Small Cities, Big Needs: Citizen Participation in Urban and Transport Planning

Abstract

PDS 64: Health impact assessment and environmental justice, Johan Friso Foyer, Floor 1, August 26, 2019, 1:30 PM - 3:00 PM Background: Current research encourages citizen participation in policy-making processes. Yet, the interface between citizens and urban transport planning remains under-studied in developing countries. The paper assesses urban transport planning policies of a middle-income country and determines whether the goals of existing policy measures meet self-reported citizens’ needs. We detect association between needs and population indicators to better assess whether needs are unevenly expressed across population groups. Methods: We assess the alignment of three policy measures with citizens needs in Mauritius by using mixed-methods. The policy document was reviewed using qualitative content analysis in order to select and analyse relevant measures. Citizen needs were obtained with a nationwide survey. Quantitative logistic regression models were run for each need and to detect associations with population indicators. Findings Three policy measures were selected for assessment: light metro rail system, bus modernization scheme and road decongestion program. Citizen needs were extracted from 1523 surveys. At least one measure addressed the improvement of public spaces, construction of new buildings, centralization of hawkers at main bus stations, and preference for less active travel modes (ex: own private vehicle). None of the measures addressed (1) improvement of sidewalks, (2) green spaces increase, (3) pedestrianizing of strategic areas, (4) regulation of private vehicle entry in town and (5) preference for more active travel modes (ex:foot, bicycle). Three unmet needs were expressed by vulnerable population groups. Conclusion: We successfully exposed gaps between citizen needs and three urban transport planning measures in Mauritius. The study shows that citizen participation enable a subtler understanding of the social and economic environment in which transport measures take place. Finally, we propose that using participation within wider frameworks such as health impact assessment (HIA) provides a unique opportunity to reform urban transport planning policies towards more healthy, sustainable and equitable outcomes.