Author(s)

P Hidas & J Black

Abstract

A key element of success for any long-term process such as the development of a Sustainable Urban Transport system, is to monitor and evaluate progress over time, which may allow, if necessary, to introduce remedial measures and actions. An efficient monitoring process requires well-defined targets set at the design stage and performance indicators regularly measured during the lifetime of any project aimed at achieving the goals of sustainability. Based on a recent seminar held at the University of New South Wales, Sydney, this paper presents a review of the current international literature on setting and using targets for sustainable urban transport, and looks at the Australian practice on how these principles are applied in two recent urban development projects in Sydney. The review has revealed several weaknesses and missing links in the present practice, and the paper offers recommendations on how to make the targets "smarter" and what needs to be done to establish an efficient monitoring process. 1 Introduction Sustainability, whether applied to transport or to other human activities, is seen as having three components. First, is economic sustainability, which involves creating incentives for efficient responses to human requirements. Second, is environmental sustainability, which involves protecting ecosystems and promoting more livable settlements and reducing adverse externalities. Third, is social sustainability, which focuses on equity issues. However, much of the more recent focus on sustainability in transport has been on environmental issues. The US Transportation Research Board conducted a study on climate and ecology, with the environment as its primary focus [13]. Although recognising the

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