Abstract

This paper investigates the impacts of Taipei Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) system on household car ownership and analyses how socioeconomic characteristics affect household car ownership. We employ a difference-in-difference (DID) strategy integrated with generalized Poisson regression models to examine the effects of MRT. The results are as follows: first, the establishment of Taipei MRT significantly reduced the level of household car ownership. Expanding the network of MRT system can be a feasible policy to control car ownership. Second, the levels of household car ownership are related to household’s socioeconomic characteristics. Third, households with high dependence on public transport own fewer cars after Taipei MRT began operation. Hence, the traffic authority should adopt more effective methods to encourage public transit use in order to decrease household car ownership.

Highlights

  • In 1996, the mass rapid transit system was established in Taipei, becoming Taiwan’s first and most developed Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) system

  • We are interested in the question that “Was the reduction of household car ownership attributed to Taipei MRT?” In this paper, we investigate whether Taipei MRT can effectively reduce household car ownership and how demographic and socioeconomic characteristics affect household car ownership

  • The purpose of this study is to identify the effects of Taipei MRT on household car ownership

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Summary

Introduction

In 1996, the mass rapid transit system was established in Taipei, becoming Taiwan’s first and most developed MRT system. Taipei MRT is operated by the Taipei Rapid Transit Corporation. The number of passengers using Taipei MRT increased from 11 million persons in 1996 to 659 million persons in 2012. From 1996 to 2012, the average annual growth rate of MRT passengers was 37%. Average car ownership per household exhibited a downward trend in Taipei and decreased from 0.56 in 1996 to 0.52 in 2012. The level of household car ownership in Taipei had a lower trend than that in the whole Taiwan. From 1996 to 2012, average car ownership per household had decreased by an annual rate of 0.04% in Taipei compared to an increase of 1.08% in the whole Taiwan. We are interested in the question that “Was the reduction of household car ownership attributed to Taipei MRT?” In this paper, we investigate whether Taipei MRT can effectively reduce household car ownership and how demographic and socioeconomic characteristics affect household car ownership

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