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“Evaluation of the Impact of Bus Rapid Transit on Air Pollution”

Author

Listed:
  • Germà Bel

    (Faculty of Economics, University of Barcelona)

  • Maximilian Holst

    (Faculty of Economics, University of Barcelona)

Abstract

Mexico City’s bus rapid transit (BRT) network, Metrobus, was introduced in an attempt to reduce congestion, increase city transport efficiency and cut air polluting emissions. In June 2005, the first BRT line in the metropolitan area began service. We use differences-in-differences and quantile regression techniques in undertaking the first quantitative policy impact assessment of the BRT system on air polluting emissions. The air pollutants considered are carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen oxides (NOX), particulate matter of less than 2.5 µm (PM2.5), particulate matter of less than 10 µm (PM10), and sulfur dioxide (SO2). The ex-post analysis uses real field data from air quality monitoring stations for periods before and after BRT implementation. Results show that BRT constitutes an effective environmental policy, reducing emissions of CO, NOX, PM2.5 and PM10.

Suggested Citation

  • Germà Bel & Maximilian Holst, 2015. "“Evaluation of the Impact of Bus Rapid Transit on Air Pollution”," IREA Working Papers 201519, University of Barcelona, Research Institute of Applied Economics, revised Sep 2015.
    • Handle: RePEc:ira:wpaper:201519
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    File URL: http://www.ub.edu/irea/working_papers/2015/201519.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Nicholas Rivers & Soodeh Saberian & Brandon Schaufele, 2020. "Public transit and air pollution: Evidence from Canadian transit strikes," Canadian Journal of Economics/Revue canadienne d'économique, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 53(2), pages 496-525, May.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Bus Rapid Transit; Differences-in-Differences; Environmental Policy Evaluation; Public Transport; Urban Air Pollution JEL classification: Q51; Q58; R41; R48;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • Q51 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Valuation of Environmental Effects
    • Q58 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Environmental Economics: Government Policy
    • R41 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Transportation Economics - - - Transportation: Demand, Supply, and Congestion; Travel Time; Safety and Accidents; Transportation Noise
    • R48 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Transportation Economics - - - Government Pricing and Policy

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