Emerging travel trends, high-speed rail, and the public reinvention of U.S. transportation

RESUMENLas infraestructuras de transporte presentes sobre el territorio condicionan las relaciones sociales y de comunicación de muchos espacios. Grandes estaciones, puertos o aeropuertos se presentan como ejes de centralidad sobre los que se distribuyen flujos de mercancías y personas, configurando a su vez el diseño y la funcionalidad de las ciudades. Hoy en día, con el avance producido en sectores como el ferrocarril de alta velocidad, las estaciones han transformado su función principal de nudo de intercambio, proyectándose como nuevos espacios comerciales y de negocio. En este artículo se analiza este nuevo fenómeno de transformación espacial y social vinculado a la alta velocidad ferroviaria, focalizando su ámbito en España. Se desgrana a su vez el papel de las comunidades sociales, políticas y empresariales para la ciudad y el espacio público presentes en las nuevas estaciones de ferroviarias. Palabras clave: ferrocarril; espacio público; urbanismo. ABSTRACTThis work aims to discuss the transport infrastructures presents on the territory and the conditions to the social and communication relations of many spaces. Large stations, ports or airports are presented as axes of centrality on which flows of goods and people are distributed, configuring in turn the design and functionality of cities. Nowadays, with the advance produced in sectors such as high-speed rail, the stations have transformed their main function as an exchange hub, projecting themselves as new commercial and business spaces. This article analyzes this new phenomenon of spatial and social transformation linked to high-speed rail, focusing its scope in Spain. At the same time, the role of the social, political and business communities for the city and the public space present in the new railway stations.Keywords: railroad; public space; urbanism.

Download Full-text

Europe's high-speed rail hopes could go off track

Emerald Expert Briefings ◽

10.1108/oxan-db207799 ◽

2016 ◽

Keyword(s):

High Speed ◽

Economic Benefits ◽

High Speed Rail ◽

Content Type ◽

The Public ◽

Public Acceptability ◽

Potential Development ◽

The Face ◽

Benefits And Costs ◽

European Sector

Subject The high-speed rail sector in Europe. Significance High-speed rail continues to develop in Europe, but there are increasing concerns about the balance of economic benefits and costs as well as, in some cases, the public acceptability of the sector. Hopes that the industry's development in Europe would provide a base for exports may be optimistic, in the face especially of Chinese competition. Impacts Growth in the European market will continue, but much of the sector's potential development is in other regions, especially Asia. The breakdown of the Schengen zone or introduction of airport-style security would blight the environment for the European sector. Liberalisation, driven by either national or EU reforms, could increase competition on Europe's densest national and international routes. Spain's fiscal and centre-periphery challenges could make its development of high-speed rail especially sensitive.

Download Full-text

The Implication of Road Toll Discount for Mode Choice: Intercity Travel during the Chinese Spring Festival Holiday

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su10082700 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 10 (8) ◽

pp. 2700 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Xiaomei Lin ◽

Yusak Susilo ◽

Chunfu Shao ◽

Chengxi Liu

Keyword(s):

Chinese Spring ◽

High Speed ◽

Public Transit ◽

Mode Choice ◽

Mixed Logit ◽

Negative Effects ◽

High Speed Rail ◽

The Public ◽

Spring Festival ◽

Intercity Travel

Intercity travel congestion during the main national holidays takes place every year at different places around the world. Charge reduction measurements on existing toll roads have been implemented to promote an efficient use of the expressways and to reduce congestion on the public transit networks. However, some of these policies have had negative effects. A more comprehensive understanding of the determinants of holiday intercity travel patterns is critical for better policymaking. This paper aims to investigate the effectiveness of the road toll discount policy on mode choice behavior for intercity travel. A mixed logit model is developed to model the mode choices of intercity travelers, which is estimated based on survey data about intercity journeys from Beijing during the 2017 Chinese Spring Festival holiday. The policy impact is further discussed by elasticity and scenario simulations. The results indicate that the expressway toll discount does increase the car use and decrease the public transit usage. Given the decreased toll on expressways, the demand tends to shift from car to public transit, in an order of coach, high-speed rail, conventional rail, and airplane. When it comes to its effect on socio-demographic groups, men and lower-income travelers are identified to be more likely to change mode in response to variation of road toll. Finally, policy effectiveness is found to vary for travelers in different travel distance groups. Conclusions provide useful insights on road pricing management.

Download Full-text

The Lyon-Turin High-Speed Rail: The Public Debate and Perception of Environmental Risk in Susa Valley, Italy

Environmental Management ◽

10.1007/s00267-009-9271-2 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 43 (5) ◽

pp. 863-875 ◽

Cited By ~ 23

Author(s):

Fausto Marincioni ◽

Federica Appiotti

Keyword(s):

Environmental Risk ◽

High Speed ◽

Public Debate ◽

High Speed Rail ◽

The Public

Download Full-text

Culture Constraints of High-Speed Rail in the United States

Transfers ◽

10.3167/trans.2015.050310 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 5 (3) ◽

pp. 129-135

Author(s):

Zhenhua Chen

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

High Speed ◽

Public Attitudes ◽

American Exceptionalism ◽

The United States ◽

High Speed Rail ◽

The Public ◽

Political Complexity ◽

Daily Behavior ◽

Cultural Constraints

The development of high-speed rail (HSR) infrastructure in the United States faces a great challenge given concerns of economic viability and political complexity. However, an in-depth investigation reveals that some of these challenges and complexities regarding high-speed rail mobility can be elucidated by historical and cultural characteristics that affect daily behavior, lifestyle, and public attitudes in U.S. society. This essay discusses the debate on the U.S. high-speed rail development policy from the perspective of American exceptionalism. Through an exploration of the four traits of American exceptionalism, the essay argues that the stagnation of U.S. federal high-speed rail initiatives can be explained by U.S. cultural constraints: individualism, antistatism, populism, and egalitarianism. Unless more solid evidence is provided to convince the public about the benefits of HSR mobility, the HSR debate is likely to continue in the United States.

Download Full-text

Evaluating Innovative Financing Mechanisms for the California High-Speed Rail Project

10.31979/mti.2021.2047 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Shailesh Chandra ◽

Timothy Thai ◽

Vivek Mishra ◽

Princeton Wong

Keyword(s):

Real Estate ◽

San Francisco ◽

High Speed ◽

Large Scale ◽

Maintenance Cost ◽

Public Agencies ◽

High Speed Rail ◽

The Public ◽

Construction Operation ◽

Economic Vitality

Millions of dollars are involved in high-speed rail (HSR) infrastructure construction and maintenance. Large-scale projects like HSR require funding from a variety of avenues beyond those available through public monies. Although HSR serves the general public’s mobility needs, any funds (whether State or Federal) flowing from the public exchequer usually undergo strict review and scrutiny. Funds from public agencies are always limited, making such traditional financing mechanisms unsustainable for fulfilling HSR’s long-term operational and maintenance cost needs—on top of initial costs involved in construction. Therefore, any sustainable means of financing HSR projects would always be welcome. This research presents an alternate revenue generation mechanism that could be sustainable for financing HSR’s construction, operation, and maintenance. The methodology involves determining key HSR stations, which, after development and improvement, could significantly add value to businesses and real estate growth. Any form of real estate taxes levied on properties surrounding such stations could substantially support the HSR project’s funding needs. In this research, a bi-objective optimization problem is posed in conjunction with a Pareto-optimal front framework to identify those key stations. With 28 California HSR stations used as an example, it was observed that the four proposed HSR stations in Fullerton, Millbrae-SFO, San Francisco Transbay Terminal, and San Diego would be excellent candidates for development. Their development could increase the economic vitality of surrounding businesses. The findings could serve as valuable information for California HSR authorities to focus on developing key stations that would generate an alternate funding source for an HSR project facing funding challenges.

Download Full-text