Mobility as a Service: A solution to traffic congestion in Florida

Ardalan, Taraneh · 2020 · Crossref

DOI: 10.19080/cerj.2020.10.555792

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Summary

This opinion paper by Taraneh Ardalan addresses the growing challenge of traffic congestion in Florida, driven by rapid population growth, increased urbanization, and a tourism sector that generates visitor numbers six times the state’s population. The author identifies Mobility as a Service (MaaS) as a potential solution to mitigate these issues, alongside under-utilized public transit systems and limited funding. The paper argues that while Florida’s economy relies heavily on transportation for tourism, agriculture, and logistics, its current transit infrastructure is insufficient to meet the needs of its residents and visitors, particularly given demographic factors like an aging population and specific weather conditions. The article analyzes Florida’s existing transportation landscape, noting its extensive highway system, 15 public seaports, 131 public airports, and various rail services, including intercity and commuter rails. However, it highlights that public transit usage is low, with only about 15% of Miamians using public transit daily, suggesting that traditional investments in mass transit may not be cost-effective. The author outlines the fundamental requirements for implementing MaaS: the availability of diverse transport modes, access to real-time data from operators, accessible infrastructure for electronic ticketing and payments, and coordinated cooperation among stakeholders. The paper posits that MaaS leverages smartphone adoption and digital connectivity to integrate various modes—such as ridesharing, car-sharing, e-scooters, and public transit—into a single application. The findings suggest that MaaS can provide tailored, seamless travel options by combining user trip history, real-time traffic data, and multimodal information. This integration allows for pay-per-mile expenses and adjustable insurance, while smart, connected physical assets enable real-time monitoring. The author asserts that these features address comprehensive user needs while simultaneously reducing congestion, travel time, delays, pollution, costs, and accidents. Although most Florida cities currently lack the reach infrastructure required for MaaS implementation, the paper argues that the necessity of adopting this technology should not be neglected. The significance of the study lies in its recommendation that Florida must begin preparing for MaaS deployment immediately to address future mobility challenges. The author concludes that MaaS offers transformative improvements to social, economic, and environmental aspects of transportation. However, successful implementation requires careful planning to account for regional differences in demographics, culture, infrastructure, and technology availability. The paper emphasizes that while MaaS presents challenges and potential unexpected consequences, it is an inevitable component of future urban mobility, and early preparation is essential for its effective integration into Florida’s transportation system.

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