Traffic and emissions impact of congestion charging in the central Beijing urban area: A simulation analysis

Congestion charging is being considered as a potential measure to address the issue of substantially increased traffic congestion and vehicle emissions in Beijing. This study assessed the impact of congestion charging on traffic and emissions in Beijing using macroscopic traffic simulation and vehicle emissions calculation. Multiple testing scenarios were developed with assumptions in different charging zone sizes, public transit service levels and charging methods. Our analysis results showed that congestion charging in Beijing may increase public transit use by approximately 13%, potentially reduce CO and HC emissions by 60–70%, and reduce NOx emissions by 35–45% within the charging zone. However, congestion charging may also result in increased travel activities and emissions outside of the charging zone and a slight increase in emissions for the entire urban area. The size of charging zone, charging method, and charging rate are key factors that directly influence the impact of congestion charging; improved public transit service needs to be considered as a complementary approach with congestion charging. This study is used by Beijing Transportation Environment and Energy Center (BTEC) as reference to support the development of Beijing’s congestion charging policy and regulation.     

Walking accessibility and property prices

Walking is an imperative travel mode, especially for short trips. Walking accessibility, which is defined as the ease of reaching essential destinations in the walk-in catchment area, may affect property prices because residents are more likely to be willing to pay for this attribute. In addition, different categories of public services may have varied influencing directions and magnitude. These two hypotheses are tested in this study. Taking Xiamen, China as a case study, we estimate the cumulative opportunities of public services on foot and develop a set of hedonic pricing models (more specifically, two pre-specified ordinary least squares models, four Box-Cox transformed models, and two spatial econometric models) to estimate, whether and to what extent, walking accessibility contributes to price premiums (or discounts). Using a database of 22,586 second-hand residential properties in 358 multi- or high-storey residential complexes, we find that (1) walking accessibility to public services contributes to the variations in housing prices and plays a role in determining housing prices; (2) different categories of services have vastly divergent, even opposite, influencing impacts; and (3) walking accessibility to primary schools, commercial centers, and sports and cultural centers have positive effects on house prices whereas walking accessibility to comprehensive hospitals adversely affects housing prices. Methodologically, we confirm that spatial econometric methods improve estimation accuracy and have more explanatory power relative to the standard non-spatial models. Robustness check analysis further guarantees the plausibility of this study.     

Predicting market potential and environmental benefits of deploying electric taxis in Nanjing,China

This paper investigates the market potential and environmental benefits of replacing internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles with battery electric vehicles (BEVs) in the taxi fleet in Nanjing, China. Vehicle trajectory data collected by onboard global positioning system (GPS) units are used to study the travel patterns of taxis. The impacts of charger power, charging infrastructure coverage, and taxi apps on the feasibility of electric taxis are quantified, considering taxi drivers’ recharging behavior and operating activities. It is found that (1) depending on the charger power and coverage, 19% (with AC Level 2 chargers and 20% charger network coverage) to 56% (with DC chargers and 100% charger network coverage) of the ICE vehicles can be replaced by electric taxis without driving pattern changes; (2) by using taxi apps to find nearby passengers and charging stations, drivers could utilize the empty cruising time to charge the battery, which may increase the acceptance of BEVs by up to 82.6% compared to the scenario without taxi apps; and (3) tailpipe emissions in urban areas could be significantly reduced with taxi electrification: a mixed taxi fleet with 46% compressed-natural-gas-powered (CNG) and 54% electricity-powered vehicles can reduce the tailpipe emissions by 48% in comparison with the fleet of 100% CNG taxis.     

Locating rental stations and bikeways in a public bike system

To determine the spatial distribution of rental stations and bikeways in a public bike system, this paper proposes a facility location and network design model. The model is developed as a multi-objective programing problem that considers four objectives (minimizing cyclist risk, maximizing cyclist comfort, minimizing adverse impacts on traffic and maximizing service coverage) and multiple constraints (monetary budget, network connectivity, station spacing, bikeway types, station number and value ranges of decision variables). The ε-constraint method solves the programing problem for the public bike system in Daan District, Taipei City, Taiwan. The nine non-dominated alternatives generated are all markedly better than existing locations of rental stations and bikeways. Scenario analysis results indicate that increasing the construction budget for bikeways significantly improves cyclist safety and comfort whilst increasing the adverse impact on traffic. Planners can use this model to develop public bike systems that spatially integrate rental stations and bikeway networks.     

非完美信息下京津冀区域物流设施选址研究

针对大规模物流设施选址问题,本文构建了非完美信息下设施可靠性选址的连续逼近模型.该模型不仅考虑了设施存在损坏的可能性,而且考虑了由于信息缺失顾客无法获得设施状态且存在返回出发地的行为.由于该模型的结果无法直接确定设施选址点,因此采用Disk算法对该模型的结果进行离散化,获得物流设施选址方案.以京津冀区域物流设施选址为例,验证了该模型有效性并对设施布局特性进行了分析.最后,通过灵敏度分析探讨了不同参数对京津冀区域物流设施选址的影响.     

Understanding the impacts of a combination of service improvement strategies on bus running time and passenger’s perception

Transit agencies implement many strategies in order to provide an attractive transportation service. This article aims to evaluate the impacts of implementing a combination of strategies, designed to improve the bus transit service, on running time and passenger satisfaction. These strategies include using smart card fare collection, introducing limited-stop bus service, implementing reserved bus lanes, using articulated buses, and implementing transit signal priority (TSP). This study uses stop-level data collected from the Société de transport de Montréal (STM)’s automatic vehicle location (AVL) and automatic passenger count (APC) systems, in Montréal, Canada. The combination of these strategies has lead to a 10.5% decline in running time along the limited stop service compared to the regular service. The regular route running time has increased by 1% on average compared to the initial time period. The study also shows that riders are generally satisfied with the service improvements. They tend to overestimate the savings associated with the implementation of this combination of strategies by 3.5-6.0 min and by 2.5-4.1 min for both the regular route and the limited stop service, respectively. This study helps transit planners and policy makers to better understand the effects of implementing a combination of strategies to improve running time and passenger’s perception of these changes in service.     

A multi-objective optimization model for sustainable logistics facility location

This paper offers an exploratory study of sustainable facility location. The methodology, based on the classical uncapacitated facility location problem, provides decision makers with a multi-objective optimization model to determine the trade-off among economic, service and environmental considerations. Our results indicate that it may be desirable to open more facilities than optimal from a narrow economic perspective to reduce the carbon dioxide emissions of transport and to improve service reliability.     

脑弥漫性轴索损伤实验装置的研制及动物模型的建立

目的 自制一种脑弥漫性轴索损伤(DAI)装置并成功建立DAI动物模型.方法 自制头颅瞬间旋转损伤装置,使大鼠头颅在瞬间(<3ms)旋转90°造成剪切损伤.观察损伤后大鼠的生命体征及行为学改变;于伤后2、6、12、24、36、72h及10d分别处死损伤组动物,制备脑石蜡切片,行镀银及HE染色,光镜下观察神经轴索变化.结果 伤后大鼠均即刻出现原发昏迷,其中2只于损伤后20min内死亡,余持续时间1-30min不等;伤后大鼠呼吸节律紊乱,瞳孔对光反射减弱或消失,醒后均有程度不等的反应性下降,肢体活动迟缓;肉眼可见广泛蛛网膜下腔出血或脑室出血;光镜下可见皮髓交界区、胼胝体区、脑干、小脑白质等部位的神经轴索有不同程度的肿胀、断裂、轴索球形成,后期有小胶质细胞增生,局部呈巢样聚集.结论 本装置能造成大鼠脑DAI,且具有简便、可控、确切的特点,适合进行中、小型动物DAI模型的实验研究.     

城市轨道交通客运服务标准编制研究

城市轨道交通客运服务标准应主要针对乘客的需求而制定,是当前需要优先制定的服务业标准之一。通过对城市轨道交通客运服务及特性进行分析,结合国际相关服务标准以及我国现行的服务标准及标准化模式,提出了“以人为本”、系统性和与国际接轨的标准编制原则。乘客乘车是一个按时间顺序的活动过程,沿乘客乘车时间次序展开服务次序,是标准编制的重要技术方法。确定城市轨道交通客运服务内容是城市轨道交通客运服务标准编制的一项主要任务。在借鉴国外先进服务标准理念的基础上,通过轨道交通客运服务质量和从乘客实际需求出发来规范服务内容。最后,对乘客相应权益的规定做了说明。     

公路生态系统服务功能分析及评估

文章探讨了公路生态系统的生态服务功能,提出价值评估指标体系及定量评估方法,为公路生态系统的恢复或重建提供理论依据,对全面、正确评价公路生态系统有积极意义。