement of all working group members in the four different stages of the process resulted in tight collaboration across several city departments including urban planning and traffic, environment and nature, climate change, safety, green spaces, society and health and public relations together with representatives from the state environment agency, the state ministry for environment and two scientists
Summary
Cityscapes are shaped by road transport infrastructure which is often the single most important element of urban infrastructure [1,2]. Along with non-road public transport infrastructure, guarantees mobility, and is considered vital for business as well as for quality of life for the individual citizen. Personal vehicles, constitute a significant fraction of personal mobility in Germany—61% of trips were by passenger car in 2002 [5]—and is simultaneously the cause of air and noise pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, as well as the disturbance of habitable spaces and accidental death and injuries. Personal mobility that requires fossil fuel use is often perceived to facilitate an enriched life, but simultaneous adverse effects of road traffic reduce quality of life [6]. In order to provide high quality of life in urban areas it is necessary to reduce the negative effects of road traffic while optimizing a variety of mobility options for citizens [3]
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