Promoting transportation policies in the context of compact city strategies: the case of Toyama City, Japan

There is a general consensus that transportation policies play a crucial role in establishing a compact city with high density, mixed land use, and well-coordinated transit systems that promote sustainability through mechanisms such as reducing car and energy use. However, the possible contributions of the compact city environment to the increase (or decrease) in public transportation use have been understudied. To fill this gap, the current case study examines psychological factors influencing citizens’ intention to use public transportation modes in the compact city environment in Toyama City, Japan. We focused on citizens’ perception, attitudes, and behaviors, as they play important roles in sustainable development initiatives. Survey questionnaires were used to collect data, and structural equation modeling was performed to analyze 973 respondents’ transportation mode choices. The theoretical foundations underlying this study include the norm-activation theory and the theory of planned behavior. The findings suggest that attitudes, perceived behavioral control, and behavioral norms served as significant factors to explain the intention to use public transportation modes. Consequently, we derived theoretical and practical implications to further promote transportation policies in the context of compact city strategies.