Is fare-free public transport effective in improving air quality? Evidence from Fuzhou, China

IF 8.3 1区工程技术 Q1 ECONOMICS

Transportation Research Part E-Logistics and Transportation Review Pub Date : 2025-02-28 DOI:10.1016/j.tre.2025.104040

Yuan Liang, Donggen Wang

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Fare-free public transport (FFPT) programs are gaining increasing popularity worldwide as a policy tool to mitigate the negative externalities associated with automobile usage. However, evidence regarding their effectiveness in reducing air pollution, a major automobile externality, remains limited. In this study, we empirically examine the effect of FFPT programs on air quality in Fuzhou, a provincial capital city in China, based on a quasi-experimental design. Using difference-in-differences models, we find that Fuzhou’s FFPT program reduces fine particulate (PM_2.5) concentrations by 0.332 µg/m³ (2.1 %) in the short run. Furthermore, the program leads to an increase of 129,486 rides (49.8%) in daily subway ridership. Back-of-the-envelope calculations indicate that the health benefits brought by the FFPT program through air quality improvements, including reduced mortality and healthcare expenditures, amount to about 3.09 billion Chinese yuan (or 478.92 million US dollars) annually, which is six times the loss of fare revenue. These findings highlight the potential of fare-free public transport as a sustainable urban transport policy in urban China and contribute to a better understanding of its cost-effectiveness.

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免费公共交通对改善空气质素是否有效？来自中国福州的证据

作为减轻与汽车使用相关的负面外部性的政策工具，免费公共交通（FFPT）计划在全球范围内越来越受欢迎。然而，关于它们在减少空气污染（一个主要的汽车外部性）方面的有效性的证据仍然有限。在本研究中，我们基于准实验设计，实证研究了FFPT计划对中国省会城市福州空气质量的影响。使用差中差模型，我们发现福州的FFPT计划在短期内将细颗粒物（PM2.5）浓度降低了0.332µg/m3（2.1%）。此外，地铁日客流量增加了12.9486万人次（49.8%）。粗略计算表明，FFPT计划通过改善空气质量带来的健康效益，包括降低死亡率和医疗保健支出，每年约为30.9亿元人民币（或4.7892亿美元），是票价收入损失的六倍。这些发现突出了免费公共交通作为中国城市可持续交通政策的潜力，并有助于更好地了解其成本效益。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Transportation Research Part E-Logistics and Transportation Review 工程技术-工程：土木

CiteScore

16.20

自引率

16.00%

发文量

285

审稿时长

62 days

期刊介绍： Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review is a reputable journal that publishes high-quality articles covering a wide range of topics in the field of logistics and transportation research. The journal welcomes submissions on various subjects, including transport economics, transport infrastructure and investment appraisal, evaluation of public policies related to transportation, empirical and analytical studies of logistics management practices and performance, logistics and operations models, and logistics and supply chain management. Part E aims to provide informative and well-researched articles that contribute to the understanding and advancement of the field. The content of the journal is complementary to other prestigious journals in transportation research, such as Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Part B: Methodological, Part C: Emerging Technologies, Part D: Transport and Environment, and Part F: Traffic Psychology and Behaviour. Together, these journals form a comprehensive and cohesive reference for current research in transportation science.