Urban Infrastructure Transition Lab

Grateful to share that our paper in Urban Studies is now online! This work attempts to bridge land value capture and land rent theories, connecting land-based metro infrastructure financing with evaluation of their social impacts through natural experiments.

New paper out 🎄 Our natural experiment shows older men report higher social isolation—and better public transport didn’t reduce their loneliness. It did for women. Christmas reminder (half-joking, half-serious): check in on the men around you. doi.org/10.1016/j.heal…

It’s the final week to submit your abstract for the 6th World Symposium on Transport and Land Use Research (WSTLUR), happening in Beijing, June 7–11, 2026. Join researchers from around the world! @DV_Jonas WSTLUR: wstlur.org Submit here: wstlur2026.casconf.cn

Truly honoured to receive the Research Excellence Award from the Royal Town Planning Institute @RTPIPlanners. Excited to continue contributing to UK planning research and practice from Hong Kong @DongshengHe3 and Manchester. Check out our paper: doi.org/10.1016/j.land…

We are delighted to share a recent publication, "From push to partnership: evolving public engagement strategies in pandemic-induced street experiments." Zhao and Sun found rich variations in public engagement structures in government-led experiments. doi.org/10.1080/135748…

Congratulations, @DongshengHe3, on being shortlisted for the Tony Crook Award for Early Career Research by @RTPIPlanners. Check out our paper in Land Use Policy on transaction costs and land property rights in TOD projects in China: doi.org/10.1016/j.land…

In street experiments, we found that 'experiment and conceptualise' is the most common learning process across 28 cases, outcompeting 'implement and execute' and 'experiment and perpetuate' processes. It allowed for longer-term street changes. Read more at shorturl.at/vkbVw

Streamlined NSIP process has grown complex, with increasingly lengthy policy documents. The key challenge lies in balancing consent-building and project delivery in the democratic society—highlighting power dynamics between state and society. Valuable insights shared at #NIPA2025

Delighted to join the UTSG community and an amazing conference experience at UCD! Thrilled to share our special issue sciencedirect.com/special-issue/… and reunions with @charliemuss and fantastic colleagues from @TSUOxford

Improving Manchester tram faces 2 structural challenges: 1. Path dependence—sprawling and low density evolving with car dominance makes changes tough; 2. Governance & funding—tram needs to be more than transport, using value capture, to drive development & equity. @CBTransport

Our trams session explored how tram systems can boost connectivity and regenerate communities at #BetterTransportConference25. Key insights: 1. Put housing where transport is, not the other way around.

Dr Sun is invited to the discussion on the Role of Trams in Connecting People and Places, together with four transportation experts. See you at the Better Transport Conference this Friday! Agenda see 🔗 bettertransport.org.uk/better-transpo… @CBTransport

How experiential learning in street experiments shapes urban mobility transitions? We looked at the government implementers’ learning in pandemic-induced street experiments and provided evidence for deep learning and structural change: uitlab.org/publication/20…

How are China’s booming metro systems funded? What impact do they have on cities and communities? Dr. Sun delivered a departmental seminar unpacking the financing, social, and health effects of metro expansion in cities like Hong Kong, Guangzhou & Chengdu. #MetroInfrastructure

Thanks for the invitation by @CityPlusNetwork, I am excited to give a talk regarding causal effects of transport infrastructure intervention in China on May 18 (Beijing time). All are welcome.

Great meetings with the government, NGO, and academics to discuss building people-centric streets in Hong Kong! We need to further the understanding of street experiments in an Asian context, more so, how can learning be better integrated in urban governance. @Talamini_Lab

We developed a Policy Brief: Improving Street Urban Design Through Co-creation. This work aims to give practical recommendations, to support policymakers and practitioners in urban mobility and public space initiatives. uitlab.org/publication/20…