Goals of Public Transport : From 1945 and onward

The report examines the development of policy objectives for public transport in Norway, using Oslo and Akershus as the main example and covering the period from 1945 to 2025. The main findings are that the goals have changed over time and have become increasingly complex. In the 1950s and 1960s, public transport formed the backbone of the national transport system, with objectives related to production and resource efficiency. During the 1970s, environmental concerns and competition with the car became part of the policy agenda. From the 1980s onwards, elements such as early adoption of new technologies and promoting urban liveability have been incorporated into the objectives. These goals are closely linked to, and often operationalised in relation to, public transport’s main competitor—the private car. Looking ahead, automation appears likely to influence public transport to a similar extent as the private car once did.