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Transport Planning and Urban Mobilities (PLAN30004)

Undergraduate level 3Points: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)

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Overview

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Semester 1 - On Campus
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This subject introduces students to the principles, challenges, and practices of contemporary urban transport and mobility planning. It examines the evolving relationship between transport systems, urban form, sustainability, and social equity, with particular attention to the impacts of automobility. Students will explore a range of transport modes, including public transport, walking, cycling, and micromobility, and develop strategies to improve accessibility, inclusivity, and environmental performance. Drawing on international examples, students will engage with planning tools such as intelligent transport systems (ITS) and sustainable urban mobility planning (SUMP) frameworks. The subject features practical workshops, group projects, and a field trip investigating mobility in suburban Melbourne. Emphasis is placed on user-centred design, transport justice, and community engagement. Through debate, policy analysis, and design tasks, students gain the interdisciplinary knowledge and skills needed to assess and shape equitable, sustainable, and accessible transport systems.

Intended learning outcomes

On completion of the subject, students should be able to:

  • Analyse the relationship between urban transport systems, land use, and urban form, including the historical and spatial impacts of automobility.
  • Critically evaluate key policy debates in urban transport, including sustainability, accessibility, and transport justice.
  • Assess the challenges and opportunities of public, active, and micromobility modes in diverse urban contexts, both locally and internationally.
  • Identify and interpret the social, environmental, and public health impacts of transport systems, with a focus on equity and inclusion.
  • Design and assess integrated mobility strategies that balance existing, and emerging transport modes to improve accessibility and network performance.

Generic skills

Upon successful completion of this subject the student will have had the opportunity to develop the following generic skills:

• Ability to conduct spatial analysis of transportation systems and urban design outcomes at multiple scales.
• Understand the intricacies of the relationship between transport planning and urban design
• Ability to evaluate design and transport integration based on economic, social and environmental outcomes delivered.
• Ability to communicate knowledge spatially, through essay writing and orally through class discussions and presentations.
• Be equipped with theoretical and analytical concepts related to transport and urban design integration.

Last updated: 6 January 2026