Multi-modal transport planning encompasses various issues relating to people, technologies, and institutions. Navigating the challenges of the converging transport and energy sectors amid interest groups and NIMBYism that oppose major infrastructure initiatives requires a conceptual understanding of multi-modal transport. This presentation outlines the key concepts and challenges in multi-modal transport planning from the perspective of the policy scholar.

1. Contemporary Issues in Multi-
Modal Transport(ation) Planning
Dr Michael de Percy FCILT
www.politicalscience.com.au
@madepercy
Please note the contents of this guest lecture represent the views of Dr Michael de Percy
FCILT only and do not represent the views of CILTA or any other party.
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2. Transport Planning – it’s not just one thing…
• This presentation is not based on a textbook.
Rather, it is based on how I think about transport
planning as a scholar
• Transport and transportation planning can mean
different things to different audiences
• Transport planning considers people, technologies,
and institutions (the rules of the game)
• Three major types of multi-modal thinking: goods,
people, and military
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3. Multi-Modal 1: Using
several means of
transport to convey
goods to their final
destination

4. Multi-Modal 2: Using
several means of
transport to convey
people to their final
destination

5. Multi-Modal 3: The
‘Logistics Continuum’
– military idea of the
‘coherent whole’ of
transport and logistics

6. What we will consider today…
• People, technologies, and institutions
• Levels of analysis: Macro, meso, and micro
• Units of analysis: People (pax), goods, and
objectives
• Distance: Long-haul, short-haul, and last mile
• Convergence of the energy and transport industries
• Environmental impacts: Perceptions and realities
• Markets versus government control models
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7. People, technologies, and institutions
• People: People as consumers of transport services,
people as workers, or automation and the exclusion
of people, or “pax” (passengers)
• Technologies: Ailing, contemporary, emerging, and
(re)emerging (e.g., light rail)
• Institutions: The formal and informal rules of the
game. Are roads public goods, or should we pay a
road use charge?
• Reading: de Percy (2018) Road Pricing and
Provision
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8. Levels of analysis
• Macro: International, national, and state levels
• Meso: Industry, sector, or technology levels
• Micro: The behaviour of firms in the transport and
logistics sectors (Uber versus taxis)
• Reading: Levels of Analysis in Government-
Business Relations
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9. Units of Analysis
• People (pax): Moving people, employing people,
preferences (car versus bus/electric scooter)
• Goods: Shipping containers (twenty-foot equivalent
unit or TEU), rail versus road, EV delivery vans
operating at night (quiet)
• Objectives: Employment, traveller choice, efficiency
(waiting in traffic is efficient but not fun), speed,
safety, interoperability, environmental sustainability,
access, equity, equality?
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10. Distance
• Long haul: Various definitions (in the US >150-mile
radius) but think international flights, NSW XPT
trains, Greyhound Buses…
• Short haul: Regional couriers and school buses,
Australia Post
• Last mile: Taxis, Uber, Coles and Woolworths
Delivery, the local ‘postie’, electric scooters, GoGet
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11. Convergence
• Energy: EVs are potential batteries for renewables
• Transport: Convergence of technologies in
multimodal hubs, fully automated logistics systems
(e.g., Moorebank Logistics Park – containerized
freight) – RAID – Residents Against Intermodal
Development - Moorebank (inland ports)
• EVs and energy – where does it come from? How
are batteries disposed?
• Nuclear-powered submarines and nuclear energy
(interesting – nuclear sub range = 30 years!)
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12. Markets versus Government
• Market Signals: Road pricing to signal demand for
infrastructure planning
• Government Planning: Corridor preservation,
subsidies, incentives (tax, grants), cities versus
regions (e.g., regional bus services in NSW must be
EVs by 2030, many regional providers folding)
• Reading: See impact of politics on infrastructure:
Tony Shepherd
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13. What does the future hold?
The biggest challenge will be to find the
optimal balance between planning and
execution, government versus market, and
meeting the needs of people versus
sustainability (green and capabilities)…
which means politics!
That challenge will be in your hands.
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14. Thank you
Dr Michael de Percy FCILT
www.politicalscience.com.au
@madepercy
T: +61 (0) 457 063 286
E: michael@politicalscience.com.au
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