Solving the Mobility-as-a-Service puzzle
May 24, 2023
The transport industry has settled on a definition of Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS) as the unification of mobility services by a single
MaaS Resource Center
NCMM has created this resource center to help mobility management practitioners keep up-to-date on the ever-changing world of MaaS. This resource center is your home base for the latest news, research, and promising practices related to mobility as a service. Topics have been broken out into multiple pages covering the basics of MaaS, MaaS system designs, and MaaS governance models. Stay on this page to read about the basics of MaaS Systems, or navigate to one of the pages below.
What is MaaS?
At its core, Mobility as a Service, or MaaS, is about having the ability to “look/book/pay” for all your trip options through a single digital interface.
MaaS fits squarely within the practice of mobility management, as it helps people manage their mobility options by applying technology to make this easier to achieve. To put MaaS in context with related concepts, consider learning more about Universal MaaS, introduced by AARP, and One-Call/One-Click systems.
Recent News in MaaS
Uber offers public transit ticketing in San Antonio
May 18, 2023
Continuing its expansion into the Mobility as a Service (MaaS) space, Uber has partnered with VIA Metropolitan Transit and Masabi to
Pittsburgh Mobility Pilot Builds on Transportation Equity Goals
May 4, 2023
The Move PGH pilot project in Pittsburgh has provided some 1 million scooter trips, with about a third of those
What are the Building Blocks of MaaS?
Clear Project Goals
Before embarking on a MaaS implementation, communities and leaders decide why they want MaaS and what it will help them accomplish.
Defined Public Role
MaaS systems have some level of support from the public sector. This can range from public sector leadership to using public transportation services and infrastructure or even fostering suitable conditions for the private sector.
Digital Access
MaaS systems include a software and app component. Software is important for both the rider and providers for all points of a MaaS system. Technology can be supplemented with a call center for accessibility.
Look, Book, and Pay
A fully developed MaaS system involves all three primary functions: looking at your mobility options, booking one or more mobility options, and paying your fare for chosen mobility options.
Multi-System Mobility
MaaS systems provide access to at least two different mobility "systems,” whether they are a single mode (e.g., demand-response service of two or more public transit agencies) or multiple modes (e.g., a public transit system and a bike share system).
What are the steps for achieving Maas?
The implementation of a MaaS effort rarely happens in a single leap; instead, it is almost always incremental and can appear to be out of sequence. For example, a community may have accomplished level 1 while incorporating aspects of level 4 (policy) before moving to level 2.
Level 0:
No integration, mobility options characterized as being single, separate services
Level 1:
Integration of information on mobility options + multimodal trip planner + pricing information
Level 2:
Integration of booking + payment into a single app or digital platform, through which a user can look, book, and pay for a single trip
Level 3:
Integration of services beyond a single trips, such as through bundling of options, subscription trips, etc.
Level 4:
Integration of policy into provision of mobility services through governance and public-private cooperation
Explore the Research
MaaS Guidebook
MaaS Alliance
This book is intended for stakeholders in transportation and MaaS providers. It offers a conceptual and practical framework that can be shared by managers, planners, developers, and even end users of transportation and mobility services. This work is provided by the MaaS Alliance, a public-private partnership creating the foundations for a common approach to MaaS, unlocking the economies of scale needed for successful implementation and take-up of MaaS in Europe and beyond.
A topological approach to Mobility as a Service: A proposed tool for understanding requirements and effects, and for aiding the integration of societal goals
Jana Sochor, Hans Arbyc, Mari Anne Karlsson, Steven Sarasinia
The purpose of this paper is to shed light on the concept of MaaS and what characterises a ‘MaaS service’, as well as to propose a topology of MaaS as a tool for facilitating the discussion of MaaS, enabling the ‘comparison of’ different services, understanding MaaS’ potential effects, and aiding the integration of societal goals into MaaS services.
Bringing Mobility as a Service to the United States: Accessibility Opportunities and Challenges
NADTC
The development and deployment of Mobility as a Service (MaaS) systems in Europe has been increasing at a rapid rate over the past few years. However, in the U.S. during the same time frame, MaaS implementation has been limited. While there are no MaaS systems in the U.S., several systems are under development. This white paper describes the unique opportunities and challenges associated with MaaS in the U.S., along with describing a few of the systems that are under currently development.
What else is there to know?
MaaS systems can be tailored to meet the needs of any community. Learn more about how your community’s goals can impact design, how to build a MaaS system, and how to communicate the design to your community.
Every successful project needs an organizational structure to run; MaaS systems are no different. Learn more about governance models and the role the public sector plays in MaaS systems.
MaaS systems are being piloted across the world every year. Learn more about the state of MaaS from these examples fand how lessons from their project can apply to your community.