Capacities for Resilient and Inclusive Urban Public Transport Infrastructure and Built Environment (CARIN-PT)

The European research project CARIN-PT will investigate the relationship between the built environment and public transport, as well as examine inequalities in terms of needs, capacity, decision-making, and accessibility. Public transport is a vital component of urban infrastructure. Efforts to increase the capacity of public transport have primarily been driven by environmental considerations and economic efficiency, yet it remains unclear how such initiatives and outcomes can be analysed from a social justice perspective. The project aims to build, promote, and accelerate the capacity for a resilient and inclusive public transport infrastructure within urban and built environments. By identifying which social groups and which parts of the city have benefited or are likely to benefit from both traditional and emerging forms of public transport, and by studying the mechanisms through which these effects occur, the project seeks to build upon existing knowledge to support decision-makers and public authorities in fostering an inclusive transition towards increased use of public transport. Developing tools for more equitable public transport planning enables a greater number of people to travel sustainably and reduces the need for private car ownership, thereby contributing to a more energy-efficient transport sector. In close collaboration with policy-makers and service providers, the project will explore issues related to micromobility, fare structures, flexible demand-responsive transport, and transit-oriented development (TOD). This work will be conducted in four urban regions: Tallinn (Estonia), Stockholm (Sweden), Oslo (Norway), and the Flemish Region (Belgium). The overall goal is to bring about a transformation in how urban mobility policies and services are developed, implemented, and delivered—so that urban environments and public transport systems become both integrated and inclusive.