Abstract
Transportation plays a crucial role in daily life, enabling people to move from one location to another using either a single mode or multiple modes of transport. Many countries are facing the challenge of promoting for Multimodal transportation as the best transportation choice. This study develops and empirically tests an integrated model for assessing multimodal transport success in smart urban contexts.Multimodal transport success is conceptualizes multimodal transport success as a latent construct driven by integration and connectivity, accessibility, data-driven decision-making, sustainability orientation, and service coverage. Using survey data from mobility professionals in Dubai and applying Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM), the study reveals significant direct and mediating relationships among these constructs. the study examines direct and mediating relationships among these constructs. Results indicate that accessibility, integration, sustainability orientation, and digital capabilities are significantly associated with perceived multimodal performance. The findings offer a structured approach for assessing multimodal transport performance and informing strategic planning in smart urban mobility systems. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1038/s41598-026-43179-3.