Performance assessment and evaluation method for passenger transportation: a step toward sustainability

• Published in: Journal of cleaner production Vol. 142; pp. 297 - 307
• Main Authors: de Almeida Guimarães, Vanessa, Leal Junior, Ilton Curty
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 20-01-2017
• Subjects: Passenger transportation; Performance assessment; Performance evaluation; Sustainability; Performance evaluation; Sustainability; Performance assessment; Passenger transportation
• ISSN: 0959-6526; 1879-1786
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2016.05.071

Performance assessment of urban passenger transport is relevant since it causes economic, environmental and social impacts. Thus, this paper proposes a structured method to assess and evaluate the performance of passenger transport systems. Assuming that an eco-efficiency analysis is a step toward sustainability, we applied the method in a Brazilian case considering eco-efficiency measures, to show its potential as a tool to support decisions. We concluded that neither the most used alternative nor the one with the highest capacity attained the best eco-efficient performance, which can be explained by the low occupancy rates. Focusing on the latter, we propose some actions – based on the Brazilian and international literature – that can be implemented to improve its performance.
•Transport sector causes economic, environmental and social impacts.•Method as a tool to support the decision-making process, in passenger transport.•Eco-efficiency assessment is a step toward sustainability.•Ferry, the alternative with the highest capacity, does not have the best performance.•Car by gasoline, the alternative used the most, has the worst performance.