Lessons in Innovation from Paris and London
10/10/2024
A joint APTA-FTA delegation of more than 25 public transit professionals, business executives, and government officials participated in a study mission to Paris and London, June 12-20, 2024.
Led by then APTA Chair Michele Wong Krause, President and CEO Paul P. Skoutelas, and FTA Deputy Administrator Veronica Vanterpool, the group met with regional public transportation authorities and operators in both cities, including Ile de France Mobilites, Régie Autonome des Transports Parisiens (RATP), and Transport for London.
At the 2024 APTA TRANSform in Anaheim, CA, Skoutelas led a roundtable discussion, sponsored by STV, with Krause, Vanterpool, and four other members of the study delegation: Dorval R. Carter Jr., president, Chicago Transit Authority; Debra Johnson, general manager and CEO, Denver RTD; Jannet Walker-Ford, U.S. advisory & planning executive, WSP; and Ray Melleady, chair of APTA’s Business Member Board of Governors and EVP, United Safety & Survivability Corporation.
Among the panelists’ observations were:
Cultural Differences
- In London and Paris, using transit is a dignified experience. Integrated mobility, bus, and bike lanes; and protected spaces for pedestrians, bicyclists, and vulnerable people are designed for all users. Appreciation for various forms of mobility is intentional rather than an afterthought.
The Economic Case for Transit
- Before the congestion tax concept could be adopted in London, public transit had to get better. The strategy was to improve the transport system to a point where one did not need to drive into Central London. Today, everyone sees the benefits, not only of improved public transit, but also of air quality, reduced congestion, more bike lanes, and all that has enhanced the quality of life.
- A better business case for transit investment needs to be made. In France, companies with 11 or more employees pay 50 percent of their employees’ public transportation costs, as well as a levy to the regional transit provider. In London, a congestion tax for cars has been in place for years.
Investing in Service
- London’s 150-year-old transport system is running three-minute headways (on average), which is an amazing achievement for any transit agency in the U.S. or elsewhere. London is investing in the things that the public does not see … track infrastructure, signal systems, switches. It is investing in what matters most in the service it provides. This is why it is successful.
Sustainability
- Sustainability is interwoven in planning and everyday operations. Evident was how years of climate action plans have made a difference. In Paris, for example, a third-party commission works with the community and the transit agency to consider the environmental impact of transit projects.
Technology and Innovation
- Innovation starts with how mobility networks are funded and financed. In Paris and London, financing frameworks are in place to support expansion, operations, workforce development, and sustainability—and these issues are not mutually exclusive.
- Paris and London have world-class systems, so the trip was an opportunity to see what level of investment in technology and innovation is needed to reach that level in the use of AI, data science, procurement, and service delivery models.
Land Use and Housing
- Some of the best transit systems in the world have impressive real estate portfolios. International peers are an example of how to connect real estate and the movement of people.
- Working with a variety of entities focused on affordable housing, Transport for London is building 20,000 homes.
- The innovative land-use policies as seen were creating valuable results. In Paris, a rail depot is the center of a transit-oriented development and new housing.
Commitment to the Customer
- An exceptional commitment by transit leaders in Paris and in London to develop high performing public transportation networks that are future proofed against changes in ridership, funding, and governance was evident.
- High-quality customer service—reliability, frequency, and attractiveness—are at the heart of all decision making.
A full report on APTA’s London and Paris Study Mission will be available in the coming months.