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Has collaboration contributed to goal achievement in Swedish public transport?

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  • Pyddoke, Roger
  • Thoresson, Karin

Abstract

Collaborative contracting between public transport authorities (PTAs) and bus operators has been presented as a successful method for reaching public transport policy goals. This paper examines management processes and outcome data, asking whether this management approach, incorporating more far-reaching collaborative elements, is associated with higher goal achievement in two Swedish regions and two contracts. Stated regional policy goals are ridership growth, reaching set levels of customer satisfaction, and some cost-efficiency. This management approach suggests that PTAs should delegate more planning responsibility to operators. PTA management assessed the approach to be valid but, to our surprise, also said that they frequently reclaimed previously abandoned control to secure desired outcomes. This indicates that more delegation may not necessarily have led to increased goal achievement. Without making claims as to causality, we note that ridership increased in both regions and individual contracts, while customer satisfaction stagnated and costs increased steeply in both regions, but not in one contract. The paper questions whether collaborative contracting, on average, has contributed to ridership increases generally, although it may have in some instances.

Suggested Citation

  • Pyddoke, Roger & Thoresson, Karin, 2023. "Has collaboration contributed to goal achievement in Swedish public transport?," Research in Transportation Economics, Elsevier, vol. 99(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:retrec:v:99:y:2023:i:c:s0739885923000331
    DOI: 10.1016/j.retrec.2023.101293
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Stanley, John & van de Velde, Didier, 2008. "Risk and reward in public transport contracting," Research in Transportation Economics, Elsevier, vol. 22(1), pages 20-25, January.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Procurement; Contract; Collaboration; Public transport; Bus; Sweden; Patronage; Customer satisfaction; Cost-efficiency;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • R49 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Transportation Economics - - - Other
    • H44 - Public Economics - - Publicly Provided Goods - - - Publicly Provided Goods: Mixed Markets
    • H57 - Public Economics - - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies - - - Procurement
    • H76 - Public Economics - - State and Local Government; Intergovernmental Relations - - - Other Expenditure Categories

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