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Evaluating rail transit benefits: A comment

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  • Litman, Todd

Abstract

Several recent articles criticize urban rail transit investments on grounds that they are ineffective at reducing traffic congestion and financially wasteful. This commentary challenges that view. It summarizes some of the findings of more detailed analyses of transit benefits and suggests that there is abundant evidence that high quality, grade-separated transit does reduce urban traffic congestion, and that urban transit improvements can be cost effective investments when all economic impacts are considered.

Suggested Citation

  • Litman, Todd, 2007. "Evaluating rail transit benefits: A comment," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 14(1), pages 94-97, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:trapol:v:14:y:2007:i:1:p:94-97
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    4. Hector G. LOPEZ-RUIZ & Panayotis CHRISTIDIS & Hande DEMIREL & Mert KOMPIL, 2013. "Quantifying the Effects of Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans," JRC Research Reports JRC84116, Joint Research Centre.
    5. Werner, Carol M. & Brown, Barbara B. & Tribby, Calvin P. & Tharp, Doug & Flick, Kristi & Miller, Harvey J. & Smith, Ken R. & Jensen, Wyatt, 2016. "Evaluating the attractiveness of a new light rail extension: Testing simple change and displacement change hypotheses," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 45(C), pages 15-23.
    6. Zhu, Yi & Diao, Mi, 2016. "The impacts of urban mass rapid transit lines on the density and mobility of high-income households: A case study of Singapore," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 51(C), pages 70-80.
    7. Aydin, Nezir & Celik, Erkan & Gumus, Alev Taskin, 2015. "A hierarchical customer satisfaction framework for evaluating rail transit systems of Istanbul," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 77(C), pages 61-81.
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    14. Bu, Chujie & Cui, Xueqin & Li, Ruiyao & Li, Jin & Zhang, Yaxin & Wang, Can & Cai, Wenjia, 2021. "Achieving net-zero emissions in China’s passenger transport sector through regionally tailored mitigation strategies," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 284(C).
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