When considering public transit, travelers typically judge whether it serves desired destinations in a timely manner and at a reasonable cost – often in comparison to traveling by private vehicle. How public transit agencies choose to operate their services – their networks,...

We estimate how motorists value their time savings and characterize the degree of heterogeneity in these values by observable traits. We obtain these estimates by analyzing the choices that commuters make in a real market situation, where they are offered a free-flow alternative to...

California’s implementation of SB 375, the Sustainable Communities and Climate Protection Act of 2008, is putting new pressure on communities to support infill and affordable housing development. As the San Francisco Bay Area adds two million new residents by 2035, infilling the core (in...

A linear tax on an externality-generating activity may not attain the first-best social optimum. The problem arises because a monopolist’s gain from improving the characteristics of a product may differ from the social gain, even when consumers are willing to pay for the change.

In this thesis we examine how fuel price variation affects the optimal mix of services in intercity transportation. Towards this end, we make two main contributions. The first is the development of an analytic total logistics cost model of intercity transportation, which is sensitive to fuel...

Signs, both written and iconic, guide us through unknown environments. We use them to identify street intersections, buildings, transit stops, different transit vehicles, and amenities such as telephones, fare, and information booths. People who can’t read signs – the dyslexic, the...

In 1992, California enacted legislation (AB 2109, KATZ) that requires many employers offer employees the option to choose cash in lieu of any parking subsidy offered. This report presents eight case studies of employers who have complied with California’s cash-out requirement. One...

In 2003, the federal government spent about $37 billion on the highway and transit networks that comprise the surface transportation system. With so much money at stake it is no surprise that expenditure decisions are subject to intense debate. Settling past conflicts has required the...

Worldwide, greenhouse gas emissions are rising faster in transportation than in any other sector. Rapid motorization — more cars and trucks — is the principal cause. This report focuses on the challenges faced by developing countries in accommodating and managing motorization and...

Universities and public transit agencies in the United States have together invented an arrangement – called Unlimited Access – that provides fare-free transit service for all students (and, on some campuses, faculty and staff as well). Unlimited Access is not free transit but is...