Mobility hubs are identifiable places that bring together different transport modes and services to encourage multimodal journeys. By enabling convenient switches among various modes of transportation, including transit, biking, walking, shared mobility, and e-mobility, they act as key hubs in strategic locations. They are flexible and can be designed in an adaptable manner in response to local community needs.
The open way that mobility hubs are designed means that they are a great tool to help resolve many fundamental challenges public agencies face today. By leveraging the benefits of different transportation modes, services, and technologies, mobility hubs enable decision-makers to support equity, climate, health, and mobility objectives. The implementation of mobility hubs can also engage local communities and support placemaking initiatives.
By planning and designing mobility hub networks, our global New Mobility team collaborates with transit providers, regional agencies, cities and private operators to decrease the need for solo driving. Our expertise is based on a deep understanding of user behaviour and the factors which help or hinder the adoption of new technologies, enabling us to build an evidence base to inform the planning and implementation of new products and services.
Our team brings unique international experience to mobility hub strategy and design. We have demonstrable experience in market analysis, business cases, regulatory review and bid support, strategy development, planning and implementation and monitoring and evaluation. We have worked on projects supporting the development of over 400 mobility hubs across both North America and Europe, with a number of high-profile projects in areas of economic transformation and geographical interest.
In Southern California, Steer created the Orange County Mobility Hubs Strategy for the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA). The Strategy identified possible locations for mobility hubs, discussed digital infrastructure and other planning considerations and outlined implementation pathways. It also showed the potential of Mobility Hubs for improved liveability, connectivity and equity across the region.
More recently, Steer has been commissioned by the Sacramento Area Council of Governments (SACOG), to develop their Regional Mobility Hub Design Guidance. SACOG is seeking to leverage mobility hubs to address racial inequities, enhance access to economic opportunity through transportation investment and contribute to creating vibrant places across the region by revitalizing older commercial and retail corridors. Our project will also see us help historically underinvested communities across the six-county area by creating links between urban centres, the suburbs and often-neglected rural and agricultural communities.
Meanwhile, in Europe, Steer continues to hold a strong presence in the mobility hub space. In the last few years, closing the gaps of inequality between regions of the UK has been high on the political agenda. A key component of this has been transport policy, which in some areas is devolved to relatively recently established local authorities such as the West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA). Steer was appointed by WYCA to support a Full Business Case for five proposed mobility hubs.
Steer was also commissioned for a UK-wide initiative by Network Rail, the body responsible for running Britain’s railways. On this occasion, we prepared the 'Parking & Mobility at Stations' design manual that presented how, in the present and future, space could be used effectively to accommodate emerging services, micromobility and other trends through mobility hubs at stations.
Our unique position to support clients on their mobility hubs strategy and planning is supported by our work and expertise in these key burgeoning fields:
Explore more about Steer’s New Mobility work and how we can assist your community in creating mobility hubs in your region.
Contact Alia Verloes (North America) and Matthew Clark (UK, Europe) for more information.
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