Analysis of the contributions of the urban mobility as a service (MaaS) concept to urban mobility planning and management

Abstract

Finding strategies capable of minimizing the current state of urban mobility in Brazilian cities has become one of the main challenges for public managers and researchers. In this regard, Cunha et al. (2016) highlight technology as a potential tool for improving the existing scenario. According to the authors, the inclusion of technology in planning and management processes creates an opportunity to integrate different transport modes and strengthen the mobility network. Given this context, the objective is to discuss the potential and limitations of the concept of Mobility as a Service (MaaS). To this end, a narrative review is adopted. The methodology includes the following steps: selection of the research topic, definition of search terms (specifically for this study: urban mobility, public collective transport, and transit-oriented development), use of academic databases (such as Google Scholar, EBSCO, CAPES Journals, SciELO, ScienceDirect, among others), selection of relevant articles through preliminary reading (title, abstract, keywords, introduction, and methodology), and finally, construction of the proposed text. Upon completion of this process, it was found that the effectiveness of the MaaS concept in mobility planning depends on broader factors: the functioning of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), planning integrated with the transport network, participatory governance, the creation of policies aimed at discouraging the use of private vehicles, and the improvement of urban infrastructure. Thus, it becomes clear that the concept has the potential to enhance mobility, but it depends on a range of other measures developed in conjunction.