Athena Roumboutsos

The application of sustainable urban public transport policies has lead many public transport authorities to the (re) introduction of light transit rail (LRT) systems in cities with existing transport operators. The operational integration of the new entrant is a prerequisite. Public regulating authorities are faced with the problem of intervention and more precisely, when and how to intervene. To this end, a game theoretic conceptual model has been developed focusing on the integration of the LRT with an existing Metro and Bus operator System, resulting in a simple decision tool for the public regulator. Findings are compared to reported case studies and indicate the operators’ potential to establish fare integration while the furthering of integration measures depends on market size and the risk averseness of the existing transport operators.

The notion of sustainability has lead to the evaluation of public projects in terms of wider socio-economic and environmental benefits. The Cost Benefit Analysis and its respective, Social Discount Rate (SDR), is of crucial importance, especially when the advantages of private financing are to be demonstrated in comparison with the alternative traditional procurement of works and services. The SDR seen

The adoption of innovation has frequently been described as path-dependent, highlighting the randomness in overcoming barriers. Addressing these issues within a System provides an improved understanding of the forces at work and allows for the planning and implementation of policy interventions in favor of innovation uptake especially when the objective is welfare. Extending the Systems’ Innovation approach, a Systems’ Innovation framework for policy support is produced to assist in indicating when and how to intervene in the adoption/ technology transfer process. The proposed framework is applied to the introduction of e-vehicles in city logistics. Findings indicate the dependence of the innovation uptake on the innovation leader/champion and that need to transfer leadership from central authorities to municipal authorities in order to move from the initiation stage to the implementation stage. The importance of strong networks between innovation actors and respective building of capabilities, which may also work in favor of other competitive innovations, is also derived from the analysis.

Electric vehicles have received considerable attention as an innovation contributing to the reduction of local air and noise pollution. However, small production rates reflected in high purchase prices, leading to small market uptake and underdeveloped support/service networks, renders them commercially unjustifiable. Urban freight transport operations may provide the grounds to promote larger scale deployment, but policy intervention is required. Identifying when and how policy makers should intervene is an objective. This is analyzed on both an European Union (EU) level and a “typical” city level with the respective System of Innovation as proposed in the presented framework. The analysis also is viewed inter-temporal. While on an EU level, the strong partnerships required are both identified and in place, on a “typical” city logistics level, the multi-actor environment with the plethora of binary objectives limits the direct policy intervention to regulator/ planner, if market distortions are to be avoided. In this case, while consolidation may be achieved, this does not necessarily lead to the introduction of electrical powered vehicle fleets.

The promotion of intermodal transport for passengers and goods has been one of the main pillars of the European Transport Policy for the last three decades. The objectives of various policy developments towards promotion of Intermodality relate to a more rational modal split and better exploitation of resources, a better connectivity and accessibility of the European transport system and, mainly, the reduction of negative external transport effects on the safety of the environment and quality of life. Intermodal terminals' service performance plays a crucial role in the decision making process of users, since it affects modal (or intermodal) choice decisions and, consequently, route selection in several cases. In the case of trips with tourism purpose, it may affect also the destination choice. In the case of passenger transport more particularly, the quality performance of services offered at "interfaces" relates not only to purely transport attributes (e.g. transport cost, transport time, waiting time, accessibility to other modes etc) but also to the existence and quality of many other services to users (information, leisure, shopping, culture etc). In most of cases, interfaces between different modes correspond to a multi-polar "interchange" area rather than to an ideally defined physical nodal point. Examples of these interchange areas are big airports or maritime ports in spatial proximity with railway stations or metro/bus stations for short distance end haul transport, but subject to distinct management authorities and organization. This involves a more complicated infrastructural environment and consequently, more complex users' approach as far as perceptions and requirements are concerned. Therefore, this paper introduces the concept of "interchange" instead of that of the classical passenger terminal. The paper aims at developing a methodology for exploring and quantifying the users' requirements for service performance at "interchanges" in the case of passenger intermodal transport, with emphasis on tourism as the trip purpose. The paper takes into account the development and analysis of new mobility schemes and associated organizational patterns at the interface and interconnection between transport networks. The paper applies the proposed methodology in the case study of the port of Patras in Greece. The port of Patras, located in the north-west of Peloponnese, represents the main western gate of Greece. It knows among others an important demand of passenger transport for tourist purposes -with high seasonality due to tourism- between western and central Europe through Italy and the Adriatic-Ionian corridor to Greece. The paper develops the design of the research, the analysis of the collected data and a detailed description of the selected elaboration techniques. The first part of the paper is concentrated on the identification of the key requirements of the travelers. It includes various categories of services such as travel, interconnectivity, information, banking, catering, shop, leisure, culture and other services to users. "Internal" and "external" services offered at the interchange are also distinguished. Based on a survey performed at the port of Patras, the paper assesses the relative importance of these services and their relative impact on terminal/route choice and, in certain cases, on the destination choice (the latter being strongly related to travelers having tourism as the trip purpose). In the second part, the paper compares the users' requirements, as stated during the survey, with the perceived utility by the users for the actual capabilities and performance of the Port of Patras. In the third part, based on the outcomes of this comparison, the paper proceeds to suggestions for appropriate measures aiming at upgrading the interconnection between the port and the road and rail network, as well as at upgrading the port attractiveness. Beyond the results from the statistical analysis of the questionnaire survey that took place in the port of Patras and the evaluation of the most important quality factors according to customers' opinion, the added value of the paper consists in designing the main axes of a new "business" model for transport interchange hubs. Based on the port of Patras survey, this business model deals with organizational issues in order to develop more integrated managerial schemes between stakeholders, achieve better coordination and promote more efficient and attractive intermodal services.

Innovation is imperative in sustaining the competitiveness of the port industry. While the transportation industry has made considerable progress during the past decades in an effort to remain competitive in an era of sophistication, the port sector seems to be lagging. The two major streams of innovation theory suggest that fact may be due to either a lack of capabilities (linear theory) or a malfunction in the innovation system (evolutionary theory or systems of innovation). The present analysis takes advantage of a large number of case studies (75) to identify patterns in the innovation process, which support success in terms of meeting objectives. In this context, four basic hypotheses are tested concerning: (1) The importance of capabilities (external knowledge and financing); (2) The accord of all actors involved; (3) The importance of market push; and (4) The ability of the innovation champion to influence actors and outcome. These hypotheses reflect on the basic theoretical ...

Public private partnerships (PPPs) are about the sharing of risks and risk transfer. The various models are based on respective risk sharing, while responsibilities in financing, business development and governance demonstrate different trends in the various modes. The economic crisis has had an impact on both the transport sector and stakeholder risk assessment. Private finance of public infrastructure has been based on the assumption of ever growing demand and user willingness or ability to pay. Revenue risk was considered comparatively low. Proper allocation of this risk was insignificant. The pertaining economic crisis has highlighted this shortcoming. Risk estimates have shifted. A pilot survey registers this shift. These trends are used to propose key characteristics to be included in PPPs. New financing models may be required. The present research reports on the initial findings of an international survey investigating inter-temporal shifts in the assessment of key risks in t...

The rise in global sea levels and extreme events directly challenge the international freight infrastructure. This is particularly important considering the significance of sea-borne trade in international commerce and that key logistics and trade centers are located near coastal areas. Three strategies to adapt to the changes and disruptions are imperative. These include enabling a global framework to assess climate change and extreme event risks in maritime activities, design adaptive enforcement mechanisms that set a minimal standard to reduce pollutants and develop sustainable infrastructure for seaborne activities, and ensure that future infrastructure investments contribute to mitigating climate change and extreme events (such as pandemics).

Risk transfer is central to the procurement mechanism in terms of method definition, contract negotiation, achievement of value-for-money and overall project success. Risk allocation is carried out between at least two risk-averse agents, a public tendering authority and a private bidder, facing a risk-sharing problem constrained by bounded rationality. The issue is furthered when complex project finance is anticipated for project implementation. The principal parameters for procurement selection are identified and the major types of procurement models are analyzed vis-a-vis plausible strategic behavior. A procurement selection Framework is proposed based on the above analysis to aid public authorities in their task.

Public-private partnership (PPP) policy strategies emphasize the ability of PPPs to foster innovation. Evidence reported in literature supports less the inherent quality of PPPs for innovation and more the importance of contributing factors. The contractual agreement is the setting of these factors. In this context, an analytical model based on behavioural economics is presented, with boundary conditions reflecting various contractual configurations. The analysis indicates why, from a purely economic point of view, the private party in a PPP arrangement has an incentive to invest in low risk incremental innovations, which impact on, and positively effect, cost savings during construction and operation. It is also identified that further innovations are hampered by the ability to produce verifiable improvements correlated to performance. Findings contribute to the subject of public procurement for innovation in PPPs and support public authorities regarding the rationale, potential and necessary framework conditions for the use of public procurement as an innovation policy tool.

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to view and analyse public‐private partnerships (PPPs) under a strategic partnering approach between the key parties involved, i.e. public sector, private sector and lenders, and their business environment.Design/methodology/approachA strategic partnering framework analysis methodology has been devised based on existing and well‐known business strategic analysis tools (the political‐economic‐social‐technological (PEST) and strengths‐weaknesses‐opportunities‐threats (SWOT) analysis). The methodology consists of modules and may be used to identify the potential of strategic partnering in a sector and/or country and/or for a particular project in a procurement process. By using appropriate modules of the methodology, public sector partnering requirements or the market potential for PPPs, in general, may be assessed.FindingsThe small‐scale application of a module of the methodology is demonstrated through an international consultation on the influence...

The notion of sustainability has lead to the evaluation of public projects in terms of wider socio-economic and environmental benefits. The Cost Benefit Analysis and its respective, Social Discount Rate (SDR), is of crucial importance, especially when the advantages of private financing are to be demonstrated in comparison with the alternative traditional procurement of works and services. The SDR seen

The road traffic share in Europe--with various degrees depending on the country--is dramatically increasing, with numerous negative impacts on the environment and the quality of life leading to the need to reduce external (social) cost derived from the transport activity. Transport policy developments envisage the encouragement of Intermodality aiming to minimize environmental impacts by realizing a shift from road to intermodal transport. This key policy target consists in creating favorable conditions for decision-makers to change their transport chain structure and convert from door-to-door road to door-to-door intermodal chains. Short Sea Shipping (SSS) is one of the pillars of intermodal transport, the other being railroad transport chains and, in terms of external costs, contributes to European Union (EU) Transport policy targets. However, within Europe the SSS activity does not seem to achieve an appropriate level of recognition or market share in the overall transport networ...

In Greece, as in other PPP markets, risk allocation is foreseen to become a key issue in the development of Public-Private Partnerships. The attitudes, beliefs, values and expectations of stakeholders, both private and public, have an impact on risk considerations. The present paper explores and registers the risk considerations of the Greek construction companies considering their involvement in Greek PPP infrastructure projects. The investigation was conducted through a questionnaire survey. The research findings reinforce the results of other surveys carried out on the subject and should enable public sector clients to establish a more efficient framework for risk allocation, thus reducing negotiations prior to contract award.