SAYYED NOURODDIN AMIRI

Background and Objective: Urban transportation, due to its dependence on other sectors and its influence on urban management, involves multiple stakeholders and actors. This complexity often leads to problems such as duplication and parallel decision-making processes. Therefore, this study aims to identify the barriers to integrated participation among key stakeholders in the management of urban transportation in Bushehr. Methodology:This study is applied research in terms of its external purpose and adopts a mixed-methods approach. In the first part of the research, which aims to identify the key stakeholders in urban transportation management and classify them, a quantitative method (power–benefit matrix) was used. In the second part, focusing on identifying the barriers to achieving integrated participation within the network of relationships among stakeholders, a qualitative thematic analysis method was employed. The statistical population includes researchers and urban managers from organizations and departments involved in transportation management in Bushehr. For the barrier identification phase, a total of 23 stakeholders’ staff members were interviewed. Ultimately, strategic solutions were developed based on brainstorming and a feedback-oriented approach. Findings:Based on the power–benefit matrix analysis, eight key stakeholders in urban transportation management were identified. The results of interviews and thematic analysis revealed six main themes of participation barriers, including functional fragmentation, institutional relationships, urban development plans, lack of transparency, policy fragmentation, and resource shortages. Conclusion:The study findings indicate that two themes—functional fragmentation and policy fragmentation—serve as the primary factors for achieving integrated participation, which in turn lead to the emergence of the other overarching themes.