The effect of a new subway line on local air quality: A case study in Changsha

Authors

Siqi Zheng
Xiaonan Zhang
Weizeng Sun
Jianghao Wang

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

2017

Subject Area

place - asia, place - urban, mode - subway/metro, technology - emissions

Keywords

Subway, Air pollution, Local effect, Difference in difference, Changsha

Abstract

Public transit is viewed as a potential means to mitigate traffic congestion and its resulting air pollution and health consequences. A recent wave of studies has emerged examining whether this public investment can achieve its goals. Employing the difference in difference method, this paper examines the medium-term effect of the opening of a completely new subway line on local air pollution in Changsha. Our findings show that carbon monoxide pollution, one key type of automobile pollution in areas close to the subway line experienced a greater reduction relative to areas further away from the stations in the first year after the subway line opened. However, there is no evidence that the opening of the subway line affected particulate matter or ozone pollution. Heterogeneity effects support that air pollution reduction resulted from substituting subway use for road use.

Rights

Permission to publish the abstract has been given by Elsevier, copyright remains with them.

Comments

Transportation Research Part D Home Page:

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/13619209

Recommended Citation

Zheng, S., Zhang, X., Sun, W., & Wang, J. (2017). The effect of a new subway line on local air quality: A case study in Changsha. Transportation Research Part D: Transport and Environment, Available online 28 November 2017. In Press, Corrected Proof.