Subsídios para o planejamento e gestão da mobilidade sustentável em instituições de ensino superior

Abstract

Higher education institutions (HEIs) promote daily commuting that, if unplanned, cause negative impacts on urban mobility. HEIs need to manage mobility based on sustainable initiatives to improve the transport experiences of the academic community and to contribute to the accessibility, safety and quality of life in cities. This research aimed to support HEI planners in the process of managing sustainable mobility projects. Firstly, a literature review was conducted using the Proknow-C method to understand how HEIs deal with mobility problems over the years and in different countries; as well as the methodological approaches used, characteristics that influence the problems, and the sustainable mobility initiatives adopted. Second, a strategic plan was proposed to guide mobility management, covering guidelines, stakeholders and alternatives in a four-step management structure: diagnose, formulate actions, implement and monitor. In addition, a diagnostic model, based on a questionnaire, and a set of structuring, behavioral and regulatory actions was developed. Thirdly, a hybrid method of analyzing mobility data is presented as an instrument to support decision making. The method combines multivariate statistics and cluster analysis with georeferencing support to determine the contributing factors and HEI mobility profiles, in a way that the spatial distribution of the origin (home) and destination (HEI) provide implications on environmental factors (accessibility to public transport, land use, distance from home) that affect transport choices. Finally, the strategic plan and the method of analysis are explored in a case study applied to the central Campus of the Federal University of Santa Maria (UFSM) to determine what are the current limitations preventing the adoption of active and collective transport methods and the actions necessary to achieve sustainable mobility in the HEI. The results show that mobility limitations, such as the lack of adequate infrastructure for walking and cycling in the neighborhood, as well as operational and infrastructural deficiencies of public transport. In addition, the wide offer free parking facilities on campus act as a facilitator for traveling by car, even for short distances. Structural and regulatory actions are proposed to first be carried out, in order to improve walking and cycling conditions in the neighborhood, as well as encourage affordable housing in the surroundings of the HEI, expanding the public transport offer at peak times on university routes, and integrating it with other lines that connect it to neighborhoods. Subsequently, regulatory actions may be implemented to restrict access of private vehicles, along with behavioral actions to encourage carpooling, as well as campaigns and academic activities to encourage active mobility. Policy implications of the research are discussed in terms of the need for joint and collaborative participation of the HEI with municipal public managers and other actors to ensure the effectiveness of sustainable mobility practices.