Combatting Congestion 2025

Introduction Addressing congestion demands innovative and focused first- and last-mile solutions for enabling sustainable mobility. Cities constitute a significant proportion of environmental pollution, accounting for approximately 60-80% of worldwide energy consumption and more than 75% of carbon emissions.1 One of the primary sources of these emissions is the transport sector, which contributes approximately one-quarter of all energy-related greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.2 Since 1970, transport emissions have increased nearly threefold. The sector currently ranks as the second-largest contributor to global carbon emissions,3 with road- based transport accounting for around 75% of all transport emissions.4 In many cities, transport accounts for about one-third of total carbon emissions,5 and with other sectors such as energy rapidly decarbonizing, transport is the largest source of emissions for many cities throughout the world. The continued dependence on internal combustion engine vehicles, coupled with the high use of single-occupancy vehicles, makes tackling emissions from transport a major challenge. Beyond the challenge of emissions, transport systems characterized by single-occupancy vehicles mean that many cities continue to struggle with the issue of road traffic congestion. Congestion adds hundreds of hours to journey times each year in major cities around the world, causing both longer commute times and delays to the delivery of goods, costing millions of dollars in excess fuel consumption and loss of productivity.6,7 On top of delays in travel times, congestion puts pressure on cities through infrastructure strain, decreased quality of life, as well as increased emissions and pollution.8 Solutions are needed to tackle the issue of congestion and advance the transition to more efficient, sustainable transportation models in cities. Local and national authorities play a key role in addressing congestion, with one of the most effective strategies being the improvement of first- and last-mile journeys. First and last mile refers to the transportation of goods or people at the beginning or end part of a journey, which in cities, are often major contributors to congestion due to the high number of single-occupancy vehicles typically being used. Intervening in first- and last-mile transport is crucial for reducing congestion and pollution9 while improving overall transport efficiency in cities. While shared transport, public transit, walking and cycling are vital for reducing congestion, cities need new solutions to meet evolving urban transport demands. A comprehensive approach across technology, policy and infrastructure is required to deliver efficient first- and last-mile journeys. This report examines a range of innovative solutions, from proven methods with clear impacts to emerging technologies being tested to address congestion. Many of these solutions are the result of public-private collaboration, which is crucial for developing effective first- and last-mile interventions. First- and last-mile passenger transport Transport journeys encompass the movement from one’s origin to the desired destination, whether it be for work, medical appointments, shopping, educational purposes, or leisure activities. When travelling by public transport, the distance individuals need to travel from the point of origin to a transit stop is commonly referred to as the first mile of the journey, whereas the distance from the arrival transit stop to the destination is referred to as the last mile of the journey. Effective first- and last-mile solutions in passenger transport play a vital role in fostering a seamless, efficient and accessible public transport experience, enabling people to easily access public transport services. Typical passenger journey FIGURE 1. OriginFirst mile DesitinationLast mile Combatting Congestion: How Cities and Companies are Innovating First- and Last-Mile Transport 5