Job (in)accessibility in the Parkstad region

About the impact of transport affordability on accessibility for low-income households and the unemployed

Master thesis (2023)

Authors

L. Zweers Civil Engineering & Geosciences

Contributors

B. van Arem (mentor)
J.A. Annema Transport and Logistics - TPM (mentor)
G.K. de Clercq (mentor)
M. Snelder (mentor)
Faculty
Civil Engineering & Geosciences, Civil Engineering & Geosciences
Copyright: © 2023 Loraine Zweers
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Published Date

15-06-2023

Language

English

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Faculty

Civil Engineering & Geosciences

Abstract

- There is increasing attention in the Netherlands in the topic of transport
poverty and accessibility, with several publications discussing the need for accessibility standards to indicate injustice in the transportation system. Numerous case studies can be found where accessibility has been measured and assessed for fairness in the transport system, assuming that low-income households rely on public transport. This research reveals that up to now, the accessibility by public transport for low-income households and the unemployed is overestimated. Transport costs do not only have a diminishing effect on the accessibility by car, but also limits the accessibility by public transport. By means of the methodology ’Designing fair transportation systems’ it was possible to evaluate the job accessibility in the Parkstad region, a region where income on average is the lowest in the Netherlands and the unemployment rates the highest. The limited job accessibility by both car and public transport raises the question to what extent transport poverty contributes to the high unemployment rates in this region. Municipalities are recommended to use these results to further explore what the population groups suffering from transport poverty need and propose interventions to improve job accessibility for those who need this the most.