Future Travel Foresight Catalyst

Details

• Creators:
  Maynard, Andrew ; Leahy, Sean
• Corporate Creators:
  Arizona State University. School for the Future of Innovation in Society
• Corporate Contributors:
  National Center for Understanding Future Travel Behavior and Demand (TBD) ; United States. Department of Transportation. University Transportation Centers (UTC) Program ; United States. Department of Transportation. Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology
• Subject/TRT Terms:
  Cooperation Forecasting Infrastructure Lessons Learned Mobility Policy Public Engagement Public Participation Research Strategic Foresight Strategic Planning Technology Assessment Travel Behavior

  More +
• Resource Type:
  Tech Report
• Geographical Coverage:
  United States
• Edition:
  Final Report: 2024-2025
• Corporate Publisher:
  United States. Department of Transportation. Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology
• Abstract:
  The Future Travel Foresight Catalyst project has developed and tested a novel approach to catalyzing creative thinking around future travel behavior and demand through parasocial relationship-building and media engagement. Over two years (2024-2025), the project (in collaboration with the Arizona State University Future of Being Human initiative) established multiple communication platforms including the Future of Being Human Substack/newsletter (5,000+ subscribers, 35,000 monthly views across 120+ countries) and the Modem Futura podcast (10,500+ downloads across 88 countries), complemented by university courses. The methodology deliberately diverged from traditional research dissemination by employing three core strategies: transdisciplinary boundary-blurring between expert and public domains, parasocial relationship cultivation to build trust at scale, and futures thinking frameworks to expand imaginative capacity. Results indicate successful establishment of engaged communities and trusted communication channels, with evidence of influence among key stakeholders and thought leaders, though impact remains primarily qualitative and long-term in nature. The project has demonstrated that relationship-based engagement can effectively bridge research, public understanding, and policy conversations about transportation futures. Key lessons learned include the value of prioritizing trust over metrics, the effectiveness of authentic voices in expert communication, and the necessity of treating audience engagement as infrastructure requiring sustained investment. The approach offers a replicable model for agencies and institutions seeking to engage diverse stakeholders in complex sociotechnical challenges, particularly where traditional outreach methods have proven insufficient for navigating rapidly evolving technological and social landscapes.
• Format:
  PDF
• Funding:
  69A3552344815 ; 69A3552348320
• Collection(s):
  University Transportation Centers
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:8e2b95a72428ffb4cd1e8a65d55d8af0dfa71f661374501ff1ffe17be57bd81e357c54263ff942266f4242df8886547cb18475a2ecdb6e76da0e14c30659918a
• Download URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/91942/dot_91942_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 550.72 KB ]