Mobility hubs – an important piece in the decarbonisation puzzle

Different strategies can be employed to decarbonise the transport sector such as introducing green fuel, electrification and improving energy efficiency. Yet, decarbonisation isn’t just about low-carbon energy sources. It’s equally important to change our needs and behaviours around travel such that we incentivise and encourage sustainable transport use by promoting safe, secure, accessible and equitable public and alternative transport modes, such as active mobility. The approach not only helps in reducing congestion and emissions but also improves quality of life. This is where the crucial role of mobility hubs, transit oriented developments and changing land use typologies play a large role.

What are mobility hubs?

Mobility hubs are identifiable places that bring together different transport modes and services to encourage multimodal journeys. They vary in scale, from small-scale hubs like local bus terminus to large-scale hubs like airports, playing an important role in connecting people and communities.

Mobility hubs as key enablers to sustainable transport transition

Mobility hubs such as airports, seaports, stations, and transport interchanges have the opportunity to become key enablers in the transition to a sustainable and green transport ecosystem. Ground transport emissions reduction initiatives can be driven and supported through different emerging technologies, government policies, partnerships, infrastructure, and accessibility improvements. Mobility hubs also inherently bring large flows of people movement, enabling commerce and mixed-use development at and surrounding their locations.

In this article, we will discuss a few case studies and demonstrate how mobility hubs can leverage different strategies to enable the adoption of sustainable transport options.

Ramboll has developed roadmaps and strategies to support ground transport emissions reductions around the world by combining different initiatives, including electric vehicle (EV) charging facilities, operational and business models which promote a transition to greener vehicles, active transport plans and campaigns, corporate carpooling and ridesharing, incentivising passenger green choices, and mass transit accessibility strategies.

Case Studies

The Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) project in Jakarta, introduced to relieve great traffic congestion in Indonesia's capital city, is a government initiative supported by policy.

In 2006, only 2% of residents used the rail service in the city. The government then started the MRT project to solve traffic congestion, air pollution and environmental degradation, which had become severe problems in Jakarta.

Convincing users, investors, and stakeholders that a reliable public transport system in Jakarta was achievable was challenging. However, with support from the government, the following measures were implemented, leading the MRT in Jakarta to exceed its targeted ridership in late 2023 (91 thousand passengers per day achieved against the target of 70 thousand people per day).

• Proper integration of the bus system and public last-mile connectivity to the station to key nodes around the city in a convenient way.
• Fostering collaboration with the private sector to boost MRT ridership by partnering with private first- and last-mile connection providers, such as discounts with public taxis, ride-hailing services, shuttle services etc., for commuting with the MRT.
• Supporting active mobility by promoting bicycle rides to and from the MRT stations. A sharing system was piloted, and stations have been adapted to be more cycle-friendly, such as implementing bicycle conveyors to reduce the cyclists’ efforts to dismount and push their bicycles across the facilities, especially staircases.

This shows how thinking of stations not just as nodes but as mobility hubs where people interchange to/from last mile connectivity enables and encourages enhanced ridership, a key factor in Jakarta achieving target ridership – it’s not just about the metro but also how you get to and from the metro, and the entire experience in between.

Larger mobility hubs such as airports have a unique opportunity to become green and Eco-friendly hubs.

Milan Malpensa Airport has partnered with Free To X to implement high-power electric car charging systems in various locations right outside the airports for use by both airport users and local residents.

Schiphol Airport in the Netherlands provides charging facilities for cars and motorbikes, with users being charged per kilowatt rather than based on time, with no time limitations. EV charging is also offered as part of their valet services. The airport also partners with apps like EV Spot to help locate charging stations. Upgraded EV charging infrastructure provides greater convenience and incentives for user adoption.

Ramboll has also conducted a road map for an airport in Seattle, Washington, with the project backed by asset owners. We developed a set of solutions to achieve 100% EV ride-sharing and taxi services. Our Smart Mobility team tailored customised solutions, including educational programmes, incentives for drivers, partnerships, an EV rental programme, priority queues for EV owners to get preferred space and grants for on-site charging, among others.

Future possibilities include Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) and other technologies that could incentivise the use of EVs to achieve a 100% electrical fleet by 2030.

The use of incentives in public engagement is also a key factor in encouraging public transport interconnectivity with airports, as seen at Boston International Airport.

The ‘Ticket to Skip’ initiative by Boston International Airport allows passengers to receive priority access at airport security lines when they travel to and from the airport with the available bus and waterborne public transport services. This initiative aimed to encourage passengers to use high-occupancy vehicles when travelling to the airport and reduce congestion. Ridership of the Back Bay Logan Express airport shuttle more than doubled from 45,000 to 98,000 within the first four months of implementing this initiative.

This exemplifies that incentivisation works when systems are connected and convenient for use. Some other examples of airports providing incentives when using public transport connections include:

• Madrid Metro reduced its airport fares
• ‘Catch Airport Link’ banner in Sydney Airport

Interconnectivity systems and services are established, and campaigns can promote their use. The campaigns also raise awareness of the availability of these public transport services to and from the airports.

The measures mentioned above, when implemented effectively, will result in positive contributions towards achieving global decarbonisation goals.

Cycling to airports is a unique option that has been explored and implemented in some airports where passengers can cycle via a network of cycle paths. A well-planned cycle path network provides a foundation to encourage cycling to airports, while clear information for connectivity and support networks makes the experience more attractive. Examples include Heathrow Airport in London and Vancouver International Airport in Canada.

• Heathrow introduced its Cycle Hub, which provides support, subsidies, and information to cyclists and an on-site bike shop to foster active transport in the airport.
• Vancouver has well planned cycle paths through the city leading to the airport and bikes are allowed in all trains and ferry systems. The airport website also provide links to local and regional cycling information, for easier intermodal journeys.

Collaboration is key to transform mobility hubs for a net-zero future

The opportunities to leverage mobility hubs to drive transition towards a net-zero future are immense, but also complex. It requires all parties to come together, from having a net-zero vision for asset owners, technological advancements, to favourable regulatory frameworks, and a well-informed and engaged public. There is no ‘one size fits all’ solution.

Ramboll is actively working to accelerate sustainable change and facilitate the global transition towards more sustainable mobility. As a leader in low-carbon transport, Ramboll offers tailored solutions from enhancing rail networks to the decarbonisation of shipping and smart transport concepts for liveable cities. Reach out to our team of experts to start your conversation to achieve your sustainability goals.