Overview
One objective of Norwegian transport policy is to develop more welfare optimal transport services in urban areas. This research programme shall provide a scientific foundation for organisational or financial measures to meet this target. The programme will provide a basis for developing more effective public transport in relation to the political objectives for the sector.
The programme covers three main areas:
a) Strategic Financing Models
b) Organisation at the system level
c) Organisation at the operational level
One main objective of the programme will be to focus on regulatory and financial framework on strategic, tactical and operational level. Is the market or are the authorities responsible for planning and product development, and what is the regulatory framework the different decision levels?
The programme focuses in particular on policy-making, regulatory issues, institutional and organisational adaptations to new legal and regulatory requirements, innovative subsidy and financing models and actor-level organisational analysis. The programme also focuses on internal organisational issues and working environment.
This programme is a strategic institute programme (SIP), aimed at developing new research areas and rendering professional activities leading to a deeper understanding. The programme's status is reported to the Norwegian Research Council every year. The initiative to establish the strategic institute programme was made by the institute itself, while the Research Council is held responsible for the professional quality assurance of the SIP.
Funding
From the beginning, in 2001 until 2006, this programme has a total budget of approximately EUR 100 000 per year.
The major part of the resources is spent on man-hours worked by research workers at the Institute of Transport Economics.