Transport Infrastructure Investment Research Articles

Driving Economic Growth through Transportation Infrastructure: An In-Depth Spatial Econometric Analysis

This research investigates the crucial role of transportation infrastructure in influencing economic activity, thus employing advanced econometric methods including Moran’s I index, LM, Hausman, and LR tests to ensure analytical accuracy and select the appropriate spatial model. Our findings reveal that freight volumes across road, waterway, and civil aviation significantly enhance economic activity by bolstering domestic trade, industrial production, and supply chains. Conversely, the impact of passenger turnover is comparatively minor, although it still contributes to labor mobility and urban accessibility. This study highlights the need for strategic investment in transportation infrastructure and efficient public transport systems to foster economic growth and sustainable development. We recommend that policymakers focus on optimizing transportation networks and integrating intelligent transport technologies to boost economic competitiveness and societal well-being. This analysis not only sheds light on the direct economic impacts of transportation but also underscores the broader social implications, thus advocating for a holistic approach to transportation planning and policymaking.

Unveiling Transportation Socio-Economic Adaptability Using a Node–Place Model: A Case from Zhejiang Province, China

Effective investment in transportation infrastructure ensures sustainable urban development and high-quality economic development. Understanding transportation and socioeconomic relationships is crucial for developing investment strategies. Existing research focuses on analyzing the contribution of transportation to the economy or the contribution of economic development to transportation, neglecting the identification of transportation infrastructure weaknesses to initiate targeted investment and construction. In this study, we propose an assessment framework based on the node–place model to identify the shortcomings in transportation infrastructure. The framework encompasses the adaptability of the current transportation infrastructure and the stage of economic development, evaluating whether the current transportation infrastructure is ahead of or lagging behind the level of economic development. We conduct a case study on three kinds of transportation infrastructure, including railways, highways, and civil aviation, in Zhejiang Province, China. The results show that Zhejiang Province’s transportation infrastructure generally meets economic development requirements, and most cities have relatively advanced transportation systems. However, significant gaps in transportation facilities in certain areas still need to be targeted and supplemented. These findings help to explore the theoretical relationship between transportation and socioeconomics, providing a basis for economic investment decisions on transportation infrastructure.

IDENTIFICATION AND EVALUATION OF AGRICULTURAL SUPPLY CHAIN RISK

This research is based on different risk involved in supply chain of agricultural. The literature review examines the challenges facing rural agricultural supply chains in various regions, particularly in Ghana, Ethiopia, and the Philippines. The primary focus is on the detrimental effects of inadequate transportation infrastructure, including poorly maintained roads and limited access to transportation networks. These challenges contribute to high transportation costs, post-harvest losses, and reduced agricultural output. Moreover, the prevalence of pests, diseases, and natural disasters further exacerbates the vulnerabilities of these supply chains. Despite the significance of agricultural production as a source of livelihood and economic activity in these regions, the constraints imposed by transportation limitations hinder market access, increase input prices, and impede overall economic growth. Strategies to address these challenges must prioritize investments in transportation infrastructure, market information systems, and resilience-building measures against environmental risks. FMEA method is applied to assess and prioritise the agricultural supply chain risks. It is use to analysis the level of risks. Keywords: Supply chain risk, Risk assessment, FMEA, Agricultural supply chain.

Active Transportation Infrastructure Investment Program (DOT)

Active Transportation Infrastructure Investment Program (DOT)

An Analysis of the Health Effects of Physical Activity due to Active Travel Policies in Rennes, France

Background Rennes, a midsize city in France, features many opportunities for active travel. City officials seek to increase walking and cycling by 2030 to improve public health. Physical inactivity, a leading risk factor for premature mortality around the globe, has been shown to be associated with many chronic diseases including heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and cancer. Methods Using the 2018 household travel survey of Rennes residents, we apply the Health-Oriented Transportation statistical model to assess health impacts associated with population-level rates of walking and cycling. We consider two proposed mobility and climate objectives which outline sustainable transportation goals by 2030. These include a shift in transportation mode share to increase walking and cycling trips, as well as a broad reduction in vehicle miles traveled (VMT) across the metropolitan area. Results Our regression analysis demonstrated that factors of household car access and inner-city residency were predictors of prevalence (observed one-day proportion engaging in walking or cycling), participation (weekly proportion), and intensity (mean individual physical activity achieved through walking/cycling) of active travel. Age and education were additionally associated with prevalence. The 2030 mobility objective (mode share: 9% cycle, 35% walk) was associated with a reduction of 1,051 DALYs (disability-adjusted life-years), translating to $73 million USD ($23-$177) in averted costs. The climate objective (10% reduction in VMT) was associated with a reduction of 369 DALYs when replaced entirely by walking and 714 DALYs with cycling, translating to $26 million ($8-$62) and $50 million ($15-$121) saved, respectively. Conclusions Rennes residents experience high participation in active travel, particularly those in the inner city. If residents achieve the city’s active travel goals for 2030, there is potential for a large reduction in health burden and subsequent costs. Reaching these goals may require significant investment in transportation programming and infrastructure to improve active travel opportunities.

Data-driven urban waterlogging risk management approach considering efficiency-equity trade-offs and risk mitigation capability evaluation

Because disaster reduction resources are always constrained, risk mitigation measures and policies need to be weighted toward efficiency or equity. Greater efficiency focuses on high-risk areas, and greater equity focuses on identifying additional potential risk areas. To address this efficiency-equity tradeoff decision, a data-driven urban waterlogging risk mitigation capability evaluation and improving framework was proposed for nonprofit operations and government bailouts. First, a novel evaluation index was defined, the F(α,β) score, to consider both precision and recall in the binary classification tasks and to seek an effective efficiency-equity trade-off, after which a two-person, zero-sum matrix game model was developed to calculate the α and β parameters and select the highest valued optimal model. Then, using this model, a risk probability map was generated for Wuhan, China, and data envelopment analysis was used to conduct a risk mitigation capability evaluation and identify the needed policy improvements. It was found that: (1) vulnerability was the primary risk-related factor, followed by adaptability and restorability; (2) more importance should be attached to equity than efficiency when implementing risk reduction capability evaluations, that is, authorities should reduce resource investments in extremely high-risk DEA-inefficient areas and identify a greater number of potential risk areas; (3) there were around 1.55% of extremely high-risk areas, which were mainly concentrated in the Jianghan and Wuchang districts and around 9% of high-risk areas, mainly located in the Hongshan district; and (4) northeastern and southwestern Jianghan district could be a valuable reference for urban waterlogging management and disaster reduction. However, excessive investment in transportation infrastructure and construction in DEA inefficient areas should be appropriately reduced.

Research on Performance Evaluation Index System of Rural Highway PPP Project

In recent years, China has actively and steadily expanded the effective investment in rural transportation infrastructure, actively guided social capital to participate in rural development, promoted the combination of PPP model and all aspects of rural areas, and implemented a new round of rural road construction and transformation. Rural highway construction is an important measure to promote rural economic development. Because of the wide range of rural construction in China and the huge capital investment and demand, it is necessary to build a scientific and comprehensive evaluation index system to evaluate the performance of rural highway construction projects, analyze the evaluation results, and put forward feasible suggestions to help decision makers grasp the benefits and effects of construction, and take targeted measures to guide and promote the positive development of rural highways. Taking the northern extension project of XL highway as an example, this paper constructs a performance evaluation index system, which can provide reference for the project management of XL highway and other highway projects.

AIIB Investment and Economic Development of India: The Case of the Gujarat Road Project

The purpose of this study is to verify whether the transportation infrastructure investment carried out by the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) has promoted the economic development of its recipient countries. Since the establishment of the AIIB, its investments in infrastructure development, aimed at promoting economic growth in Asian developing countries, have garnered considerable attention. This study selects India, the largest recipient country of the AIIB, as the research object and chooses the Gujarat Road Project as the research case, since it is a completed infrastructure construction investment project in the transportation field. This paper provides an overview of the project’s operation and summarizes key factors in the project’s implementation. In the data analysis section, the per capita GDP is selected as the explained variable to measure economic development, and the LASSO regression method is used to select several variables that affect economic development. Moreover, the random forest model is used to obtain the causal relationship between road construction and the per capita GDP from 2001 to 2022. The results indicate that road construction in India has a significant positive effect on per capita GDP growth, the Gujarat Road Project supported by the AIIB also has a positive effect on per capita GDP growth, and this effect is stronger than that at the national level. The main contribution of this work is the validation of the investment strategy of the AIIB and the quantification of the economic contribution of AIIB investment projects to the local area.

The impact of transportation investment, road transportation and telecommunications on FDI in Latin America 2008-2021

In this paper, we examine the effects of logistic infrastructures as determinants of foreign investment in Latin America and the Caribbean from 2008 to 2021. We analyze the data using panel data and a feasible generalized least squares model. Our findings indicate that FDI tends to flow to countries with adequate transport and telecommunications infrastructure, although the availability of an electricity grid suitable for the needs of investors is the most significant factor in Latin America. We also determined that there is a limit beyond which investment in transportation infrastructure does not contribute to attracting foreign investment. Furthermore, our analysis shows that the region attracts FDI due to new market opportunities and lower production costs. We also find that the economic opening in Latin America discourages investment by neighboring investors, highlighting the importance of policies that balance foreign capital attraction with respect to international agreements with neighboring countries.

A spatial econometric investigation into road traffic accessibility and economic growth: insights from the Chengdu-Chongqing twin-city economic circle

A prevailing question in contemporary transport research queries the contribution of transport infrastructure investment to regional and local economic growth. Notably, the benefits under consideration extend beyond travel-time savings to possible additional developmental benefits. Centering on the Chengdu-Chongqing twin-city economic circle, this study sheds light on this issue. It presents a comprehensive approach involving economic, investment, and political-institutional conditions, and underscores their synergistic operation in eliciting measurable economic benefits. We delve into the effects of road traffic accessibility on economic growth in 2019, using accessibility indicators integrated into a spatial econometric model. Our research relied on robust indicators of road traffic accessibility, transportation investments, and economic outputs from the Chengdu-Chongqing region. The study demonstrates that the road traffic network’s development level is higher in the central area compared to the peripheral regions. Further, it reveals an uneven economic development distribution within the circle. Moreover, the spatial effect of road traffic on economic growth surfaces as an error term spatial interaction effect, highlighting accessibility’s pivotal role. Factors like industrial infrastructure, labor force, and new economic geography also significantly affect growth. To wrap up, we discuss the broader implications of our findings. We suggest a stronger connection between road transportation and economic growth and stress the need to enhance the supporting economic environment. Our findings have broader implications, guiding policy and planning in other urban economic circles.

Reducing transport sector CO2 emissions patterns: Environmental technologies and renewable energy

The research explores the impact of environmental technologies and renewable energy on carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from the EU transportation sector (2007–2020). Utilizing panel corrected standard error and feasible generalized least squares methods, the study uncovers key drivers influencing declining CO2 emissions. The results reveal a significant and variable effect of environmental technologies and renewable energy on CO2 emissions in the EU transport sector, emphasizing the positive correlation between increased renewable energy adoption and emission reduction. This underscores the necessity for heightened EU investment in sustainable transport infrastructure and clean energy solutions, encompassing initiatives like electric vehicles, hydrogen fuel cells, and biofuels. The study further recommends promoting renewable energy sources for transport systems, aligning with the broader goals of the European Green Deal and the EU Climate Law. Additionally, the research provides essential insights into policy implications, emphasizing a multifaceted approach including comprehensive strategies for cleaner transportation, innovation, and education to accelerate the transition towards sustainable practices in the EU.

Opportunities for rail in the transport of carbon dioxide in the United States

The deployment of carbon management strategies like carbon capture and storage (CCS) and carbon dioxide removal (CDR) at scale will require significant investments in transport infrastructure to deliver CO2 to reliable storage. While pipeline transport has dominated the conversation due to economic reasons, there is increasing evidence that other modes may become viable alternatives when considering scale, regional opportunities, and social acceptance. This paper assesses the viability of rail for CO2 transport in the United States using market analysis, techno-economic assessment and geographic information systems mapping. We believe rail presents many advantages, notably in existing infrastructure with established right-of-ways, but also as an instrument to address unwanted effects of our energy transition, particularly in coal communities. We find that the strategic replacement of coal as a freight commodity could translate into 100 Mt/yr of CO2 movement by rail by 2050, and support up to 60,000 jobs in that industry. Further, we find that while rail pricing is notoriously volatile, there is strong support for rail being the least cost option over pipeline for volumes under 2 Mt CO2 per year, which aligns well with smaller, more risk-averse, and distributed carbon management projects that are scheduled to deploy over the next decade. Rail can also be an alternative in regions where CO2 pipeline projects have had limited success, like in the Midwest, where CO2 is captured from ethanol plants that are already serviced by rail networks. Likewise, rail can service roughly 25% of point-source CCS opportunities that are not proximal to projected trunk pipeline networks, of which 94% are located 1-mile from railroad. Finally, rail may be an integral part of CDR development in regions that are not coterminous with geologic storage, particularly in the Western and Northern US.

Evaluation of integrated transport efficiency and equity at the county level——taking the counties in ningbo city as an example

The evaluation research on integrated transport has mainly focused on urban agglomeration or cities. Yet the integration of various modes of transportation is increasingly being seen at smaller scales, such as counties, due to population concentration and rising affluence levels. Consequently, it is becoming necessary to evaluate the efficiency and convenience of transportation services for people at each location in the county space. This study has evaluated the efficiency and equity of integrated transport from a county perspective. With respect to efficiency indexes, in addition to transportation infrastructure investment, transportation energy consumption, transportation turnover, and other general indicators, we also take into account the accessibility of people to various types of hubs in the county. We use the BCC (Banker, Charnes, Cooper) model in DEA (Data Envelopment Analysis) for efficiency evaluation. Besides, we evaluate transport equity by using the Gini coefficient to reflect the population distribution of the county and GIS-based spatial accessibility of each hub site. Finally, we establish an evaluation matrix of efficiency and equity; we employ a spatial overlay method to classify research counties into different quadrants. By comprehensively considering the relationship between efficiency and equity in integrated transport, this study can identify areas for improvement in transportation development. The case study evaluation in Ningbo counties, using data from 2017 to 2020, provides practical questions and constructive suggestions for integrated transport development in these areas. Overall, this research has important implications for local transportation development and could inform policy decisions related to integrated transport.

The Long Run Association Between Transport and Economic Growth in Bangladesh: an Econometric Analysis

Public investments in transport infrastructure have been widely used by policymakers as a tool to promote economic development. Transport infrastructure investment acts as a catalyst for productivity and economic growth. This study attempted to investigate the direction of causality between transport and economic growth in Bangladesh over 22 years, from 1999 to 2021. The coefficients of parameters in a simultaneous equation model are found via multivariate analysis and the three-stage least squares method. According to the estimated conclusion, GDP drives transport expansion and transport development considerably contributes to economic growth, which is ten times GDP. But compared to the transport elasticity of growth, the output elasticity of transport is lower. Additionally, this paper also shows that transport significantly enhances exports, marketing of agricultural goods, and industrial production.

Gauging Effects of Hypothetical Extraction Method on Transport Linkages in India

Transport infrastructure is imperative for sectoral growth and economic progress. To gauge the impact of reduced contributions by the Railway and Other Transport sectors on other sectors in India, we use the Hypothetical Extraction (HE) based methodology to analyse the impact of such changes on outcomes of different sectors. Five Input-Output Transaction Tables (IOTT), between the years 1993-2014, are aggregated into 22 sectors. Methodologically, sector pair-wise correlations and sectoral groupings are identified in the transport sector. Induced elimination of Railway and Other Transport sector contributions are used to capture sectoral dependencies. Changing patterns in ‘Key’ sector compositions are further identified. Manufacturing, Mining and Quarrying, Construction, Storage and Warehousing and Electricity appear significantly correlated with Transport. Extraction causes sizeable output loss (around 60 perent) for the Manufacturing sector. ‘Self-extraction’ results in declining loss of output for transport sectors, whereas, Electricity and Storage and Warehousing remain ‘Key sectors’ in the post-extraction economy. An important implication emerging from our analysis is that dynamic relational dependencies across other sectors must be considered for future investments in transport infrastructure.

Estimating the Spatial Spillover Effects of Transportation Infrastructure on Economic Growth in an Archipelagic Nation

Transportation infrastructure plays a crucial role in facilitating economic growth and mitigating socio-economic disparities. Countries with adequate transportation infrastructure have a comparative advantage in international and domestic trade and in reducing economic and social disparities. Numerous studies have examined the spatial relationship between transportation infrastructure and economic growth, particularly in developed nations like the US and China. However, research on developing countries is scarce and pays little attention to archipelagic nations like the Philippines. This paper estimates the spatial spillover effects of transportation infrastructures in the three major islands of the Philippines for the time period 2003–2020 using the spatial Durbin model (SDM). More specifically, it examined the spatial spillover effects of transportation infrastructure, specifically roads, bridges, airports, and seaports on economic growth. The findings indicate the presence of positive spillover effects of transportation infrastructure at both the national and island levels. However, the spillover effects of transportation infrastructure variables differ significantly across the three major islands. The road length in Luzon and Visayas exhibits a negative trend, whereas Mindanao demonstrates a significant positive trend. The bridges in Luzon and Visayas are positive. Airport passengers in Visayas and Mindanao are negative. Seaport passenger is negative in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. Seaport cargo is positive across major islands. The results of this study indicate that the implementation of appropriate and targeted transportation infrastructure investments in each of the major islands has the potential to foster economic growth Moreover, the results can serve as a valuable resource and integral element of the government’s strategic plan for national and regional development, facilitating the acceleration of economic growth and enhancing productivity at the regional level.

Retraction: Empirical analysis of the impact of China–Japan–South Korea transportation infrastructure investment on environmental degradation and the validity of the environmental Kuznets curve hypothesis

Retraction: Empirical analysis of the impact of China–Japan–South Korea transportation infrastructure investment on environmental degradation and the validity of the environmental Kuznets curve hypothesis

How accessibility to schools is not (just) a transport problem: the case of public school choice in the city of Malmö, Sweden

There is currently a lack of studies exploring how transport investments and school admission policies in a city can affect the distribution of accessibility to schools. The aim of this study is to investigate if, for whom, and the ways in which, accessibility to schools can change following (1) a change to the city’s public school admission policy and (2) investments in public transport infrastructure and adjustments to the public transport system. We draw on the case of Malmö, Sweden to examine the potential effects of these changes. This study is focused specifically on those in grades 7–9 (aged approximately 13–15), a group whose independent mobility is starting to take form. A geospatial analysis was carried out in order to compare the change in demographic makeup between school catchment areas (real and hypothetical) before and after the changes were made. The geospatial analysis utilises a cumulative opportunity accessibility model that takes into account typical public transport travel times both before and after these new measures were implemented. Findings indicate that the (hypothetical) school catchment areas have been redistributed to a considerable extent following both interventions, but particularly following the change to the public school admission policy. These redistributions have in turn resulted in changes in the socio-economic characteristics of the hypothetical school catchment areas. While the redistribution of school catchment areas could potentially change the socio-economic composition of schools in Malmö, the effects are not equally distributed throughout the city. While the addition of the new train line was the main focus of this study, it was found that other changes in the public transport system between 2018 and 2019 also played a role in determining which schools students could and could not access. The findings from this study highlight the importance of carefully considering the interaction of different effects when assessing policy alternatives.

Applying the index of sustainable urban mobility (I_SUM) in a planned small city: The case of Itá, Brazil

Few cities in the world start in a planned way. Even less those that remain in the initially projected size. Uncontrolled urban and population growth negatively affect urban mobility, such as inefficient public transport and lack of accessibility. Furthermore, constant investment and continued political action are needed to guarantee the sustainability of urban mobility. However, whether planned and small cities also have such mobility problems is unknown. Itá is a small Brazilian city planned and constructed less than 50 years ago due to hydroelectric dam construction. The Index of Sustainable Urban Mobility (I_SUM), developed by Costa, was used to analyze the quality of mobility in Itá. From 87 indicators, 59 could be measured, resulting in a grade of 0.546 (from zero to one). The lower scores in environmental and political aspects reflect the municipal administration's limited actions, despite the well-developed areas due to investments by the group that manages a prominent local business. Also, non-motorized transportation presents an excellent opportunity for the city due to its size. Finally, investments in transport infrastructure and non-motorized modes are necessary to sustain urban mobility.

ECONOMIC EFFECT FROM CITY INFRASTRUCTURE POT (PASSENGER PUBLIC TRANSPORT) IN GERMANY

. Transport infrastructure is an important part of public capital and a major aspect of political and scientific discussions. In addition, investments in transport infrastructure have an impact not only on the region to which cash flows flow, but also on the supra-regional level due to the network characteristics of the infrastructure and its importance for connecting regions. Despite its obvious importance, investments in transport infrastructure are the main reason for underfunding, with an increasing number of stakeholders expressing their dissatisfaction with the current state of the network. A more detailed analysis distinguishing between different types of motorways and structures confirms these conclusions and highlights the importance of the Bundesstraßen network compared to the autobahn system. The estimated impact of bridge quality is quite ambiguous and requires further research to achieve a better understanding. This article analyzes the impact of the quantity and quality of transport infrastructure on regional economic production.