ITS Monday: Edition 14, 2026

Toward sustainable urban freight: A two-stage station-network design framework for metro-based underground logistics system

A new academic paper (actually all this week’s ITS Monday are academic papers), co-authored by Jiaqi Tian, Shuqi Xue, and Nirajan Shiwakoti.

The abstract:

The rapid growth in parcel volumes and severe urban traffic congestion has driven cities to explore the Metro-based Underground Logistics System (M-ULS) as a novel and sustainable urban freight solution, but systematic frameworks, including metro stations and networks for piloting M-ULS, remain underdeveloped.

To address this gap, this study develops a two-stage method: first, a Node-Place-Underground Logistics (NPUL) model is proposed to evaluate the suitability of metro stations for the M-ULS integration; second, two customized pilot network construction methods are designed and compared based on the high-suitability stations identified by the NPUL model. A case study in Xi’an, China, validates the efficacy of the approach: results show that the NPUL model accurately identifies the compatibility between metro stations and ULS, and effectively classifies “High-value” stations as priority pilot targets.

Furthermore, the generated pilot networks provide flexible reference schemes for policymakers, with each scheme exhibiting distinct advantages in network scale, impact on passenger travel and potential sustainability benefits. Results from simplified scenario experiments indicate that, relative to conventional road transport, the proposed approach reduces carbon emissions by 61.5–79.7% and Vehicle Kilometers Traveled (VKT) by 76.7–82.3%, thereby significantly enhancing environmental sustainability while effectively alleviating traffic congestion.

This study provides a set of scalable tools to guide the integration of urban freight into existing metro systems, filling a key gap in systematic M-ULS pilot to advance sustainable urban logistics.

Related iMOVE article:

• FACTS: A Framework for an Australian Clean Transport Strategy
• The Conductor Series: The electrification of transport
• Sustainable Transportation: Info, projjects, and resources/

Related iMOVE projects:

• Co-modality: Could it mitigate the freight load in Sydney?

Valuing the eudaimonic wellbeing benefits of land use transport measures

This academic paper is co-authored by John Stanley, David Hensher, Dianne Vella-Brodrick, and Janet Stanley.

The abstract:

Benefit measurement for locally-focused land use transport interventions is often narrow. The ultimate purpose of such interventions is often improved citizen wellbeing, yet this is seldom measured or monetized. Adding such valuation provides a way to more comprehensively reflect the value of associated interventions.

Subjective wellbeing measurement is broadly divided between hedonic and eudaimonic streams, benefit monetization focusing on the value of changes in life satisfaction (part of hedonic wellbeing). While improving life satisfaction might have initial value, this might not be sustained if eudaimonic wellbeing is not concurrently promoted, suggesting land use transport policy/planning should take a broader view of what it means for people to be ‘well’ than is embedded in life satisfaction.

However, no values have been identified for changes in levels of eudaimonic wellbeing, partly because of lack of agreement about how to best measure eudaimonic wellbeing. To address this monetisation gap, the paper develops a value for changes in eudaimonic wellbeing, measured using Ryff’s (1989) Scale, and explores implications for valuing wellbeing as life satisfaction. The resulting eudaimonic wellbeing values are likely to be particularly useful for evaluating land use/transport initiatives with a local focus, such as walking and place-making improvements, but the monetised values are more broadly applicable.

Literature implied that changes in eudaimonic wellbeing may have higher monetized value than changes in life satisfaction, because of the broader societal connections embedded within eudaimonic wellbeing, an expectation confirmed in the analysis, highlighting the policy importance of eudaimonic wellbeing.

Understanding mobility choices in Australia’s driverless future: A mixed logit modelling study

This paper is co-authored by Asif Faisal, Tan Yigitcanlar, Sheikh Islam, Niklas Tilly, and Alexander Paz.

The abstract:

The anticipated introduction of driverless vehicle mobility in Australia from 2027 underscores the need to better understand user preferences and evolving travel behaviours. Conventional classifications such as ‘owned only’, ‘shared only’, or ‘bus riding only’ often fail to capture the hybrid and overlapping nature of future mobility choices.

This study reconceptualises autonomous mobility choice (AMC) into three integrated modes: private autonomous mobility (PAM), shared autonomous mobility (SAM), and public autonomous mobility (PUAM), enabling a more holistic understanding of multi-modal travel. Using survey data from 985 respondents across Brisbane, Melbourne, and Sydney, a Mixed Logit (MXL) model was employed to examine determinants of AMC preferences.

Descriptive analysis reveals strong interest in PAM (22%) and moderate engagement with SAM (3%), while traditional private vehicles continue to dominate (35%). The MXL model identifies significant predictors influencing AMC choices, including age, vehicle value, use of driving aids, trip purpose, adoption timeframe, current commuting mode, travel distance, and relocation intentions linked to AV adoption. Marginal effects indicate younger adults exhibit lower interest in PAM, whereas mid-value car owners show stronger preferences for PUAM and SAM. Long-distance commuters are more likely to adopt SAM, while those considering relocation from urban centres tend to prefer PAM.

Overall, the findings demonstrate the value of the proposed unified AMC framework in capturing complex, hybrid mobility preferences and providing a more robust basis for designing adaptive, inclusive, and forward-looking policy frameworks to guide the integration of autonomous mobility into future transport systems.

Related iMOVE articles:

• Autonomous Driving: Info, Projects & Resources
• Autonomous Driving Technology: Info, Projects & Resources

Related iMOVE projects:

• CAVs and the environment: A cleaner future?
• CAVs and Australians: Attitudes, perceptions, preferences
• Safely deploying automated vehicles on Australian roads

Developing a multimodal transport simulation model using a case study of the Suburban Rail Loop East, Melbourne, Australia

This paper is co-authored by co-authored by Mahsa Abdollahyar, Alan Both, Afshin Jafari, Steve Pemberton, Dhirendra Singh, Billie Giles-Corti, and Lucy Gunn.

The abstract:

Agent- and activity-based transport models when combined link transport network flows to the individuals generating them, enabling exploration of the interplay between travel needs and transport network capacity.

This study expanded a recently developed multi-modal agent- and activity-based transport model of Greater Melbourne, Australia by incorporating travel mode choices of demographic cohorts, a more accurate representation of public transport trips, and walking or driving to train stations. Separate mode choice models were developed for five unique cohorts of travellers. The model was calibrated and validated for each cohort using Victorian Integrated Survey of Travel and Activity data.

The model simulated a Baseline scenario of existing transport infrastructure and an alternative scenario that includes Stage 1 of the Suburban Rail Loop, or SRL East, a new rail network traversing under-served middle suburbs. Results show SRL East will increase walking trips and average daily walking distances, and decrease car trips in areas surrounding SRL East train stations. The average walking distance between SRL areas increased between 4.9% and 11.1% for the respective cohorts, with the largest increase for those aged between 20 and 24.

Results suggest SRL East will change people’s travel behaviour and influence the uptake of active transport, with the cohort results useful for age and gender-based interventions. The research is significant for showing SRL East’s impacts on active transport up-take and for influencing city-wide transport and urban planning. Future research modelling local and city-wide impacts of all stages of the SRL are warranted.

When public transit stops, bikes roll: Measuring the impacts of public transit strikes on bicycle sharing use in Montréal

Last for the week, a new academic paper by way of Canada, and is co-authored by Hisham Negm and Ahmed El-Geneidy.

The abstract:

Public transit strikes reduce bus and metro service, prompting reliance on other modes of transport such as bicycle-sharing and testing the resilience of the transport system. This study examines the relationship between two public transit strikes in Montréal, Canada, in 2025 and ridership of BIXI, the city’s bicycle-sharing system.

Using data on BIXI trip history, weather, Bike Score®, public transit infrastructure, and the Canadian census, we estimate multilevel regression models with crossed random effects to predict the number of BIXI trips at an aggregated hexagon level. Our results show a statistically positive association between public transit strike days and BIXI ridership. On average, ridership increased by 18% on strike days compared to a typical weekday with regular public transit service in 2025.

These findings suggest that operational adaptations, such as increased staffing and bicycle redistribution, enhance the contribution of bicycle-sharing systems to transport system resilience during disruptions.

Related iMOVE project:

Related iMOVE articles:

• Active Transport: Info, Projects &; Resources
• Micromobility: Info, Projects &; Resources

Related iMOVE projects:

• Optimising multimodal transport networks: Sharing road space
• Safer cycling infrastructure: Design and policy
• Behavioural change for sustainable transport