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on Transport Economics |
| By: | Shen, Max; Li, Meng; He , Fang; Jia, Yinghao |
| Abstract: | Electric vehicles (EV) are promoted as a foreseeable future vehicle technology to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and greenhouse gas emissions associated with conventional vehicles. This paper proposes a data-driven approach to improving the electrification rate of the vehicle miles traveled (VMT) by taxi fleet in Beijing. Specifically, based on the gathered real-time vehicle trajectory data of 46,765 taxis in Beijing, we conduct timeseries simulations to derive insight for the public charging station deployment plan, including the locations of public charging stations, the number of chargers at each station and their types. The proposed simulation model defines the electric vehicle charging opportunity from the aspects of time window, charging demand and charger availability, and further incorporates the heterogeneous travel patterns of individual vehicles. Although this study only examines one type of fleet in a specific city, the methodological framework is readily applicable to other cities and types of fleet with similar dataset available, and the analysis results contribute to our understanding on electric vehicle’s charging behavior. Simulation results indicate that: i) locating public charging stations to the clustered charging time windows is a superior strategy to increase the electrification rate of VMT; ii) deploying 500 public stations (each includes 30 slow chargers) can electrify 170 million VMT in Beijing in two months, if EV’s battery range is 80 km and home charging is available; iii) appropriately combining slow and fast chargers in public charging stations contributes to the electrification rate; iv) breaking the charging stations into smaller ones and spatially distribute them will increase the electrification rate of VMT; v) feeding the information of availability of chargers in charging stations to drivers can increase the electrification rate of VMT; vi) the impact of stochasticity embedded in the trajectory data can be significantly mitigated by adopting the dataset covering a longer period. |
| Keywords: | Engineering, trajectory dataset, plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, charging opportunity, electrification rate, public charging stations, vehicle miles traveled |
| Date: | 2016–05–01 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:cdl:itsrrp:qt6rp6n4sf&r=tre |
| By: | Marco Gonzalez-Navarro; Matthew A. Turner |
| Abstract: | We investigate the relationship between the extent of a city’s subway network, its population and its spatial configuration. To accomplish this investigation, for the 632 largest cities in the world, we construct panel data describing the extent of each of the 138 subway systems in these cities, their population, and measures of centralization calculated from lights at night data. These data indicate that large cities are more likely to have subways, but that subways have an economically insignificant effect on urban population growth. Consistent with economic theory and with other studies of the effects of transportation improvements on cities, our data also indicate that subways cause cities to be more decentralized. For a subset of subway cities we also observe panel data describing subway and bus ridership. We find that a 10% increase in subway extent causes about a 6% increase in subway ridership and has no effect on bus ridership. Consistent with the available literature describing the effect of roads on cities, our results are consistent with subways having a larger effect on the configuration of cities than on their sizes, and with subways having a larger effect on discretionary than commute travel. |
| Keywords: | subways; public transit; urban growth; urban decentralization |
| JEL: | R14 J01 |
| Date: | 2016–04 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ehl:lserod:66535&r=tre |
| By: | Antoine Goujard |
| Abstract: | Poland has significantly upgraded its infrastructure network over the past decade. However, bottlenecks still weigh on productivity growth and environmental and health outcomes. The EU 2014-20 programming period is an opportunity to improve the management of infrastructure investment. In the transport sector, the country allocated most recent funding to roads, but it plans significant investment in railway and urban public transport in 2014-20. Strengthening metropolitan governance, building up medium-term infrastructure management capabilities and reducing funding uncertainty would ensure more efficient spending. In the energy sector, electricity generation capacity is tight, while regulatory uncertainty, administrative burdens and a lack of interregional and international trade capacity has hampered the development of renewables. The authorities are seeking to develop nuclear power, but they need to take fully into account tail risks involved and its long-term costs. More energy efficiency investment would also be valuable, as current support systems do not provide sufficient incentives. Améliorer l'investissement en infrastructures de transports et énergétiques en Pologne La Pologne a significativement renforcé son réseau d’infrastructures au cours de la dernière décennie. Cependant, des goulets pèsent toujours tant sur la croissance de la productivité que sur la santé de la population et l’environnement. La période de programmation 2014-20 de l’UE est une opportunité d’améliorer la gestion de l’investissement en infrastructures. Dans le secteur des transports, après avoir financé principalement les infrastructures routières, la Pologne prévoit de consacrer d’importants investissements aux transports ferroviaires et publics urbains entre 2014 et 2020. Une meilleure gouvernance des métropoles, des capacités accrues de gestion des infrastructures à moyen terme et une réduction de l’incertitude des financements garantiraient une plus grande efficience des dépenses. Par ailleurs, dans le secteur de l’énergie, les installations de production électrique satisfont tout juste les besoins, tandis que l’incertitude réglementaire, le poids des charges administratives et les capacités commerciales insuffisantes aux niveaux interrégional et international freinent le développement des énergies renouvelables. Les autorités cherchent à développer le nucléaire, mais elles doivent tenir pleinement compte des risques extrêmes et de ses coûts à long terme. La Pologne aurait également intérêt à investir davantage dans l’efficacité énergétique car les dispositifs de soutien actuels ne fournissent pas des incitations suffisantes. |
| Keywords: | investment, transport, regulation, energy, infrastructure |
| JEL: | E62 H54 H57 L91 L94 L95 L96 O43 |
| Date: | 2016–06–02 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:oec:ecoaaa:1302-en&r=tre |
| By: | Liao, Kenneth; Pouliot, Sébastien |
| Abstract: | This paper estimates the relative preferences of motorists for E10 and E85 from an intercept survey of motorists with flex-fuel vehicles at E85 fuel stations in Arkansas, California, Colorado, Iowa, and Oklahoma. The information collected includes prices observed at fuel stations, fuel choices by flex motorists, and responses to a series of opinion questions about ethanol and gasoline. We also proposed a hypothetical scenario to each motorist in which either the price of the fuel selected was increased or the price of the fuel not selected was decreased. We first estimate fuel preferences using the revealed preference data from the observed choices. We then use the stated preference data from the hypothetical price scenario to estimate preferences in empirical models that correct for endogeneity from unobservable demand shifters that carry over to the stated preference empirical model. We find that motorists significantly discount E85 compared to E10 even when accounting for the different energy content of the two fuels and that the distribution of willingness to pay for E85 does not vary significantly between regions, except for California where motorists are willing to pay significantly more for E85. |
| Keywords: | Ethanol, Gasoline, Renewable Fuel Standard, Willingness to pay, Intercept survey, Agricultural and Food Policy, Demand and Price Analysis, Environmental Economics and Policy, Institutional and Behavioral Economics, Marketing, Resource /Energy Economics and Policy, Q18, Q41, Q42, |
| Date: | 2016–05 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:aaea16:236107&r=tre |
| By: | He, Jen; Leard, Benjamin; Linn, Joshua; McConnell, Virginia |
| Abstract: | This study looks at the evidence about fuel economy and other truck attributes from VIUS, and provides implications for a dynamic baseline of improvements in fuel economy. We discuss the engine technologies and vehicle designs that potentially improve truck fuel economy. The combined effects of these advances are estimated as technological progress in our specifications. The rich information from VIUS about vehicle characteristics equips us to estimate the trade-off effects – how vehicle weight and engine power affect fuel economy. |
| Keywords: | Environmental Economics and Policy, Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies, Resource /Energy Economics and Policy, |
| Date: | 2016 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:aaea16:235275&r=tre |
| By: | Bouscasse, H.; Joly, I.; Peyhardi, J. |
| Abstract: | In this paper, we model mode choice with the new specification of generalized linear models proposed by Peyardi et al. (2015). In logit models used by economists, the link function can be decomposed into the reference ratio of probabilities and a cumulative distribution function (cdf). Alternative cdfs (Student, Cauchy, Gumbel, Gompertz, Laplace, Normal) can be used. These cdfs differ in their symmetry (symetric or asymetric distributions) and in their tails (heavy or thin tails), each allowing a different distribution of behaviors. We test the statistic and economic implications of changing the cdf. First, we investigate the goodness-of-fit indicators (AIC, BIC, Mc-Fadden R2). Then, we compare estimated parameters in terms of sign and significativity. And finally, we look at behavioural outputs such as value of time and demand elasticities. We use a recent stated preferences survey conducted by the author in the Rhône-Alpes Région (France). Its specificity is to specifically address the question of mode choice (rail, coach and car) in a regional context. Attributes include travel time, cost and comfort. We also investigate the cross effect of travel time and comfort. Comparisons between cdfs are made on the basis of three models, including only attributes variables or only individual variables or both. Our results show that the different cdfs provide quite similar results. But, in our estimations, the logistic cdf never ranks among the best options. In terms of significance and sign of coefficients, parameters' estimation are globally the same even if some special features can be noticed. Looking at time equivalence of comfort, we notice that in the model without individual variables, the cdf has a major influence on outputs. In particular, the Student cdf provides very consistent results while some other cdfs (e.g. Gompertz, Logistic, Normal) are extreme. |
| Keywords: | LOGIT MODEL;REFERENCE MODELS;VALUE OF TIME;ELASTICITIES;MODE CHOICE |
| JEL: | C18 C52 R40 |
| Date: | 2016 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:gbl:wpaper:2016-04&r=tre |
| By: | Congressional Budget Office |
| Abstract: | Federal spending on highways does not correspond very well with how the roads are used. CBO examines three approaches lawmakers could consider to make highway spending more productive. |
| JEL: | H41 H54 H76 R41 R42 R48 |
| Date: | 2016–02–11 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:cbo:report:501501&r=tre |
| By: | Pozdnukhov, Alexey |
| Abstract: | This project develops machine learning algorithms and methods for processing of cell phone location logs to generate travel behavior data. The project initially focuses on bias correction and activity inference for generating activity-based travel demand models. Inferred activity chains are used to calibrate an agent-based traffic micro-simulation for the SF Bay Area, and validated on loop detector counts. |
| Keywords: | Engineering, activity-based travel demand models, cellular data, machine learning, agent-based simulation |
| Date: | 2016–03–31 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:cdl:itsrrp:qt4hc9r218&r=tre |
| By: | Wetzstein, Brian; Florax, Raymond; Foster, Ken; Binkley, James |
| Keywords: | Marketing, |
| Date: | 2016 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:aaea16:235947&r=tre |
| By: | Bucheli, José R.; Bohara, Alok K.; Villa, Kira |
| Abstract: | Although the effect of rural road development projects on income poverty has been well studied, little research has been undertaken on the impact on the multiple dimensions of poverty. In this study, we examine the effect of the improvement and construction of rural roads in rural Nepal on household deprivation of health, education, and living standards. We use data from two rounds of the Nepal Demographic and Health Survey (2001, 2011) and a difference-in-differences approach to estimate the average treatment effect on multidimensional poverty. Our study finds evidence of reductions in household deprivation, mainly driven by improvements in asset ownership and dwelling infrastructure. We fail to observe significant effects on the health and education indicators. We test these findings by using propensity-score matching and inverse-probability weighting methods as robustness checks, and generally find similar estimates. In line with the literature in the field, we find heterogeneity in the results across socioeconomic groups and poverty dimensions. Further exploration suggests that household land ownership and economic activity might be driving this heterogeneity. Our work highlights the importance of using multidimensional measures to assess poverty and to empirically evaluate the impact of infrastructure projects on the development of countries, especially their rural regions. |
| Keywords: | multidimensional poverty, infrastructure, living standards, health, education, rural development, road construction, Community/Rural/Urban Development, International Development, |
| Date: | 2016 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:aaea16:235214&r=tre |
| By: | Simon Franklin |
| Abstract: | Do high search costs affect the labour market outcomes of job seekers living far away from jobs? I randomly assign transport subsidies to unemployed youth in urban Ethiopia. Treated respondents increase job search intensity, and are more likely to find good employment. Subsidies also reduce participation in temporary work during job search. I explain these results with a dynamic model of job search, in which cash constraints cause workers to give up search too early. The predictions of the model closely match the trajectory of treatment effects over time, which I estimate using a weekly phone call survey. |
| Keywords: | job search, spatial mismatch, unemployment, cash constraints, urban, transpor |
| JEL: | J64 C93 J61 O18 |
| Date: | 2016–05 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:cep:sercdp:0199&r=tre |