The environmental effects of changing speed limits: a quantile regression approach
Germà Bel,
Catalina Bolancé (bolance@ub.edu),
Montserrat Guillen and
Jordi Rosell
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Catalina Bolancé: Riskcenter-IREA, Department of Econometrics. University of Barcelona
No XREAP2014-09, Working Papers from Xarxa de Referència en Economia Aplicada (XREAP)
Abstract:
Two speed management policies were implemented in the metropolitan area of Barcelona aimed at reducing air pollution concentration levels. In 2008, the maximum speed limit was reduced to 80 km/h and, in 2009, a variable speed system was introduced on some metropolitan motorways. This paper evaluates whether such policies have been successful in promoting cleaner air, not only in terms of mean pollutant levels but also during high and low pollution episodes. We use a quantile regression approach for fixed effect panel data. We find that the variable speed system improves air quality with regard to the two pollutants considered here, being most effective when nitrogen oxide levels are not too low and when particulate matter concentrations are below extremely high levels. However, reducing the maximum speed limit from 120/100 km/h to 80 km/h has no effect – or even a slightly increasing effect –on the two pollutants, depending on the pollution scenario.
Pages: 32 pages
Date: 2014-12, Revised 2014-12
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