Abstract Rail transit investment has increased greatly because of its potential to attract choice riders to switch from driving to transit. However, there is limited knowledge about the impacts of rail transit on driving, particularly in fast-growing developing countries. Furthermore, many studies are subject to one or more limitations from methodological and practical perspectives. Using the 2014 data from Xi'an, this paper employs both cross-sectional and quasi-longitudinal analyses to examine how metro transit influences driving. The quasi-longitudinal analysis shows that moving into metro neighborhoods is negatively associated with change in driving although the cross-sectional analysis shows no effect. Therefore, the results based on cross-sectional analysis may be misleading. Taken all together, metro transit development and the design of station-area neighborhoods have the potential to reduce driving, and mitigate its impact on environment and slow the growth of traffic congestion.

    Highlights The effects of metro transit on driving were examined. Both cross-sectional and quasi-longitudinal analyses were employed. The quasi-longitudinal analysis shows that moving into a metro neighborhood is negatively associated with a change in driving. Metro transit development and the design of station-area neighborhoods have the potential to reduce driving.


    Access

    Check access

    Check availability in my library

    Order at Subito €


    Export, share and cite



    Title :

    Can metro transit reduce driving? Evidence from Xi'an, China


    Contributors:

    Published in:

    Transport Policy ; 81 ; 350-359


    Publication date :

    2018-03-15


    Size :

    10 pages




    Type of media :

    Article (Journal)


    Type of material :

    Electronic Resource


    Language :

    English




    Effects of metro transit on the ownership of mobility instruments in Xi’an, China

    Huang, Xiaoyan / Cao, Xinyu (Jason) / Yin, Jiangbin et al. | Elsevier | 2016



    Two dimensional accessibility analysis of metro stations in Xi’an, China

    Li, Linbo / Ren, Huan / Zhao, Shanshan et al. | Elsevier | 2017


    Study of Distribution of Weekly Metro Ridership of Xi'an Metro

    Tao, Si-ran / Chen, Kuan-min / Ma, Chao-qun | ASCE | 2014