Guillaume Fournier

Supervisor: François-Mathieu Poupeau

Since the resurgence of interest in public transport in France from the 1970s onwards and the roll-out of tram and bus networks during the 1990s and 2000s, the integration of transport networks has become a major challenge for local authorities. It is against this backdrop that the concept of intermodality has become a key focus of public policy. Treated as an end in itself, this concept is accompanied by a means: integrated mobility. The aim of the latter is to promote all modes of transport to users and ensure effective coordination between them. Integrated mobility can be viewed as a continuum comprising several stages, manifested through physical integration measures (integration of transport services, timetables and fares) and digital integration measures (smart cards or mobile apps).

As an integral part of these systems, Mobility as a Service (MaaS) constitutes the final stage of integrated mobility as we conceive it today. It is indeed regarded as a digital integration tool that brings together different modes of transport into shared, seamless service offerings, in order to provide bespoke mobility solutions that meet the travel needs of end-users.

This tool appears to address an issue that the digital revolution has exacerbated. The digital revolution has led to the development of digital platforms that have entered the mobility sector by offering new services based on the sharing model. Faced with this proliferation of mobility services and the providers offering them, users risk becoming overwhelmed, whilst Mobility Organising Authorities (MOAs) struggle to establish a coherent mobility policy. Thus, whilst the integration of diverse services is not a new concept, it faces a fresh challenge with the advent of digital technology and new service offerings. It is against this backdrop that the MaaS tool emerged, helping to clarify solutions for users and providing a regulatory and management tool for local authorities.

We will examine this tool in greater detail in our research project by analysing its emergence in France and its roll-out in French metropolitan areas. By comparing several French metropolitan areas, this thesis will examine the transformations in mobility policies, particularly the shift towards a ‘door-to-door’ service-based approach. MaaS will also serve as a starting point for understanding the changing dynamics among local stakeholders in the urban mobility sector and for conducting a more in-depth analysis of the transformations in metropolitan governance.