Future Perspectives for the Munich Metropolitan Region - An Integrated Mobility Approach

Just like many other metropolitan regions, the Munich Metropolitan Region experiences population and employment growth. However, when taking a closer look, different spatial developments are taking place at the same time, namely concentration in central locations, de-concentration in smaller centers and dispersion in peripheral areas. Unguided development causes transport problems within the region. In order to develop appropriate planning strategies for sustainable urban mobility, the complex interplay between residence, workplace, and mobility choices needs to be understood. For this reason, residents and employees of the Munich Metropolitan Region were asked to reveal their preferences and trade-offs with respect to location choices and mobility. The survey results highlight how an undersupply of housing in central locations causes displacement effects towards more peripheral areas. Respondents try to optimize their mobility behavior and commuting distances, but are limited in their choices due to financial constraints. Urban environments with a high density of amenities and good public transport accessibility offer potential for more sustainable mobility patterns. We deduce three transport related policy implications: providing affordable housing in central locations, fostering integrated nodes and polycentrism, and enhancing intercommunal cooperation.