Implementation of accessibility policy in municipal transport planning – Progression and regression in Sweden between 2004 and 2014

•A study of long-term implementation of accessibility policy in outdoor environment.•Including accessibility in planning is more e but development is contradictory.•More municipalities have an accessibility plan but fewer have implemented measures.•A systematic approach in accessibility planning for outdoor environment is needed.

Practitioners and transport planners should be aware of the different policies in transport planning and laws and regulations in relation to them. Nevertheless, research has shown that implementation of transport policies, whatever their focus may be, does not always result in them being employed in the daily transport planning. In Sweden, accessibility policy has a long tradition but gained increased interest in 1999 with an action plan which aimed at ensuring participation of all people with all kinds of disabilities. The overall aim of this study was to investigate how accessibility policy for older people and people with disabilities in the outdoor environment has been implemented in the daily transport planning and how it has progressed/regressed over time. The results in this paper are based on longitudinal data from questionnaire sent out to all municipalities in Sweden in 2004 and 2014. The results indicate that it has become more established to consider accessibility in transportation planning. However, the results also show that there are still some considerable differences between the municipalities regarding their level of implemented accessibility policy. Also, the municipal transport planners seem to be less aware of the legislative directives and recommendations in 2014 than in 2004. Overall, there is need for improved knowledge and awareness of accessibility issues among all actors involved in municipal planning and a need for a more effective and systematic approach when planning and designing outdoor environments for all.