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• Knowledge Exchange WP2-WP4: Route planners & MaaS

  1 Topics

  2 Posts

  D

  @SPINEadmin
  1. Convincing private mobility operators to open their platforms for Mobility as a Service (MaaS) involves addressing their concerns, highlighting the benefits, and presenting a clear, mutually beneficial vision.
  Potential benefits to be emphasized (non-exhaustive list):

  Increased Market reach by expanding customer base: by integrating into MaaS platforms, mobility operators can access a broader range of customers who prefer using multi-modal transport solutions. Increased market reach thanks to higher utilisation rates: more exposure can lead to higher vehicle usage rates and increased revenue. Brand visibility. Data Security: assure operators that sensitive data will be handled securely, with clear data-sharing agreements that protect their proprietary information. Operational control: clarify that operators will retain control over their operations, including pricing and availability. Technical support: offer assistance with the technical integration process, including APIs. Use pilot data to show positive outcomes and build trust. Regulatory compliance: highlight any regulatory requirements or incentives that support MaaS adoption, showing that integration can help operators stay compliant. Public funding: mention potential access to public funding or grants available for integrated mobility solutions. Environmental Impact: emphasise the role of MaaS in reducing emissions and promoting sustainable transportation, aligning with global and local sustainability goals. Case studies: present successful case studies from other regions or cities where MaaS integration has led to increased revenues and customer satisfaction.
  It is important also to engage the operators in continuous dialogue through: Stakeholder Meetings: hold regular meetings with potential and current partners to discuss progress, address concerns, and brainstorm improvements. Feedback Loops: establish continuous feedback mechanisms to refine the MaaS platform based on operator input.

  2. By carefully designing MaaS business models and implementing strategic measures that address the needs and interests of both cities and stakeholders, it is possible to create a sustainable, efficient, and user-friendly mobility ecosystem. This collaborative approach ensures that the benefits of MaaS are maximised for all parties involved.
  As clarified in SPINE D.2.5 “BOLOGNA LL and Implementation Version 1”, released in June 2024: “The city or public transport authority pays for the development of the MaaS application, which can be both web-based and mobile application-based. The cost is related to the extent and complexity of the mobility services that must be integrated within the platform and the extensiveness of the transport area that must be covered. The local authority decides which mobility services should be integrated. If, next to a journey planner, payment services also need to be included for direct booking and payment through the application, the complexity increases and thus also the cost of the development. Therefore, the core feature of the white-label MaaS-solution is the journey planner and real-time information provision.”
  Strategies for Creating a Win/Win for Cities and Stakeholders:

  Public-Private partnerships: collaboration between government entities and private companies to deliver MaaS.
  Win/Win: Cities benefit from innovative solutions and funding, while private companies gain access to public infrastructure and data. Integrated and inclusive planning: develop a MaaS platform that integrates all modes of transportation, ensuring accessibility for all demographics.
  Win/Win: Cities achieve better transportation efficiency and inclusivity, stakeholders see increased user base and customer satisfaction. Data sharing policies: establish clear policies for data sharing between stakeholders, ensuring privacy and security.
  Win/Win: Cities gain valuable data for urban planning, ztakeholders can enhance their services with shared insights. Sustainable mobility options: prioritise sustainable transportation modes such as electric vehicles, biking, and walking.
  Win/Win: Cities benefit from reduced pollution and improved public health, stakeholders meet growing consumer demand for green options. Customer-centric approach: design the MaaS platform with a focus on user experience, including easy access, real-time information, and reliable services.
  Win/Win: Increased user adoption and satisfaction for stakeholders, cities experience smoother traffic flow and happier residents. Policy and regulatory support: governments can provide supportive policies and regulations that facilitate MaaS implementation.
  Win/Win: Ensures that MaaS can operate smoothly and comply with local regulations, providing a stable environment for businesses to invest and innovate. Pilot: start with pilot programs to test and refine the MaaS offerings before scaling up.
  Win/Win: Allows cities and stakeholders to identify and address potential issues early on, ensuring a smoother rollout and scalability.

  3. Potential issues for the future inclusion of clearing in the current version of the Bologna MaaS can be identified as:

  The cost for upgrading the MaaS app for involving a huge number of operators. The establishment of the contract framework and the ticketing management system for the various operators in the MaaS (structure of contracts among various service provider and integration of ticketing systems); The time needed to sort out all the contractual and bureaucratic issues in order to be able to incorporate the integrated ticketing system.

  4. Routing logic and nudging strategies are fundamental in MaaS to direct user behaviour and optimise the efficiency of the transport systemMaaS to direct user behaviour and optimise the efficiency of the transport system.
  Routing logic:

  Multimodal integration: combining different transport modes (public transport, private vehicles, bicycles, walking, sharing, etc.) into a single route and using algorithms to determine the fastest or most convenient combination of transport modes. Use of real-time data: incorporating real-time information on PT traffic conditions, public transport timetables, delays and cancellations and adapting routes in real time according to changing conditions to ensure efficiency and reliability. User preferences and profiles: taking into account user preferences (faster route, less walking, ecological routes, etc.).

  Nudging strategies:

  Promoting sustainable transport: highlighting routes that use public transport, biking, or walking over private car use and displaying the environmental impact of different route choices to encourage eco-friendly decisions. Park&Ride (P&R) incentives: encouraging users to park outside the city centre and use public transport for the remainder of the journey, showing time, cost savings, and reduced congestion benefits of using P&R facilities. Behavioural nudges: setting the default route to the most sustainable or cost-effective option while allowing users to choose alternatives. Feedback and reminders: offering feedback on travel habits and suggesting improvements, such as reminders to use public transport during peak hours.
• Barreiro GA

  6 Topics

  66 Posts

  D

  @antonia-buric

  Another question - what kind of EV charging stations are you implementing?

  To improve the services near mobility centres for all categories of users, SPINE envisages the installation of accessible charging stations for electric vehicles. Some of the planned features respond to special mobility needs: ramps, canopies, spaces and signage for people with reduced mobility, special sockets for recharging electric wheelchairs, lighting, interoperability with platforms, multilingual, usable with universal payment methods without any subscription.

  Currently, it is not the Municipality of Bologna (COBO) that directly installs the electric vehicle (EV) charging stations. Instead, there is a direct collaboration with Charging Point Operators (CPO), formalized through a memorandum of understanding. COBO provides space free of charge, while the CPOs (such as Enel X Way and beCharge) handle the installation and management of the charging stations without additional costs for the public administration. This model has worked well so far, but there are some limitations:

  flexibility in the choice of locations: strict constraints cannot be imposed on EV charging station positioning, as CPOs may consider certain areas too expensive or inconvenient. In practice, the selection of locations is a compromise between demand factors (represented by the needs of users and the Municipality) and supply factors (i.e., the economic interests of the operators). For example, CPOs tend to prefer areas near power distribution cabinets to reduce installation costs, such as excavation and cabling expenses;

  charging station power: CPOs are often incentivized to install high-power infrastructure because it generates higher revenue and takes advantage of economies of scale, allowing more charges to be completed in the same time-frame compared to lower-power stations. However, COBO is not focused on this model, as it aims to promote intermodality, which means enabling the combination of vehicle charging with the use of other forms of transport, such as public transit. High-power charging stations, which recharge vehicles quickly and encourage rapid vehicle turnover, do not support this approach. For example, users might decide to recharge their vehicle in 20 minutes, wait on-site, and then continue their journey by car instead of using a bus.
  Therefore, COBO's intention is to focus on lower-power charging stations, which allow for slower recharging (typically taking a few hours) and give users greater flexibility as regards their desired parking time. Indeed, the low-power charging station better aligns with long-term parking, which is typical of intermodal areas where users might leave their cars for several hours and use public transportation for further trips, thus promoting intermodality.