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on Transport Economics |
| By: | Richard Arnott (Department of Economics, University of California Riverside); Parker Williams (Department of Mathematics, University of California Riverside) |
| Abstract: | There has recently been considerable interest in cruising for curbside parking as a major contributor to traffic congestion in the downtown areas of major cities. The density of cars cruising for parking in the downtown area is related to the rate at which cars in transit in the downtown area start cruising for parking and the expected search time of a car that starts cruising for parking. This paper focuses on this expected search time. The literature has employed three different approaches to estimate expected cruising-for- parking time: direct measurement, inference based on the equilibrium condition that (for the marginal parker) the expected cost of curbside parking equals the expected cost of garage parking, and inference based on the observed occupancy rate of curbside parking and an assumed statistical relationship between expected cruising-for-parking time and the curbside parking occupancy rate. The last approach typically obtains estimates of expected cruising-for-parking times that are lower, and with high occupancy rates much lower, than those estimated using the other two approaches. This paper takes a step towards resolving this inconsistency by demonstrating, through computer simulation of cars cruising for parking around a circle in stochastic steady state, that an approximating assumption in the derived statistical relationship between expected cruising-for-parking time and the curbside parking occupancy rate leads to underestimation of average cruising-for-parking time, and at high occupancy rates very considerable underestimation. |
| Keywords: | Parking, traffic congestion |
| JEL: | R41 |
| Date: | 2016–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ucr:wpaper:201611&r=tre |
| 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 a taxi fleet in Beijing. Specifically, based on the gathered real-time vehicle trajectory data of 46,765 taxis in Beijing, we conduct time-series 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 charge 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 fleets with similar dataset available, and the analysis results contribute to our understanding on electric vehicles’ 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 distributing them will increase the electrification rate of VMT; v) feeding the information of the availability of chargers at stations to drivers can increase the electrification rate of VMT; and 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:qt2rr92202&r=tre |
| By: | OECD |
| Abstract: | In recent decades, Israel’s growing population and rising incomes have seen consumption increase substantially, bringing with it considerable pressure on the environment. One of the main environmental pressures is from the ever-increasing transport activity, especially the use of private vehicles. Although travelling in a private vehicle brings benefits to the individual using it, this entails costs to society as a whole. These social costs extend beyond the private costs of the car and the fuel borne by the car user, imposing a burden on public health and the environment. Transport involves noise, local air pollution, and contributes to climate change, congestion, accidents, and wear and tear to infrastructure. All these negatively affect public health and quality of life in general, a fact not taken into account when an individual chooses whether or not to buy a car. This is known as a “market failure”, because the price of a car does not fully reflect the social costs of using it. Governments can correct market failures like these through policies that ensure that the actual costs to society are incorporated within the price of a car, thus influencing consumers’ purchases. This paper describes how Israel developed an innovative scheme to encourage consumers to choose less polluting cars. The Green Tax scheme targets reductions in all polluting vehicle emissions, not only carbon dioxide (CO2). The paper outlines the design process, reflects on the challenges encountered and the environmental, economic and social impacts. It concludes by discussing the wider lessons that are raised for other governments seeking to tackle similar environmental problems. |
| Date: | 2016–07–19 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:oec:envaac:5-en&r=tre |
| By: | Daniel A. Brent; Austin Gross |
| Abstract: | High Occupancy Toll (HOT) lanes that use dynamic pricing to manage congestion and generate revenue are increasingly popular but poorly understood. In this paper we estimate the behavioral response of drivers to dynamic pricing in a HOT lane. The challenge in estimation lies in the simultaneity of price and demand: the structure of dynamic tolling ensures that prices increase as more drivers enter the HOT lane. Prior research has found that higher prices in HOT lanes increase usage. We find that after controlling for simultaneity arising from autocorrelation HOT drivers instead respond to tolls in a manner consistent with economic theory. The average response to a 10% increase in the toll is a 2% reduction in usage. Drivers primarily value travel reliability over time savings, although there is heterogeneity in the relative values of time and reliability based on time of day and destination to or from work. The results highlight the importance of both controlling for simultaneity when estimating demand for dynamically priced toll roads and treating HOT lanes with dynamic prices as a di erentiated product with bundled attributes. |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:lsu:lsuwpp:2016-07&r=tre |
| By: | Efobi Uchenna (Covenant University, Nigeria) |
| Abstract: | This study provides an ex-ante analysis of the welfare effect from the improvement of border road infrastructure in Nigeria. It starts by describing the income distribution in the Nigerian states contained in the sample. It then analyses the relationship between income, household food expenditures, and household expenditures on imported rice. it is aimed at assessing how changes in the price of food commodities induced by border road improvements would affect different types of households. Finally, it investigates how simulated changes in local transportation costs stemming from road improvements would affect local prices of imported rice taking into consideration the simulated price changes effect on household welfare across household head gender and household area (rural and urban households). Results indicate that policies aiming to improve border roads and thereby lower transportation costs, and subsequently the price of imported rice, would be more beneficial for rural than urban households. Such policies would likely produce larger welfare gains for poorer households than richer households, and would be more beneficial for the poorest female-headed households than their male counterparts. |
| Keywords: | ECOWAS; Gender; Household; Nigeria; Poverty; Trade; Welfare |
| JEL: | D1 D6 F1 F2 R2 |
| Date: | 2016–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:agd:wpaper:16/025&r=tre |
| By: | Gianpaolo PARISE (University of Lugano and Swiss Finance Institute) |
| Abstract: | This paper provides evidence for the effect of threat of entry on corporate debt structure in the airline industry. In particular, the evolution of the main low cost air carriers' route network is used to identify routes where the probability of future entry increases dramatically. Empirical results show that when the most strategic routes are threatened, incumbents significantly increase debt maturity before low cost airlines start flying. Overall, the main findings suggest that airlines respond to entry threats by lengthening the maturity of their debt in order to reduce liquidity risk. |
| Keywords: | airlines, competition, debt maturity, rollover risk, threat of entry |
| JEL: | G31 G32 D21 D43 L93 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:chf:rpseri:rp1439&r=tre |
| By: | Li, Yuan; Bolton, Kierstin; Westphal, Theo |
| Abstract: | "One Belt, One Road" is an extensive and complex initiative whose potential effect and influence are still currently pending for answers. This paper addresses the following research question: What is the effect of the New Silk Road intercontinental railways on the trade between China and its trading partners in Central Asia and Europe? We focus on nine railway lines connecting Europe and China, which started operations between 2011 and 2015. The countries´ trade patterns with railway connections to China are then compared to the countries without railway connections to China. We find the intercontinental railways have a positive effect on China´s exports to its trading partners in Central Asia and Europe, especially concerning exports of manufactured goods, machinery and transport equipment, and miscellaneous manufactured articles. Moreover, the intercontinental railways have a positive effect on China´s imports of food and live animals from its trading partners. |
| Keywords: | One Belt,One Road,trade,transportation cost,weapons of the rich,everyday forms of policy influence |
| JEL: | F02 F14 R4 |
| Date: | 2016 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:udedao:1092016&r=tre |
| By: | Li, Zhigang (Asian Development Bank); Xu, Hangtian (Hunan University) |
| Abstract: | This study addresses the debate on whether high-speed railroad (HSR) polarizes or balances economic geography. We find that both can occur: while the service sector tends to agglomerate, the manufacturing sector may decentralize; moreover, economic activities may agglomerate from distant areas to the core, while dispersing from the core toward its periphery at the same time. The service sector is crucial in this process because, unlike other land transport infrastructure, HSR mainly saves transport time for people, but not cargo. Incorporating this feature to the model of Ottaviano et al. (2002), we show that HSR can lead to either polarization or diffusion depending on sector and distance between cities. This is supported by empirical evidence from the 1982 opening of two major HSRs in Japan (Shinkansen), which saved intercity travel time by as much as half. We find that in noncore areas service employment decreased by 7%, while manufacturing employment increased by 21%; cities within approximately 100 kilometers of Tokyo expanded, while more distant cities shrank. In net, Tokyo metropolitan area agglomerates as a result of HSR. |
| Keywords: | economic corridor; high-speed rail; inclusive growth |
| JEL: | H54 O18 R12 |
| Date: | 2016–05–31 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ris:adbewp:0485&r=tre |
| By: | Berliant, Marcus; Tabuchi, Takatoshi |
| Abstract: | We consider the role of a nonlinear commuting cost function in determination of the equilibrium commuting pattern where all agents are mobile. Previous literature has considered only linear commuting cost, where in equilibrium, all workers are indifferent about their workplace location. We show that this no longer holds for nonlinear commuting cost. The equilibrium commuting pattern is completely determined by the concavity or convexity of commuting cost as a function of distance. We show that a monocentric equilibrium exists when the ratio of the firm agglomeration externality to commuting cost is sufficiently high. Finally, we find empirical evidence of both long and short commutes in equilibrium, implying that the commuting cost function is likely concave. |
| Keywords: | Commuting; Land rent; Wage gradient |
| JEL: | R13 R41 |
| Date: | 2016–07–15 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:72581&r=tre |
| By: | Hasan AYDOGAN (Selcuk University, Technology Faculty,); A. Engin OZCELIK (Selcuk University, Technology Faculty,); Mustafa ACAROGLU (Selcuk University, Technology Faculty,) |
| Abstract: | Using renewable alternative fuels in the diesel engines has been grown recently. The aim of the study was to experimentally investigate and compare the performance, combustion characteristics of a diesel engine fuelled by different fuels, which included diesel, biodiesel, mixtures. All the tests were conducted using a four-cylinder direct-injection diesel engine at different engine load conditions. It was found that the optimum alternative fuel among all the tested fuels was the B50 fuel blend as its use increased the maximum engine thermal efficiency by 6.5% and decreased the lowest engine brake specific fuel consumption by 5% compared to the diesel fuel. The change of fuel type had no significant effect on the combustion start timing while the combustion duration increased with increasing the engine load. All the tested fuels did no negatively affect the engine stability. |
| Keywords: | Camelina sativa Biodiesel, Engine Performance, Combustion Characteristics |
| JEL: | Q40 Q42 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:sek:iacpro:4006484&r=tre |
| By: | Ming-kei CHING (HKCC) |
| Abstract: | This study investigates the satisfaction of the Low-Cost Carriers in Hong Kong and recommends their future development based on the analysis. Data was collected through surveys and in-depth interviews with LCC operators. Survey was carried out at the main entrances and exits of the Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) to collect travelers’ opinion about service quality and satisfaction on LCCs. The results show that users of LCCs have higher ratings than non-users of LCCs in HK. It is suggested that LCCs could further raise the satisfaction level by focusing on service provided and making use of loyalty programs and referral from users. |
| Keywords: | Service Quality, Satisfaction, Low-Cost Carriers |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:sek:iacpro:4006466&r=tre |
| By: | Pittman, Russell |
| Abstract: | Voting trust arrangements have a long history at both the Interstate Commerce Commission and the Surface Transportation Board as devices to protect the incentives of acquiring firms and maintain the independence of acquiring and target firms during the pendency of regulatory investigation of the merger proposal. However, they are not without problems. The STB argued in 2001 that as Class I railroads have become fewer and larger, it may be difficult to find alternative purchasers for the target firm if the STB turns down the proposal. The Antitrust Division argued in 2016 that joint stock ownership creates anticompetitive and/or otherwise undesirable incentives, even if the independence of the voting trustee is complete. On the other hand, the functions served by voting trusts in railroad mergers are served by merger termination fees and other contractual “lockup” mechanisms in other parts of the economy, without the same incentive problems as voting trusts. Thus voting trusts may no longer serve a useful function in railroad merger deliberations. |
| Keywords: | railroads, mergers, voting trusts, merger termination fees, merger lockup provisions |
| JEL: | D82 G34 K23 L92 N71 N72 |
| Date: | 2016–07–19 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:72640&r=tre |
| By: | Eunkyung Joo (Pusan National University); Hyejin Shin (Pusan National University); Na-Ri Hong (Pusan National University); Insin Kim (Pusan National University) |
| Abstract: | The purpose of this study is to investigate critical factors of luxury value in inducing self enhancement of first class passengers and to explore the relationships among first class passengers’ self enhancement, first class loyalty, and willingness to pay more. The main survey was randomly distributed to individuals who had experienced first class services during their flights from any airline companies by an online market research company in U.S. Based on the data collected from 205 first class passengers, descriptive data analysis using SPSS was conducted and AMOS was used to test the hypotheses. The results demonstrate that all factors of luxury value, namely financial value, functional value, individual value, and social value, have significant influence on first class passengers’ self enhancement. In addition, first class passengers’ self enhancement has a substantial influence on first class loyalty and willingness to pay more. The results of this study contribute insights into the effect of each component of luxury value on first class loyalty and willingness to pay more mediated by self enhancement of first class passengers. |
| Keywords: | Luxury value; Self enhancement; Loyalty; Willingness to pay more; First class airline. |
| JEL: | M31 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:sek:iacpro:4006404&r=tre |