Comment: Connected mobility can transform public transport

Public transport is more than just a method of moving from A to B. In cities across the world, it is the backbone of the economy and a vital component in social infrastructure. Effective public transport enables more prosperous, happier and healthier lives.

Improving public transport, whether through introducing new policies, delivering new projects, or upgrading systems and infrastructure, has the power to directly benefit urban life. It can increase access to jobs, healthcare and education, reduce carbon emissions and congestion, and enhance air quality. New policies and improved public transport systems and services can also help create a people-centric built environment that makes more efficient use of space.

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Recent advances in autonomous vehicle technology have the potential to make a significant positive impact on public transport systems. Connected and autonomous vehicles (CAVs) can travel along roads and through urban environments without a human driver. They use a combination of technology such as sensors and LiDAR to gather information about conditions around the vehicle and process and respond to this information using Artificial Intelligence. This functionality enables CAVs to learn about the world around them, for instance by recognising and responding to obstacles on the road or to judge braking distances.

However, it is necessary to explore how autonomous public transport systems might apply to specific scenarios and contexts and assess the associated opportunities and risks to take the technology from concept to practical implementation. Furthermore, transport authorities must understand the potential benefits of autonomous public transport systems if they are to commit to them financially. Do they present an opportunity to avoid the challenges faced by traditional public transport solutions, which can often be costly and disruptive?

While there are many trials of private CAVs taking place worldwide, tests for using CAVs for public transport are more limited, with only a handful taking place across the UK to date. One example is the UK’s first zero-emission automated bus, which was trialled in Oxfordshire last year. Another notable case is CAVForth, a trial of fully autonomous full-sized buses operating between Fife and Edinburgh in Scotland. The success of these schemes is still to be determined.

Arup recently completed three feasibility studies for introducing autonomous public transport services in Cambridge, Birmingham and Solihull, and Milton Keynes. Commissioned by the Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles and Innovate UK, the studies aimed to demonstrate the case for change in each area. They examined the economic, social and environmental benefits of the schemes, provided high-level costings and explored the challenges of commercialisation.

Unlike previous studies into CAV technology, which have tended to focus on opportunities where CAVs could be rolled out quickly, these studies analysed how connected and automated mobility (CAM) could be used to solve complex problems. For each study, we worked as part of a consortium of technology providers, original equipment manufacturers and consultants, while each project was led by the local transport authority, providing expert knowledge of the local transport context.

The studies found that CAM can offer clear advantages for public transit, unlocking wider social, economic and environmental benefits. They concluded that, once a scalable solution is identified within a suitable context, CAM could have an obvious and far-reaching impact on public transport in the UK and beyond.

A word of caution, however. The industry must recognise that there is an immense risk in adopting technology-led approaches for the development of transport solutions leading to unintended consequences. For example, CAM could create additional travel demand and increase congestion if it is delivered in the form of private cars alone. Conversely, implementing CAM alongside its associated technologies has the potential to expand and improve public transport in mid-sized cities or rural areas. A notable example is in places where traditional bus services are not provided due to limited economic viability.

Worldwide, there is great interest in CAM as a promising technology that is poised to transform the transport sector. The UK has dedicated substantial funding and effort to establish a leading position in this field through several initiatives. It is now crucial to bring these efforts to practical fruition as soon as possible, with public transport systems offering an attractive and meaningful starting point. The potential for CAM technology to unlock social benefit is significant, but the timeframe for practical delivery is still unclear. What is clear from our recent feasibility studies is that the adoption of an outcome-led approach for each potential CAM use case is the most beneficial solution and that direction from the UK Government is crucial.

Lara Tabet is Future Transport Technology Lead, Arup UKIMEA

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