Course Modules

Module 1: Principles of Public Transport Regulation and Governance 

• The role of public transport in urban and regional development.
• Different models of public transport regulation: command and control, franchising, deregulation.
• Governance structures: public ownership, private operation, public-private partnerships.
• Policy objectives: accessibility, affordability, efficiency, sustainability, safety.
• Legal and institutional frameworks for public transport.
• Case Study: Compare and contrast the public transport regulatory models of two major global cities.

Module 2: Licensing and Permitting Public Transport Operations 

• Requirements for operator licensing: financial, operational, safety, technical.
• Vehicle licensing and certification for public transport vehicles.
• Route licensing and network planning.
• Concession agreements and public service contracts.
• Application, review, and renewal processes for licenses and permits.
• Hands-on Exercise: Review a hypothetical application for a public transport operator license, identifying key elements for approval or rejection.

Module 3: Economic Regulation, Fare Policy, and Financing

• Fare structures and pricing strategies in public transport.
• Mechanisms for fare regulation and subsidy allocation.
• Public transport financing models: public funding, user charges, innovative financing.
• Performance-based contracting and incentives.
• Managing competition and anti-competitive practices in public transport.
• Hands-on Exercise: Develop a basic fare policy for a new bus route, considering affordability, cost recovery, and ridership.

Module 4: Service Quality, Safety, and Accessibility Regulation

• Standards for service quality: reliability, punctuality, cleanliness, customer service.
• Regulatory oversight of public transport safety management systems.
• Accident reporting, investigation, and prevention in public transport.
• Policies and regulations for universal accessibility in public transport for persons with disabilities.
• Driver training, conduct, and welfare regulations.
• Study Tour (Virtual/Video): A virtual tour focusing on a city's efforts to enhance public transport accessibility or its safety monitoring center.

Module 5: Emerging Issues and Future of Public Transport Regulation 

• Regulation of on-demand public transport services (e.g., ride-pooling).
• Policy implications of electric and autonomous public transport vehicles.
• Data governance and privacy in smart public transport systems.
• Integration of different transport modes (multimodal transport).
• Strategies for regulatory reform and adaptation to urban mobility changes.
• Final Exercise: Participants propose a regulatory framework for integrating a new form of urban public transport (e.g., autonomous shuttles) into an existing city network.