Transport experts are voicing the importance of better maintenance of existing assets in the grand scheme of sustainability, according to the findings of the 3/2026 STA Expert Perception Tracker.
The survey, conducted from 15 to 31 July 2026, gathered over 101 responses from transport professionals across 21 countries, providing a snapshot of their views on these challenges, with a particular focus on construction and sustainability in EU transport systems.
Overall, the findings highlight that a sustainable transport future starts not only with building next-gen infrastructure and adopting new technologies, but also with maintaining and renewing our existing assets.
The survey results show that 74.3% of experts believe environmental, economic and social sustainability should be given equal importance, highlighting that the transition towards more sustainable transport infrastructure cannot be reduced to a single objective. When it comes to “greening travel behaviour”, more than half of experts (56.4%) believe that a combination of factors would be the main driver of change. Unexpectedly, the results revealed that lower personal costs (7.9%) and reducing environmental impact (5.0%) are less influential factors. Regarding the extent to which AI tools can facilitate a more sustainable future for transport infrastructure, 77.2% see potential in AI-supported modelling tools. However, trust in their sustainability benefits still requires further evidence.
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