An overview of the capability approach in wellbeing-focused transport network criticality assessment

• Reviews literature applying the Capability Approach (CA) in transport studies. • Reviews methods to align transport network analysis with user freedoms and well-being. • Explores the potential application of the CA in transportation network criticality. • Highlights the potential of CA for equitable transport planning. This work explores the application of the Capability Approach in the domain of criticality assessment of transportation networks. While typically used to gauge the development and wellbeing of communities, the Capability Approach is gaining prominence and has garnered growing interest within the field of transport studies. A thorough literature review of existing research that applies the Capability Approach within the transport domain is conducted, categorizing methods and data used. It discusses how the Capability Approach can shift the focus from merely functional assessments of transport systems to evaluating how these systems enhance the freedoms and well-being of users and highlights the potential of the Capability Approach to inform research into more equitable transportation policies. The review highlights a substantial overlap between studies on transport criticality assessment as a framework for prioritization of crucial links and routes within a network, and the Capability Approach aimed at community wellbeing. While most studies in the domain of criticality assessment do not explicitly follow a capabilities-based approach, the review underscores commonalities and highlights the potential of the approach in wellbeing focused transportation planning. Furthermore, the review presents a vision including the factors necessary to be incorporated in a wellbeing focused transport criticality assessment methodology.