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on Transport Economics |
| By: | Dion, Francois PhD; Yang, Mingyuan; Patire, Anthony PhD |
| Abstract: | Determining where trucks are traveling is crucial for planning and maintaining transportation networks. In California, information about truck movements is primarily derived from a network of fixed monitoring stations. These include weigh-in-motion stations (truck scales) and traffic count stations. Information from these locations can be used to classify passing trucks (light, medium, or heavy-duty), determine their travel direction, and estimate their proportion of the general traffic; however, the data provides limited information about trip origins and destinations and the routes taken in between stations. Estimating truck movements within a region thus largely depends on extrapolating data between known collection points. While this can be done with relative ease in simple networks containing few alternate routes, it can be a difficult task in complex networks without significantly increasing the number of fixed monitoring stations. |
| Keywords: | Engineering |
| Date: | 2025–06–01 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:cdl:itsrrp:qt7891z02q |
| By: | Jaller, Miguel; Valencia-Cardenas, Maria C. |
| Abstract: | This report develops an equitable and sustainable freight-oriented land use (LU) methodology to support future planning activities, enabling the integration of freight activity across urban, suburban, and rural areas and facilitating the transition of heavy- and medium-duty vehicles toward zero-emission. The methods include a literature review to identify freight sustainable strategies, policy analysis at different scales, characterization of local context, and demand/supply patterns. The latter examines the spatial distribution and land use characteristics of freight facilities and retail/service sectors in the Sacramento region to inform sustainable and equitable planning strategies. This analysis identifies co-location patterns, accessibility gaps, and sectoral interactions using a multi-dimensional approach integrating spatial clustering, distance analysis, population-employment dynamics, and environmental burdens. Data sources include Longitudinal Employer-Household Dynamics Origin-Destination Employment Statistics (LODES), American Community Survey (ACS), CalEnviroScreen, and OpenStreetMap, alongside geospatial tools in R. The findings suggest the need for targeted interventions to address potential conflicts, service deserts, and environmental justice concerns. The study proposes actionable strategies for planners to support balanced economic development and improve access to essential services. View the NCST Project Webpage |
| Keywords: | Engineering, Social and Behavioral Sciences, Land Use, Sustainable Freight Strategies, Transportation Policy, Transportation Planning, Spatial equity, Demand-Supply interaction |
| Date: | 2025–07–01 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:cdl:itsdav:qt2x20p4fg |
| By: | Miller, Marshall; Fulton, Lewis; Yang, Hong; Zhao, Jingyuan; Burke, Andrew |
| Abstract: | The savings to California from transitioning to zero-emission cars and trucks by 2050 is about $300 billion. These savings result mostly from the cost of zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) dropping close to or below the cost of gasoline and diesel vehicles; additional savings come from operational cost advantages. Policies at the state and national level, as well as the success of ZEV manufacturers, will affect California’s ability to achieve ZEV adoption targets and realize net economic benefits. However, even in the absence of ZEV-supportive policies, the global embrace of electric vehicles and the resulting cost reductions from innovation and scale economies will lead to substantial benefits and savings for California. |
| Keywords: | Engineering, Social and Behavioral Sciences |
| Date: | 2025–07–03 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:cdl:itsdav:qt40k5w5h9 |
| By: | John C. Whitehead; Pamela Wicker |
| Abstract: | This study examines how changes in travel time affects participants’ intention to revisit a sport event and how willingness to travel (WTT) questions and resulting willingness to pay (WTP) estimates differ depending on the question format. The analysis relied on post-race online survey data of participants of a running event in the United States (n=592). WTT questions were assessed with payment card (multiple cost levels) and dichotomous choice formats (single cost level). Hypothetical travel cost increase was framed as additional travel time rather than travel distance. Results reveal that respondents are less likely to participate as travel time rises, while higher-income respondents are more likely to return. The payment card question format generates greater travel cost sensitivity than the dichotomous choice format, while yielding higher WTP estimates. The study introduced travel time as a valid payment vehicle and offered evidence of how different question formats affect WTT and WTP. Key Words: Intention to revisit; Monetary valuation; Sport event; Sport tourism; Travel cost; Willingness to pay |
| Date: | 2025 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:apl:wpaper:25-04 |
| By: | Mills, Jackson |
| Abstract: | This report details the process of geospatially mapping every heavy rail, light rail, and bus rapid transit expansion in the United States from the years 2000 to 2024. We outline the protocol that was developed for this project and explain the steps that were taken to produce route and stop shapefiles for 148 transit openings and extensions. We address some of the challenges we encountered. We also produce a series of visualizations to illustrate trends in the geographic and modal distribution of transit projects in the United States over the last 25 years. In mapping these expansions, we hope to provide researchers with the requisite information to be able to conduct a wide range of studies that examine multiple types of effects associated with public transit on a wider scale. Such analysis could be conducted on a transit line- or stop-based level, which are the two shapefiles produced for each transit extension in this project. The shapefiles could be modified with catchment areas to examine a transit system’s impact within a specified geographic area around the transit line or stop(s). Temporally, researchers could analyze the effects of transit expansion on various co-benefits by comparing outcomes before and after the extension opened. By providing the geospatial data, sourcing, and explanations for research practices used in this project, our work serves as a foundation for many types of studies that examine public transit-related outcomes. |
| Keywords: | Social and Behavioral Sciences, Digital mapping, GIS, Public transit, Fixed routes, Transit stops, Transit schedules, Transit data |
| Date: | 2025–07–01 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:cdl:itsrrp:qt1xz8s32t |
| By: | Ramji, Aditya; Dhole, Anuj; Sperling, Daniel; Fulton, Lewis; Hwang, Roland |
| Abstract: | ITS-Davis has analyzed the design of self-financing zero emission truck (ZET) incentive programs that could help the current underfunded Clean Truck and Bus Voucher Program (HVIP) and continue to provide certainty for fleet buyers to transition, given the recently withdrawn Advanced Clean Fleet (ACF) regulation for trucks. The revenues are generated by either imposing a one-time pollution charge on the price of new diesel truck sales or a recurring annual surcharge to annual registration fees, with the revenues used to incentivize ZET sales. For instance, if a one-time charge of 6.8% is imposed on new diesel truck sales, or an annual polluter charge was imposed on diesel trucks ranging from $290 to $820 per truck, depending on the type of truck, about $3.4 billion would be generated over 10 years. On an annual basis, this would roughly be equivalent to the average funding level of $340 million per year from 2021 to 2024 of the current HVIP incentive program. Such a program would harness market forces by sending a clear signal to truck buyers and manufacturers, and would generate revenue for incentive funds for ZETs, with no cost to government or taxpayers. The charges would be administratively straightforward to collect. As a one-time charge, it could be collected at the time of vehicle purchase. Alternatively, as an annual charge, it could be assessed as part of the annual registration and renewal fee, known as the Commercial Vehicle Registration (CVRA) fee. |
| Keywords: | Social and Behavioral Sciences |
| Date: | 2025–07–01 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:cdl:itsdav:qt5wc7028m |
| By: | Arne Lilienkamp (Institute of Energy Economics at the University of Cologne (EWI)); Nils Namockel (Institute of Energy Economics at the University of Cologne (EWI)); Oliver Ruhnau (Institute of Energy Economics at the University of Cologne (EWI)) |
| Abstract: | The ongoing transition of our energy systems implies a rise of distributed generators, batteries, and new consumers, including electric vehicles and heat pumps. Previous studies have found that distributed flexibility may substantially benefit wholesale electricity markets, but have neglected that these benefits maybe subject to distribution grid constraints. Here, we propose using a virtual storage approach to aggregate the net load and flexibility of individual consumers at the distribution grid level, subject to the corresponding grid constraints. We apply our approach to flexible electric vehicle charging scenarios in German distribution grids for the years 2030 and 2045. Our results suggest that distributed flexibility exacerbates distribution grid congestion if it only follows wholesale market prices. However, there may be the potential to alleviate local congestion with stable wholesale market benefits of distributed flexibility. Local coordination of distributed flexibility appears to be able to resolve distribution grid constraints at substantially lower costs than expanding transformer capacity. We conclude that local coordination mechanisms are key to unlocking the wholesale market benefits of distributed flexibility while mitigating hazards in the distribution grids. |
| Keywords: | Electric vehicles; Distribution grids; Energy system modeling; Flexibility; Grid expansion |
| Date: | 2025–07–14 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ris:ewikln:021403 |
| By: | Asa Watten; Soren T. Anderson |
| Abstract: | Cars have gotten bigger and faster yet more fuel efficient in recent decades. Why? We estimate an equilibrium model of car attribute production using U.S. household microdata for 1995–2017 and structurally decompose attribute trends into underlying mechanisms. We find that technical change led to gains in all attributes. Rising gas prices boosted efficiency but were offset by surging demand for size and acceleration. Efficiency standards were largely ineffective. We show that using technology alone to meet tighter standards quadruples compliance costs, while half the efficiency gain from a fuel-saving technology subsidy is reallocated to other attributes in equilibrium. |
| JEL: | L62 O3 Q4 R4 |
| Date: | 2025–06 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:nbr:nberwo:33979 |
| By: | Rachida Benfedel (Université de Tlemcen = University of Tlemcen, ESC [Rennes] - ESC Rennes School of Business); Fayçal Belkaid (Université de Tlemcen = University of Tlemcen); Nadjib Brahimi (ESC [Rennes] - ESC Rennes School of Business) |
| Abstract: | This collaborative study with a company manufacturing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) aimed to optimize production planning and distribution processes to minimize total costs. The company operates a manufacturing center with two production units, each specializing in a specific type of PPE and using a fleet of homogeneous trucks for direct shipment to the warehouse and several retailers. The problem consists of minimizing the overall cost of manufacturing, inventory, and transportation while considering factors such as production unit capacity, inventory levels, delivery requirements, and vehicle capacity. We have modeled the problem as a multi-product lot-sizing problem with multi-trip direct shipment. To solve this optimization problem, we have proposed a mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) formulation followed by an efficient hybrid simulated annealing algorithm. The performance of the hybrid simulated annealing meta-heuristic was analyzed by comparing its results with those of the MILP formulation, which was solved using a state-of-the-art commercial solver. Numerical experiments were conducted on real data from the PPE manufacturer and data sets adapted from existing literature. Results show that the hybrid simulated annealing heuristic achieves costs that are up to 3.74% lower than those obtained using the commercial solver (for the same CPU times). Furthermore, we tested our solution approach on actual instances specifically designed for the company. Our integrated approach achieves a significant cost reduction compared to the company's existing solution. Our results provide valuable insights for managers seeking to reduce costs while maintaining delivery efficiency. |
| Keywords: | Integrated optimization, Lot sizing problem, direct shipment, Multi-trip, Mixed integer programming, hybrid simulated annealing, Personal protection equipment |
| Date: | 2025 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hal:journl:hal-05059003 |
| By: | Magnus Neubert (Leibniz Institute of Agricultural Development in Transition Economies and Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg); Stefan Nikolić (Loughborough University) |
| Abstract: | Are railways always a harbinger of prosperity? We examine the economic effects of railways in Bosnia-Herzegovina under Habsburg colonial rule. Our novel dataset consistently tracks the non-agrarian population share of over 4, 500 settlements in Habsburg Bosnia in 1885, 1895, and 1910, based on census records. Applying the inconsequential units approach, with least cost paths as our instrumental variable, we estimate the effect of railway access on structural transformation. Normal-gauge railways deindustrialized Bosnian settlements by exposing local crafts to imperial competition. Narrow-gauge railways accelerated structural transformation temporarily, primarily by attracting foreigners. Narrow-gauge railways had a more sustained impact on structural transformation in settlements endowed with human capital and secured by law enforcement. Our findings suggest colonial railways are no silver bullet for economic development; transport infrastructure requires development prerequisites to have a lasting positive effect. |
| Keywords: | railways, occupational structure, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Habsburg Empire |
| JEL: | I25 J21 N94 O18 R11 |
| Date: | 2025–07 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hes:wpaper:0280 |