Talking Headways Podcast: Measuring Transportation System Success – Streetsblog USA

A New Paradigm for Measuring Transportation System Success and Advancing Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction

A new methodology for evaluating transportation systems, developed by Professor Karel Martens of the Technion, offers a significant shift from traditional problem-focused engineering to a success-based measurement framework. This report analyzes the methodology, its initial application in Tel Aviv, and its profound implications for creating policies aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those concerning urban development, inequality, and well-being.

Limitations of Traditional Transportation Engineering

Conventional transportation planning has historically concentrated on identifying and modeling problems, most notably traffic congestion. This approach has proven insufficient for measuring genuine system improvement or success. As congestion is rarely eliminated, progress remains difficult to quantify, hindering efforts to build resilient and effective infrastructure as outlined in SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure). A new tool was required to move beyond problem identification and begin measuring the successful outcomes of transportation investments.

The Tel Aviv Study: A Novel Approach to Measuring Success

Methodology

A study was conducted in Tel Aviv in 2017 to deploy a new tool designed to measure transportation success from the user’s perspective. The survey-based tool gathered data on public satisfaction by asking residents about their daily travel experiences. Key metrics included:

• Perceptions of travel time duration
• Frequency of forgoing trips due to transport barriers
• Reliance on others for transportation
• Overall travel comfort and convenience

Key Findings and Population Clusters

The results of the study revealed a public perception largely at odds with the official discourse of severe transport problems. The population was segmented into three distinct clusters:

1. Satisfied Majority (67%): Two-thirds of respondents reported that their transportation system was functioning well, with minimal issues regarding travel time or forgone trips.
2. Time-Constrained Group (27%): Approximately a quarter of the population expressed satisfaction but reported significant challenges with excessively long travel times, which also impacted their comfort.
3. Consistently Struggling Minority (6%): A small but significant segment of the population reported consistent and severe problems across multiple aspects of their travel.

Correlation with Sustainable Urban Design

The high level of satisfaction among the majority was attributed to urban planning principles that directly support SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities). The success factors identified in Tel Aviv provide a blueprint for achieving Target 11.2, which calls for access to safe, affordable, and sustainable transport systems for all. These factors include:

• A reasonably good and accessible public transport system.
• High-density urban development.
• Proximity of essential services, such as doctors, shops, and hairdressers, within walking distance in most neighborhoods.

Implications for Policy and Sustainable Development

A Tool for Demonstrating Progress

This success-oriented measurement tool offers policymakers an attractive alternative to the narrative of perpetual crisis. By systematically applying this tool, authorities can track improvements over time and demonstrate to the public that infrastructure investments are enhancing quality of life. This fosters public trust and provides a clear metric for progress towards the SDGs.

Identifying and Addressing Inequality

A critical function of the tool is its ability to identify and quantify the segment of the population left behind by the current system. The identification of the 6% facing consistent problems is a crucial step toward fulfilling the mandate of SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities). The research highlights that in most global cities, transportation systems are particularly problematic for those without access to a private car. This tool enables policymakers to target interventions to support vulnerable populations, ensuring a more equitable distribution of mobility and opportunity, a principle that also aligns with SDG 5 (Gender Equality), as transport poverty often affects women disproportionately.

Enhancing Health and Well-being

By focusing on metrics like travel time stress and the ability to access essential services, the tool directly relates to SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being). A transportation system that allows for efficient and low-stress access to work, healthcare, and social activities is fundamental to public health.

Validation and Robustness of the Measurement Tool

The COVID-19 Pandemic Case Study

The survey was repeated in late 2020 and early 2021, during a non-lockdown period of the COVID-19 pandemic. The results validated the tool’s sensitivity and robustness, as it accurately captured shifts in travel behavior and their impact on user satisfaction.

• Improved Conditions for Car Users: With traffic levels down, car drivers reported fewer problems related to congestion.
• Shift in Travel Modes: A slight increase in reliance on rides from others was observed, likely due to more cars being available at home and public health concerns regarding public transit.
• Persistent Gaps for Non-Car Users: The experience for individuals reliant on public transport remained unchanged, indicating that while the pandemic eased congestion, it did not resolve the underlying structural challenges for those without cars. This reinforces the tool’s ability to pinpoint persistent inequalities in infrastructure.

Conclusion

The new measurement framework developed by Professor Martens provides a powerful, data-driven instrument for guiding transportation policy. By shifting the focus from problems to success and by identifying specific populations in need, this tool enables cities to build more inclusive, efficient, and people-centric mobility systems. Its application is a vital step toward achieving the interconnected goals of sustainable urban development (SDG 11), reduced inequality (SDG 10), and improved public health (SDG 3).

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: The article’s core focus is on urban transportation systems, congestion, public transport, and access to services within the Tel Aviv metropolitan area. It directly addresses the challenges and successes of urban mobility.
• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure: The text discusses transportation infrastructure (public transport, roads) and highlights an innovation—the development of a new tool by Karel Martens to measure the success of these systems, which is a form of technological and methodological innovation for infrastructure management.
• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being: The article touches upon well-being by mentioning that residents are “suffering from too long travel times” and that access to “doctors” is a key service. It also notes pandemic-related concerns where people were “worried about public transport,” linking transport choices to health considerations.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Target 11.2: “By 2030, provide access to safe, affordable, accessible and sustainable transport systems for all, improving road safety, notably by expanding public transport, with special attention to the needs of those in vulnerable situations…”
   • Evidence from the article: The article explicitly discusses Tel Aviv’s “reasonably good public transport system,” the challenges faced by “people without a car,” and the goal of building a “better transport system” that “serves more people better.” The survey tool measures whether people can complete their trips, which is a direct assessment of accessibility.
2. Target 9.1: “Develop quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructure… to support economic development and human well-being, with a focus on affordable and equitable access for all.”
   • Evidence from the article: The discussion revolves around the quality and reliability of the transport system. The article notes that during the pandemic, public transport saw “higher speeds, more reliability because of less congestion.” The development of the new tool is an innovation aimed at improving the quality and management of this infrastructure to ensure it provides equitable access.
3. Target 11.7: “By 2030, provide universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible, green and public spaces…”
   • Evidence from the article: The article supports this target by highlighting that a reason for high satisfaction in Tel Aviv is the proximity of services. It states, “Local services very close by walking distance. Doctors, shops, hairdressers and, you know, many, many services you can really find in most neighborhoods in walking distance.” This demonstrates access to the public realm and essential urban amenities.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. Official Indicator (Implied): Indicator 11.2.1 – “Proportion of population that has convenient access to public transport.”
   • Evidence from the article: The article implies this indicator by referencing Tel Aviv’s “reasonably good public transport system” and contrasting it with other cities where “a large share of people are struggling,” especially those “without a car.” The new tool’s ability to measure if people can make their trips serves as a proxy for measuring convenient access.
2. Proxy/Custom Indicators (Explicitly Mentioned): The survey tool developed by Karel Martens introduces several specific, measurable indicators to assess transport system success.
   • User Satisfaction Level: Measured by the “percentage of two thirds [that] will go up and up and up” who report they are “doing fine.”
   • Perception of Travel Time: Measured by the proportion of the population “suffering from too long travel times.”
   • Trip Completion Rate: Measured by tracking how often people “forgo a trip” due to transport issues.
   • Dependence on Others: Measured by how often individuals “rely on others” for transportation, which the article notes increased during the pandemic.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: usa.streetsblog.org