A Policy and Governance Framework for Transitioning to Sustainable Urban Transport: Aligning Travel Demand Management Instruments, Public Transport Development, and Walking–Cycling Infrastructure

The transition to sustainable urban transport often falters not because of a lack of technical solutions, but due to fragmented policies, institutional misalignment, and the absence of a shared governance logic across travel demand management (TDM), public transport development, and walking/cycling infrastructure. This study develops a policy–governance framework to operationalize the alignment of these three clusters and translate it into measurable criteria for designing, evaluating, and implementing integrated policy packages. A mixed integrative review approach was adopted. First, a PRISMA-guided systematic literature review combined with an analysis of upstream policy and planning documents was conducted to extract alignment dimensions at the levels of goal-setting, instrument coherence, institutional/legal feasibility, financing, data and monitoring, and equity. Next, the criteria were refined and calibrated through semi-structured interviews with 30 experts and a weighting survey. In the decision-support phase, criteria weights were derived by integrating AHP and SWARA, and three policy-package scenarios (A, B, and C) were ranked using TOPSIS. The results indicate that intervention effectiveness and social acceptability carry the highest importance, while financing costs and equity/access are equally decisive. TOPSIS ranks the alternative-oriented package above the aligned push–pull package with revenue recycling, and the push-oriented package lacking adequate alternatives—highlighting the superiority of alternative-centered strategies under governance constraints. The study outputs a multi-level governance map featuring a data and monitoring hub and a revenue-recycling mechanism, alongside a three-horizon roadmap that can serve as a decision-support tool for urban managers pursuing a low-carbon and equitable transition.