From Pilot to System: A Behavioral Implementation Toolbox for Scaling First- and Last-Mile Mobility Solutions in Switzerland

AI Quick Summary

Many first- and last-mile mobility pilots—such as on-demand services, shared mobility solutions or autonomous shuttles—show promise but fail to become stable, integrated services. This project addresses the critical transition from pilot to long-term operation. It examines why promising initiatives get stuck, focusing on coordination challenges, stakeholder alignment, governance structures and behavioral-organizational barriers in the Swiss federal context. Based on interviews with cantonal and municipal actors, mobility providers and pilot project leads, the project will develop a practical implementation toolbox. The toolbox will include diagnostic guidance, stakeholder alignment instruments, governance models and a scaling roadmap to help public and private actors move from experimentation to implementation. The project aims to reduce “pilot dead-ends” and support integrated, user-oriented and sustainable mobility systems in Switzerland. Introduction Across Switzerland and Europe, pilot projects in first- and last-mile mobility—such as on-demand services, shared mobility solutions, or autonomous shuttles—have demonstrated potential to improve accessibility and complement public transport systems, particularly by strengthening first- and last-mile connections (Crozet, 2020, Expert Group on Urban Mobility, 2024). However, moving from promising pilot initiatives to stable long-term operation remains a major challenge, as many services still struggle to reach critical mass and depend on coordinated governance, public support, and integration into broader mobility systems (OECD, 2020). Existing explanations for this gap typically focus on isolated barriers, such as technological limitations, insufficient funding, or regulatory constraints (Bezai et al., 2021; Expert Group on Urban Mobility, 2024). We argue that the key challenge is not individual barriers but the lack of coordination and integration across these dimensions. Many pilot projects struggle not because solutions are technically infeasible, but because transitioning to long-term operation requires managing a complex change process that involves behavioral, organizational, and governance-related adjustments extending far beyond initial deployment (e.g., Karlsson et al., 2020; Zhao et al., 2020). More fundamentally, implementing new mobility solutions is a complex change process rather than a purely technical or infrastructural task. It requires aligning multiple stakeholders, reconfiguring established routines, and managing uncertainty across organizational and institutional boundaries. In practice, this process is characterized by fragmented responsibilities, diverging incentives, and uncertainty about long-term ownership. Stakeholders must jointly move from experimentation to commitment, often without clear mandates or aligned objectives. These coordination frictions can prevent otherwise viable solutions from being integrated into regular operation. These challenges are particularly critical in the Swiss context due to its federal governance structure. Responsibilities for planning, funding, and implementation are distributed across national, cantonal, and municipal levels. As a result, cantonal and municipal actors play a central role as orchestrators of implementation processes, being responsible for coordinating stakeholders, aligning incentives, and ensuring the long-term integration of new services into existing transport systems. Goal The goal of this project is to develop an evidence-based implementation toolbox to support cantonal and municipal actors, as well as mobility providers, in scaling and integrating first- and last-mile mobility solutions. The toolbox translates abstract change principles into concrete, mobility-specific tools for real-world implementation. Research Questions 1.     Why do first- and last-mile pilot projects fail to transition into long-term operations? 2.     What psychological and organizational barriers emerge between key stakeholders during implementation? 3.     What concrete coordination mechanisms and governance structures enable successful scaling in practice? 4.     How can these insights be translated into a structured and scalable implementation toolbox? 5.     How must implementation strategies be adapted to Switzerland’s specific governance structure (federal, cantonal, and municipal levels)?    Methodological Approach Phase 1 – DiagnosisWe will conduct 10–15 semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders, focusing on cantonal and municipal actors responsible for planning and implementing mobility solutions, as well as project leads from pilot initiatives and mobility providers. The aim is to identify core barriers, coordination challenges, and decision-making dynamics in the transition from pilot to operation. Phase 2 – SynthesisThe qualitative data will be systematically analyzed to map stakeholder dynamics, decision-making processes, and critical failure points. In addition, the findings will be interpreted using established change and implementation frameworks from organizational research to identify transferable implementation strategies. Phase 3 – Toolbox DevelopmentBased on these insights, an implementation toolbox will be developed. This will include practical tools and structured guidance, such as stakeholder alignment instruments, pilot-to-scale roadmaps, and governance models to support coordinated decision-making. To validate and refine the toolbox, a stakeholder workshop will be conducted involving selected interview participants as well as additional representatives from cantonal authorities, municipalities, mobility providers, and pilot project leads who were not part of the interview phase. Previously interviewed stakeholders will ensure continuity and practical validation of the findings, while additional participants will contribute fresh perspectives and broaden the toolbox’s relevance across contexts. The workshop will critically review the proposed tools, assess their practical feasibility, prioritize key elements, and jointly refine the toolbox to ensure both empirical robustness and real-world relevance. Deliverables Pilot-to-Scale Diagnostic ReportA structured analysis of the main causes of failure in pilot projects, as well as key success factors for scaling. Implementation ToolboxA practice-oriented toolbox enabling actors to structure, coordinate, and manage the transition from pilot to long-term operation. Scaling Roadmap for Swiss Mobility ProjectsA structured guide, targeted at cantonal and municipal authorities as well as project leads of mobility initiatives, outlining how to systematically move from pilot initiatives to stable, integrated mobility services within the Swiss context. Impact The project generates direct, actionable impact by supporting ongoing pilot initiatives in their transition to long-term operation. By providing structured guidance for stakeholder coordination and decision-making, it enables cantonal and municipal actors to actively manage the critical phase from experimentation to implementation. At a system level, the project contributes to reducing the risk of “pilot project dead-ends” and improves the efficiency of public investments in mobility innovation. By identifying recurring barriers and translating them into practical implementation strategies, it helps avoid repeated inefficiencies and supports more effective scaling across projects. In the longer term, the project contributes to the development of integrated, user-oriented, and sustainable mobility systems. By enabling the successful scaling of innovative first- and last-mile solutions, it supports intermodal connectivity and strengthens the role of new mobility services in Switzerland’s broader transport system. Organization Research Partner: FHNW School of Applied PsychologyInstitute for Innovation, Transformation and Sustainability Dr. Matthias Hudecek https://www.fhnw.ch/de/psychologie/ueber-uns/personen/matthias-hudecek Luca Scarperihttps://www.fhnw.ch/de/psychologie/ueber-uns/personen/luca-antonio-scarperi Prof. Dorothea Schaffner https://www.fhnw.ch/en/applied-psychology/about/portrait/people/dorothea-schaffner Budget Phase 1: Diagnosis 10’000 CHFPhase 2: Synthesis 10’000 CHFPhase 3: Validation 5’000 CHF Total: 25’000 CHF

Project Idea Metadata

• Project Idea Name: From Pilot to System: A Behavioral Implementation Toolbox for Scaling First- and Last-Mile Mobility Solutions in Switzerland
• Date: 4/22/2026 6:45:13 PM
• Administrators:
  • Matthias Hudecek

Project Idea Description

Introduction

Across Switzerland and Europe, pilot projects in first- and last-mile mobility—such as on-demand services, shared mobility solutions, or autonomous shuttles—have demonstrated potential to improve accessibility and complement public transport systems, particularly by strengthening first- and last-mile connections (Crozet, 2020, Expert Group on Urban Mobility, 2024). However, moving from promising pilot initiatives to stable long-term operation remains a major challenge, as many services still struggle to reach critical mass and depend on coordinated governance, public support, and integration into broader mobility systems (OECD, 2020).

Existing explanations for this gap typically focus on isolated barriers, such as technological limitations, insufficient funding, or regulatory constraints (Bezai et al., 2021; Expert Group on Urban Mobility, 2024). We argue that the key challenge is not individual barriers but the lack of coordination and integration across these dimensions. Many pilot projects struggle not because solutions are technically infeasible, but because transitioning to long-term operation requires managing a complex change process that involves behavioral, organizational, and governance-related adjustments extending far beyond initial deployment (e.g., Karlsson et al., 2020; Zhao et al., 2020).

More fundamentally, implementing new mobility solutions is a complex change process rather than a purely technical or infrastructural task. It requires aligning multiple stakeholders, reconfiguring established routines, and managing uncertainty across organizational and institutional boundaries. In practice, this process is characterized by fragmented responsibilities, diverging incentives, and uncertainty about long-term ownership. Stakeholders must jointly move from experimentation to commitment, often without clear mandates or aligned objectives. These coordination frictions can prevent otherwise viable solutions from being integrated into regular operation.

These challenges are particularly critical in the Swiss context due to its federal governance structure. Responsibilities for planning, funding, and implementation are distributed across national, cantonal, and municipal levels. As a result, cantonal and municipal actors play a central role as orchestrators of implementation processes, being responsible for coordinating stakeholders, aligning incentives, and ensuring the long-term integration of new services into existing transport systems.

Goal

The goal of this project is to develop an evidence-based implementation toolbox to support cantonal and municipal actors, as well as mobility providers, in scaling and integrating first- and last-mile mobility solutions. The toolbox translates abstract change principles into concrete, mobility-specific tools for real-world implementation.

Research Questions

1.     Why do first- and last-mile pilot projects fail to transition into long-term operations?

2.     What psychological and organizational barriers emerge between key stakeholders during implementation?

3.     What concrete coordination mechanisms and governance structures enable successful scaling in practice?

4.     How can these insights be translated into a structured and scalable implementation toolbox?

5.     How must implementation strategies be adapted to Switzerland’s specific governance structure (federal, cantonal, and municipal levels)?   

Methodological Approach

Phase 1 – Diagnosis
We will conduct 10–15 semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders, focusing on cantonal and municipal actors responsible for planning and implementing mobility solutions, as well as project leads from pilot initiatives and mobility providers. The aim is to identify core barriers, coordination challenges, and decision-making dynamics in the transition from pilot to operation.

Phase 2 – Synthesis
The qualitative data will be systematically analyzed to map stakeholder dynamics, decision-making processes, and critical failure points. In addition, the findings will be interpreted using established change and implementation frameworks from organizational research to identify transferable implementation strategies.

Phase 3 – Toolbox Development
Based on these insights, an implementation toolbox will be developed. This will include practical tools and structured guidance, such as stakeholder alignment instruments, pilot-to-scale roadmaps, and governance models to support coordinated decision-making.

To validate and refine the toolbox, a stakeholder workshop will be conducted involving selected interview participants as well as additional representatives from cantonal authorities, municipalities, mobility providers, and pilot project leads who were not part of the interview phase. Previously interviewed stakeholders will ensure continuity and practical validation of the findings, while additional participants will contribute fresh perspectives and broaden the toolbox’s relevance across contexts. The workshop will critically review the proposed tools, assess their practical feasibility, prioritize key elements, and jointly refine the toolbox to ensure both empirical robustness and real-world relevance.

Deliverables

1. Pilot-to-Scale Diagnostic Report
   A structured analysis of the main causes of failure in pilot projects, as well as key success factors for scaling.
2. Implementation Toolbox
   A practice-oriented toolbox enabling actors to structure, coordinate, and manage the transition from pilot to long-term operation.
3. Scaling Roadmap for Swiss Mobility Projects
   A structured guide, targeted at cantonal and municipal authorities as well as project leads of mobility initiatives, outlining how to systematically move from pilot initiatives to stable, integrated mobility services within the Swiss context.

Impact

The project generates direct, actionable impact by supporting ongoing pilot initiatives in their transition to long-term operation. By providing structured guidance for stakeholder coordination and decision-making, it enables cantonal and municipal actors to actively manage the critical phase from experimentation to implementation.

At a system level, the project contributes to reducing the risk of “pilot project dead-ends” and improves the efficiency of public investments in mobility innovation. By identifying recurring barriers and translating them into practical implementation strategies, it helps avoid repeated inefficiencies and supports more effective scaling across projects.

In the longer term, the project contributes to the development of integrated, user-oriented, and sustainable mobility systems. By enabling the successful scaling of innovative first- and last-mile solutions, it supports intermodal connectivity and strengthens the role of new mobility services in Switzerland’s broader transport system.

Organization

Research Partner:
FHNW School of Applied Psychology
Institute for Innovation, Transformation and Sustainability

Dr. Matthias Hudecek
https://www.fhnw.ch/de/psychologie/ueber-uns/personen/matthias-hudecek

Luca Scarperi
https://www.fhnw.ch/de/psychologie/ueber-uns/personen/luca-antonio-scarperi

Prof. Dorothea Schaffner
https://www.fhnw.ch/en/applied-psychology/about/portrait/people/dorothea-schaffner

Budget

Phase 1: Diagnosis 10’000 CHF
Phase 2: Synthesis 10’000 CHF
Phase 3: Validation 5’000 CHF

Total: 25’000 CHF

Many first- and last-mile mobility pilots—such as on-demand services, shared mobility solutions or autonomous shuttles—show promise but fail to become stable, integrated services. This project addresses the critical transition from pilot to long-term operation. It examines why promising initiatives get stuck, focusing on coordination challenges, stakeholder alignment, governance structures and behavioral-organizational barriers in the Swiss federal context. Based on interviews with cantonal and municipal actors, mobility providers and pilot project leads, the project will develop a practical implementation toolbox. The toolbox will include diagnostic guidance, stakeholder alignment instruments, governance models and a scaling roadmap to help public and private actors move from experimentation to implementation. The project aims to reduce “pilot dead-ends” and support integrated, user-oriented and sustainable mobility systems in Switzerland.