Understanding the role of emotions in public acceptance of transport infrastructure projects

Transitioning to a sustainable transport system is going to require substantial changes to infrastructure. Effective delivery of such transport projects is often contingent on gaining and sustaining public support. Evidence from other sectors suggests that the emotions people experience are important to understanding public. However, this area has been neglected in the transport sector, with little research considering how emotions might influence public acceptance. Better understanding these emotions can allow stakeholders to respond to public concerns in a more effective way, ensuring success of sustainable transport projects.

Ruth’s research will be focused on understanding emotional experienced in response to sustainable transport infrastructure projects. She will consider the types of emotions that these projects may elicit, how emotions relate to acceptance of transport projects and whether emotions relate to engagement with the project. Additionally, she will consider individual factors (e.g., trust, values) and project related factors (e.g., novelty, community involvement, transparency) that predict different emotions.