Mobility as a Service provided by Public Transport Authorities: is it possible or a vision?

If public stakeholders like public transport authorities (PTAs) take on the role as a provider of Mobility as a Service (MaaS), this may contribute to attaining key targets, including reduced car use, congestion and transport poverty. Therefore, we ask: Can PTAs provide MaaS, and if so, how can they achieve this target? This study applies three complementary theoretical approaches to public innovation to analyse the service innovation of the Norwegian MaaS leaders, the PTAs Kolumbus and Ruter. These are theories about public risk tolerance, reorganisation, and collaborative innovation. Methods applied are interviews, comparative analyses, event participation and document studies. Our analyses demonstrate that the selected PTAs exercise a “loose” form of meta-governance, or partnerships, and gradually innovate and have become early MaaS providers. Hence PTAs may be able to lead MaaS development. Moreover, various public authorities may, by setting environmental standards and providing funding, be essential in attaining innovation in MaaS and electrification.