Transport Reform Research Articles

The impact of fare integration on travel behavior and transit ridership

Integrated, high quality, and accessible transit systems are essential for attracting travelers to shift from private to public. This change in personal behavior is desired in order to reduce congestion and air pollutant emissions in city centers. This paper focuses on evaluating the impact of fare integration on transit ridership and travel behavior, using the city of Haifa, Israel, as a case study. The city's new, integrated, fare policy changed the historically complex per-boarding system to a simple five-zone fare system with free transfers, reducing fares for many passengers. Using fare-box data, on-board surveys and travel-behavior model estimation, we show that the new fare policy managed to negate the downward trend in transit ridership. Fare-box data showed a significant increase in single ticket sales of up to 25% over the first year following the launch of the reform; the survey's results pointed to an increase of 7.7% in passenger trips and 18.6% in boarding. The number of passenger boarding per trip increased from 1.38 to 1.52, implying that people were utilizing the free transfer option and enjoying a wider range of routes. The model results showed that fare reduction was a significant factor in attracting transit users, and that the public transport reform had three important contributions: first, it encouraged travelers to shift from private cars or taxi to buses; second, it created new trips, offering more opportunities for activity participation; and third, it increased travel options by allowing travelers to choose a better route.

Some Valuable Learning of London's and Seoul's Experience in Public Transport Reform

Some Valuable Learning of London's and Seoul's Experience in Public Transport Reform

Productivity changes in consideration of accident costs in Seoul's bus industry

AbstractThe Seoul Metropolitan Government has introduced a quasi‐public operational system since the public transport systems were reformed in July 2004. Thus, there has been controversy on moral hazards. A question addressed by researchers of transportation is the extent to which the public transport reforms have led to improvements in efficiency and productivity growth. The directional distance function and the Malmquist Luenberger Index, respectively, were used to investigate the impacts of public transport reforms on efficiency and productivity growth both with and without accident costs in Seoul's bus industry. The data cover 2003 and 2005; 2003 is the pre‐reform year and 2005 is the post‐reform year. It is found that the overall productivity increased a little regardless of the consideration of accident costs; it increased a little bit more in the presence of accident costs. This means that the overall productivity at least did not decrease and the level of service in terms of safety was improved following the public transport reforms. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Efficiency analysis of Seoul’s urban bus agencies considering emissions

The Seoul Government reformed local public transport systems in 2004 to reduce vehicle emissions as well as get bus transit agencies to operate more efficiently and improve bus service levels. In this study, using the directional distance function, the efficiency of bus transit agencies was examined both with and without the consideration of emissions to show the importance of public transportation reforms. The analysis included 59 Seoul urban bus transit agencies in June 2005. The results showed that the number of efficient agencies and the efficiency score rankings differed depending on whether or not emissions were considered. Meanwhile, contracted bus agencies that operated on tendered routes were found to be more efficient than the remainder, regardless of the reduction in emissions.

Effects of regulation changes in seoul bus system: private bus operation under non‐competitive fixed price contract

AbstractOne of crucial measures introduced under Seoul Public Transport Reforms 2004 was the regulatory framework change of intra‐urban bus from the poorly regulated private operations with operating subsidy, towards the highly regulated one via fixed price contracts. The focus of this paper is placed on (1) addressing the challenges newly faced after Seoul Bus Reform 2004, and (2) proposing some strategies in order to ensure better bus operation overall the reforms was a success in many aspects, resulting in the increase of patronage of urban transit, the dramatic drop of bus accidents, and introducing exclusive median lanes. Unfortunately, the previously small, family‐owned, inefficient bus companies were transferred to monopoly franchises under the reforms, thus institutionalizing a non‐competitive supply situation. The exclusive operating right‐of‐way is still protected as a judicial precedent set by the Korean Supreme Court. The current non‐competitive bus contracts such as a sole‐source negotiation procurement must be modified into competitive tendering in the long run, and the major obstacles to this strategy and the detailed scheme are reviewed. Further, the short‐term strategies was proposed including (a) the development of more sophisticated standard cost model incorporating a route structure and/or the patronage change; (b) the introduction of yardstick regulation; and (c) extended incentives and penalties. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Performance assessment of bus transport reform in Seoul

Seoul city authority implemented an innovative bus transport reform (BTR) in July 2004. This paper evaluates the performance of that reform. To this end, the paper includes a discussion of the features of the reform, an explanation of the fields and the contents of the reform, and an assessment of the performance of the reform formulated by comparing pertinent circumstances in place before and after its inception. The performance of eight fields: bus routes, bus fares, bus management, bus operation, a new smart card, a median bus lane system, vehicles and stops, and the promotion of the BTR, are measured, as are the performances of four groups influenced by the BTR. Those groups are bus passengers, bus operators, transport regulators, and members of the wider civil community. The results indicate a readily apparent decrease in traffic density in Seoul after the introduction of the reform, and it would appear that the increase in the number of public transport users bears an inverse relationship with the decrease in the transport share of private cars.

THE ORGANIZING OF PUBLIC TRANSPORT SERVICEUNDER SERVICE CONTRACTS WITH PUBLIC PLANNING

Regulatory reform in public transport has become one of important issues in many countries, in order to improve efficiency and provide better services to users. Since regulatory reform will bring about institutional and structure changes of the organization, then it will imply the way of the public transport services regulated and managed. This paper highlights how public transport service is organized under service contracts system, as one of growing trends recently. That is to say a system of which the service delivery of public transport is conducted by business enterprise on specified target which is planned by authority, which works under contract agreement between them. The study focuses on the two cases namely both London’s and Seoul’s models. These will illustrate how they are put into practice in those cities. It could be significant as an alternative in undertaking local public transport reform efficiently.

Ukrainian railway transport reformation in crisis

In this article the essence of the railway transport sector of economy is examined. The dynamics of volumes of railway freight transportations in Ukraine is analysed.

Foreign investments as a method of railway transport reformation

This article is devoted to consideration of the basic directions of financing of «Ukrzaliznytsia» (Ukrainian Railways), the problem of investment in the conditions of crisis and the importance of foreign investments into the development of railway transport as a uniform modern system.

Taking the High Road: A Metropolitan Agenda for Transportation Reform, by Bruce Katz and Robert Puentes

Taking the High Road: A Metropolitan Agenda for Transportation Reform, by Bruce Katz and Robert Puentes

Analysis of the Realization Approach to the Eco-Friendly Transportation Management

The transportation is the core functional elements in the logistics activities. If not focusing on implementation of eco-friendly management in the process of logistic transportation, it is impossible to build an eco-friendly logistic system as a whole. Developed countries attach great importance to environmental issues and spare no effort in promoting the reform of logistics transportation. In order to comply with sustainable development in society and economy, China's transportation industry is urgently in need of more scientific management. Based on the relevant issues of current logistic transportation, from the perspectives of multi-subject such as the government, the enterprises and the public, this article analyzes the feasible approach to achieving the eco-friendly transportation management to ensure harmonious development of efficient transportation, social economy, environment and resources.

Equity, Pricing, and Surface Transportation Politics

The leading current proposal for surface transportation reform, congestion pricing, is consistent with the tradition of user pay rather than redistributive equity in transportation policy. Strong versions have recently been adopted for Inner London and Stockholm but not so far in the United States, though one recently came close in New York City. The special U.S. obstacles include ample opportunities for minority veto and the equity concept do no harm (no one should be victimized by new initiatives). High occupancy toll lanes, though, which include congestion pricing elements, enjoy growing acceptance in the United States. While their benefits are modest, so are their costs and, above all politically, they do no harm.

Urban Public Transport Reform in Indonesia, Yogyakarta Model

Urban Public Transport Reform in Indonesia, Yogyakarta Model

Engaging paratransit on public transport reform initiatives in South Africa: A critique of policy and an investigation of appropriate engagement approaches

A number of South African cities are planning integrated public transport networks that rely on the introduction of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), in line with similar trends to expand or upgrade public transport services in emerging and industrialised urban transport markets around the globe. In addition, BRT in South Africa is being used as a mechanism to drive reform in the dominant yet highly fragmented paratransit sector, inspired by similar processes particularly in Latin American cities such as Bogotá, Mexico City, and Santiago de Chile. Thousands of paratransit operators would have to formalise their businesses, or merge into new or existing operator entities in order to participate in the new systems. There is, however, an absence of accessible business plans and regulatory regime proposals around which paratransit can be engaged to convince it to alter its current modus operandi. A large number of national, regional and local paratransit groupings have furthermore indicated their resistance to the planned networks on the grounds of insufficient consultation, an unclear future role in the system and employee redundancies. Should this deadlock not be resolved, it seems unlikely that the planned networks will be realised in the proposed timeframes, if indeed at all. This paper investigates the South African passenger transport policy framework that has contributed to the current deadlock, and explores appropriate approaches to engaging paratransit operators on a system of contracting, competition and ownership that recognises the sector’s aspirations and fragmented nature, yet contributes towards improved passenger transport services. It is the authors’ view that paratransit reform is a highly context-specific process, even at the sub-city level, and that this could prevent transferring paratransit regulatory and integration approaches across countries, and even cities in the same country, without adaptation to local conditions.

Who will take responsibility for obesity in Australia?

Obesity is increasing throughout the world. With its strong links to many health problems, the costs associated with obesity will strain future health budgets. Urgent action on obesity is needed and this needs to extend beyond treatment. Diets may work in the short term but their long-term success is poor. Bariatric surgery can be effective, but it is expensive and its long-term effects are unknown. Common sense dictates that attention should be focused on preventing obesity. Experience with other public health measures, such as reducing cigarette smoking, indicates that government intervention will be essential for success in preventing obesity. In practice, however, governments are reluctant to take responsibility for this multi-factorial problem that is exacerbated by modern lifestyles because it involves standing up to vested interests. The real need is to take action to alter food consumption patterns, change transport options and reform urban planning (including housing and workplace environments), so that healthy choices are easy and physical activity returns to being a normal part of everyday life.

La gestación del Transantiago en el discurso público: hacia un análisis de políticas públicas desde la perspectiva cognitivista

This paper aims to trace the public discourse surrounding the reform of public transportation in Santiago de Chile, with the purpose of interpreting it from the cognitivist perspective in policy analisis. The representations of the actors of the reform emerge from elements of public discourse found in press articles or official documents. The use of “common places” from Chilean politics by the supporting coalition, such as development and modernization, undermines the capacity of the opposition to organize and effectively build a coalition. As a consequence, the situation can be described from the chosen perspective, the Advocacy Coalition Framework, as the constitution of a hegemonic coalition by reform supporters. This operation takes place to the detriment of the users of public transportation. The study reveals that they are absent from the representations of decision-makers, who put the emphasis on the comparison of the image of Santiago with cities from the developed world. This functionalist vision of public transportation might explain part of the problems the reform has experienced in its implementation.

Europeanization through Regionalization? Reforming the French Railways

This article analyses the interaction between Europeanization and regionalization in France, as reflected in recent rail transport reform, through which responsibility for the organization and funding of regional rail passenger services, hitherto exercised on behalf and under the authority of the central state by the national rail company, has been transferred to regional councils. The evidence presented here suggests that the underlying logic of policy change has been provided by regional input into norms and substance, generating a highly pluralistic pattern of Europeanization from below. Significant convergence may nonetheless be observed in the regions' commitment to the regional rail system as a public service and their resistance to pressures in the direction of economic neo-liberalism. Core residual features of the traditional French rail service ideology have been incorporated into distinctive regional strategies, bringing together elements of regional and national path dependency in a selective process of Europeanization through regionalization.

Taking the High Road: A Metropolitan Agenda for Transportation Reform, edited by Bruce Katz and Robert Puentes

Taking the High Road: A Metropolitan Agenda for Transportation Reform, edited by Bruce Katz and Robert Puentes

Book Review: Zoned Out: Regulation, Markets, and Choices in Transportation and Metropolitan Land-use; Taking the High Road: A Metropolitan Agenda for Transportation Reform

Book Review: Zoned Out: Regulation, Markets, and Choices in Transportation and Metropolitan Land-use; Taking the High Road: A Metropolitan Agenda for Transportation Reform

The ‘three pillars of stagnation’: challenges for air transport reform

Various aspects of trade and investment in air transport services are regulated by a series of bilateral agreements in which rights of market access are exchanged. Industry commentators have identified this system and the associated national ownership rules as well as the prevailing attitude of competition authorities (on merger policy and on airport pricing) as the most important factors limiting adjustment in the international air transport industry. These ‘pillars of stagnation’ are examined here. Features of the bilateral agreements in aviation that are similar to those of other preferential trading agreements are noted and linked to the slow pace of policy reform in this industry. The three ‘pillars’ are not independent, and effective liberalization of trade and investment in air transport services depends on complementary regulatory reform. Options are presented on ways in which these changes might be designed and introduced, and in what sequence that might be done. Air transport services are currently excluded from the WTO's General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS), and an important enquiry is how multilateral commitments recorded in the GATS might support reform.