Mobility as a Service for Regions
Griffith University’s Cities Research Institute was engaged by the Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) Mobility as a Service Office to investigate the key barriers and success factors to enable Mobility as a Service (MaaS) in regional centres across Queensland. Three regional cities were chosen as a focus for the research, being Townsville, Rockhampton (including Yeppoon), and Gladstone, covering the jurisdictions of four local government areas.
This report outlines the findings of the independent research undertaken by Griffith University. The contents of the report do not reflect Queensland Government policy.
Objectives
The objectives of this research study were to:
- Improve departmental understanding of the policy options and success factors for MaaS in the regions of Queensland and
- Identify a preferred approach for a pilot proof-of-concept trial in at least one Queensland regional centre.
Rationale
MaaS presents an opportunity for the Queensland Government to take a lead in enabling a shared economy and assisting private Transport Service Providers (TSPs) to deliver service offerings that present greater choice to the Queensland public. The concept of MaaS is relatively mature, but the adoption of MaaS in practice is in its infancy. Though urban-scale roll-outs exists, a complete MaaS solution has not yet been implemented across a jurisdiction comparable to Queensland.
Outcome
The following research gaps have been investigated in this report:
- Policy Objectives: What can and should TMR and its partners seek to achieve from public and shared transportation, both now and into the future?
- Regional Context: What conditions specific to Queensland’s varied regional centres require consideration?
- Definition of Success: What does “success” look like for MaaS in regional Queensland?
- Policy Options: What are the available policy and planning options for MaaS in regional centres, now and into the future?
- Success Factors: What are the success factors (or, the necessary conditions for success) for MaaS in such locations?
- Key Opportunities: what are the most promising opportunities to start developing MaaS in regional Queensland?
Research Findings
We conducted an international review of emerging global practices of MaaS in regions and completed a set of interviews and workshops in three case study sites – Townsville, Rockhampton (including Yeppoon), and Gladstone. A future MaaS pilot is recommended so as to further understand the level of acceptance and develop best practice. We proposed a broad spectrum MaaS for Townsville and a workplace focused MaaS for Gladstone for initial feasibility of future trials.
The final summary report and full report are available at the links below. The findings should be especially valuable for governments, transport operators and end-users who are interested in Mobility as a Service in regional areas.
Next Steps - Illustrative MaaS Concepts
