Current social impact assessment practices for transport projects and plans in Chinese cities

Abstract

ABSTRACT The importance of sustainable transport development is being increasingly realised in China. However, the understanding of social sustainability in the transport sector remains inadequate. Transport social impact assessment (SIA) at the local level, especially for small- to medium-sized cities, lacks systematic guidance. As a starting point for improving social sustainability in the transport sector, this research explores transport SIA practices in different-sized Chinese cities. Following a critical review of transport planning and appraisal documents collected from 83 sample cities in mainland China, 5 categories were identified based on the characteristics of their transport SIA practices. It was found that except for a few megacities, transport SIA in Chinese cities is generally weak, compared to developed countries. SIA has received little attention and had limited influence on decision-making in transport planning in China. Current guidance on transport SIA in China is relatively general and ambiguous compared to many developed countries, an established transport SIA framework and indicator set for local governments to refer to are lacking. The disparities in transport SIA among different-sized Chinese cities and different project types are significant. Interviews with Chinese transport practitioners were conducted to further explore the gaps in transport SIA practices and the potential for improvement. Based on the interview analysis, key aspects for improving transport SIA practices in China have been provided.