Subways and Road Congestion

We study whether subways alleviate road congestion by examining 45 subway line launches in China and by using detailed data on road speed. Our difference-in-differences estimation finds that in the first year after a subway line is launched, rush hour speed on nearby roads increases by about 4 percent. The effect is most prominent in initially congested roads and declines over distance to the new subway line. Evidence on road speed is corroborated with substitution patterns among modes of transportation. Using auxiliary data from Beijing, we calculate that the time savings for each automobile or bus commute from faster speed is worth US$0.10.

Automated summary

The study found that in the first year after the opening of a subway line in China, rush hour speed on nearby roads increases by about 4 percent, with the effect being most significant on initially congested roads and declining over distance to the new subway line.