Implications of Tech-Enabled Transport on Planning and Investment of Transport Infrastructure

Abstract

: As the world continues to experience rapid improvements in technology across most if not all sectors it will be important to understand how changes in technology affect longer term planning and decision making, especially in the infrastructure sector. This paper summarizes an investigation into how technology enabled transport stands to impact on business case development, risk assessment and economic modelling of transportation infrastructure, with implications for transport planning, design and operation in the medium to long term. The paper outlines the research findings of an industry-led investigation working with government and the private sector to investigate how anticipated changes in the level of technology enablement of vehicles may influence decisions around investment in transport infrastructure by transport agencies. The research was undertaken in three stages: Stage 1 involved the identification of precedent for policy changes to support and control the trialing and use of vehicles capable of driverless operation; Stage 2 involved the identification of 12 areas where technology change stands to directly influence infrastructure investment in the future; Stage 3 explored the 12 areas to identify 28 implications that were then prioritized into 6 key themes based on industry need and relevance. This prioritisation was based on industry partner perceptions of the level of influence of each area on investment decisions. Recommendations are provided for each area along with initial strategic considerations for further investigation. The research concludes that the transport sector needs to increase efforts to understand how rapidly developing technology will impact medium to long term decision to ensure that planning and design approaches and specifications are appropriately updated as the understanding of the technology and its implications improves. At the same time implications on the overall modal mix need to be carefully considered given new opportunities for automated on-demand services to enhance shared transit options and be provided by private operators as part of the primary transport network. This research has been developed with funding and support provided by Australia’s Sustainable Built Environment National Research Centre (SBEnrc) and its partners.