Sustainable Public Transit Systems: Innovative Design, Planning and Operational Strategies

Dear Colleagues,

Transportation is one of the biggest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions, producing over 24% of global CO₂. Enhancing the role of public transit offers an effective means of reducing emissions and supporting long-term environmental sustainability. When public transit systems are properly designed, they also provide broader public benefits, such as connecting people to jobs, schools, health services, and economic opportunities in an affordable and equitable manner. 

Worldwide, public transit is undergoing a period of rapid change. Cities are investing in electric buses and rail systems to cut emissions and reduce fuel costs. Simultaneously, they are strengthening first- and last-mile access by linking transit with micromobility options like e-bikes, e-scooters, and other shared mobility services. New technologies are also being tested: autonomous shuttles and on-demand transit services are being piloted to serve neighborhoods where traditional fixed-route transit falls short. Beyond technology, planning practices are evolving as well. Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) is helping cities create walkable, transit-friendly neighborhoods that reduce car dependence. 

These changes bring both opportunity and complexity. The transition to sustainable public transit requires new thinking, integrating technology, policy, planning, and design while keeping systems accessible and resilient. 
This Special Issue invites research that explores how cities can build sustainable transit systems in practical, innovative, and inclusive ways. We welcome contributions from around the world and across disciplines (e.g., urban planning, engineering, economics, environmental science, policy, and governance). Original research articles and review papers may address topics including (but not limited to) the following: 

• Electrification and clean energy in transit;
• First- and last-mile connectivity to transit;
• Autonomous and smart transit systems;
• On-demand and flexible transit services;
• Micromobility services and transit services;
• Transit-oriented development (TOD);
• Multimodal integration and network design;
• Public transit policy and governance; 
• Equity, accessibility, and social impacts;
• Resilience and adaptation of transit systems;
• Innovative management strategies for transit infrastructure;
• Case studies and best practices on transit design, planning, and operations. 

We look forward to receiving your contributions.   

Dr. Gregory L. Newmark
Dr. Hossain Mohiuddin
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.