The empirical study of urban transport governance

A better comprehension of existing governance arrangements, potential reforms, and modernisation pathways is often presented as a fundamental part of statecraft, which, in turn, is a necessary condition for the provision of public goods (such as policies, services, amenities). This chapter translates learnings from the broader field of urban governance to a more focused academic inquiry of urban transport. It presents three distinct approaches to empirically analyse urban transport governance and discusses how this research may inform policy-orientated insights. The first approach introduces more descriptive mapping methods, which position the transport domain within urban governance. The second approach focuses on integrated governance and joined-up policy-making, while the third engages with the socio-structural futures of transport governance networks in cities. Based on these approaches and the insights they produce, the chapter concludes by reflecting on how they may inform policy-orientated research.