Free fare for better air? Evaluating the impacts of free fare public transit on air pollution

Authors

Grant Webster

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

2024

Subject Area

economics - subsidy, place - north america, policy - environment, policy - fares

Keywords

Public transit, fares, subsidy, air pollution

Abstract

Due to the positive externalities of public transit, fares have been heavily subsidized throughout the United States and the world. Policymakers have designed these subsidies as a potential mechanism to reduce local air pollution. This paper evaluates the effectiveness of free-fare public transit subsidies in reducing air pollution. Studying the “Zero Fare for Better Air” initiative, I find no significant decrease in ground-level ozone due to free-fare public transit in Colorado. This paper also demonstrates how the free-fare initiative failed to improve welfare even when incorporating all the positive externalities of transit ridership.

Rights

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

Comments

Transportation Research Part A Home Page:

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/09658564

Recommended Citation

Webster, G. (2024). Free fare for better air? Evaluating the impacts of free fare public transit on air pollution. Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, 184, 104076.