Modern institutions for constructing, maintaining and operating transport systems evolved as a consequence of the rapid growth in demand for mobility that accompanied the industrial revolution. Thus they traditionally focused on mobility and efficiency objectives. Later as the systems became bigger and more complex to operate safety became an important goal. By the mid-20th Century both in Europe and the US, transportation investment and operational decisions were motivated and dominated by these objectives. During the 1960s, environmental quality and equity became important societal goals. These objectives subsequently found their way into transportation policy. More recently, national competitiveness, economic development and technological leadership have been added to the national policy agenda in general and thus also to the transportation policy agenda. This broadening of objectives has expanded the range of relevant actors in transport policy and operations. As a consequence, the traditional transportation institutional framework is being forced to accommodate a wider than traditional range of objectives and interests at the same time that there is rapid change in transport technology. This paper examines the institutional stress that is being created by the expanded objectives and rapid technological change. The analysis focuses on both the United States and Europe and offers a research agenda for institutional issues in transportation. (A)
Abstract