On transport integration: a contribution to better understanding

Over the years there have been many forecasts of transport futures. Most ha ve taken a technological perspective, but this paper differs. Our perspecti ve, linked to current transport policy debates, concerns the processes, ins titutions and structures within which transport technologies develop. 'Inte gration' is taken as our focus, because the concept of 'integrated transpor t' has become an important guiding principle for transport policies' instit utional and structural development in several countries. Much has been talked about the need to reduce significantly the environment al impact of transport. While technical solutions that reduce the impact of individual journeys have a place, it is unlikely that they alone can reduc e the impact of transport to a sustainable level. Only the development of h ighly integrated strategies have the potential to improve sustainability. S uch strategies involve areas of activity that are not traditionally conside red part of the transport planning process, such as health, urban regenerat ion, and education. There is no widely accepted definition of what Integrated Transport means. It is to help clarify such ambiguities that this paper has been written. Th is paper explores the meaning of Integunted Transport and considers whether such strategies will contribute to sustainability. Using examples from photography and computer system design the paper shows that there is a need to develop a better understanding of the meaning of In tegrated Transport, outlining a typology developed to classify various defi nitions of Integrated Transport. Integrated Transport is viewed as scalar i n nature, with higher levels incorporating lower, or narrower, understandin gs of the term Integrated Transport. Points on this scale include: Functional or Modal Integration, which is part of... Transport and Planning Integration. which is part of... Social Integration. which is part of... Environmental, Economic and Transport Policy Integration Transport integration may be considered as a series of steps, with an incre mental approach leading to higher levels of both Integration and Sustainabi lity. Only by commitment, and allocation of resources, to the highest level s, will issues of sustainability be properly addressed. (C) 2000 Elsevier S cience Ltd. All rights reserved.