1 Dimensions of Sustainability

Economic studies have shown that effective mobility and access improve incomes both for people and urban areas. At the same time, there is concern that the mechanisms of mobility be sustainable. But public and transport policies have been insufficiently broad in their characterization of sustainability. The principal focus of sustainability policy has been on environmental factors, which are, of course crucial. But the actions of people and governments are often in conflict with policies adopted for environmental sustainability. As a result, environmental sustainability can, in some situations, be characterized as little more than a statement of intentions that is negated by the actions of people and government. This is principally because genuine sustainability must be acceptable. If policies intended to produce environmental sustainability are not observed by people and their governments, then their objectives cannot be met. Moreover, transport solutions that might be considered sustainable, but which cannot be affordably extended throughout an urban area may produce outcomes inferior to less expensive programs that might be extended throughout the area. 2 Additional dimensions of sustainability are proposed that should be observed for the objectives of environmental sustainability to be achieved. These include issues such as public policy trends, preferences as revealed in household behavior, financial capability and infrastructure alternatives. The purpose of the paper is to propose a public policy context for considering sustainability in the broader context. It is suggested that such an approach would lead, in the longer run, to more favorable economic and environmental results